I am a Professor of Human Geography with teaching and research interests in the geographies of citizenship; crime and policing; rural geographies and military geography. I was Director of the Doctoral College between 2022-2025, where I achieved the 7th best PRES results for overall student satisfaction in the UK.

• Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
• Member of the Geographical Association
• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Member of United Kingdom Council for Graduate Eduction (UKCGE)

I have a wide range of teaching interests. Although I specialise in rural and social geography, I also make contributions to broader modules on geographical thought, methodologies and field teaching. I helped established fieldtrips to Bath, Brittany and Sweden and have made contributions to other fieldtrips, from Hong Kong to the USA!

I established and led our Masters in 'Human Geography Research', which fulfils the ESRC’s training requirements for doctoral students. I also contribute to the Masters in Planning through a specialist module on Rural Planning.

I am Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in recognition of my teaching quality and contributions to national teaching agendas.

My current teaching contributions are in:

Level 1

GEES1102 People and Place (module leader)

GEES1301 Environment and Society (module leader)

GEES1106 Our Digital Planet

Level 2

GEES3101 Nature, Country and Society
GEES2106 Principles and Applications of Geography I

Level 3
GEES3101 Citizenship, territory and war 

GEES3101 Sustainable Cities

GGX3200 Dissertation in Geography

Masters in Planning
PLG513 Rural Planning
PGL510/511 Masters Dissertation

I have served as external examiner at Trinity College Dublin; the University of West of England, Kingston University, Cumbria University, the University of Northampton and the University of Worcester.  I have also acted as external validator for geography degrees at York St John, the University of Cumbria and University of Worcester.

I am an active member of the Royal Geographical Society and have undertaken various committee roles for the Rural Geography Research Group. I’m also a member of the Geographical Association, serving as editor for their flagship journal ‘Geography’ and helping to establish the South Devon Branch. I have given numerous lectures to branches and welcome invitations to speak!

I served on the management board and award board of the South West Doctoral Training Partnership and am a member of the UK Council for Graduate Education (UKCGE).

I edit the journals Geoforum and Geography

• Dr Kieran Green, Awarded 2023, University of Plymouth. 'The Cartographies of Young People utilising Host-Dependent Shelter' ESRC funded
• Dr Eva McGrath. Awarded 2021, University of Plymouth 'Across the River: ferries as a vehicle for exploring riverborderscapes'
• Dr Leonie Boland. Awarded March 2018, University of Plymouth (2nd supervisor): 'Moving On. Transitioning from homelessness into a sustained tenancy: What enables a successful transition?'
• Dr Gina Kallis. PhD Awarded December 2016 by Plymouth University. 'An Intergenerational Perspective on Migrant Senses of Identity and Belonging: the case of Greek-Cypriot Families in South-West England'
• Dr Rebecca Wheeler. PhD Awarded March 2015 by Plymouth University. ‘Experiences of Place and Change in Rural Landscapes: Three English Case Studies’ 
• Dr Wendy Miller. PhD awarded September 2013 by Plymouth University and funded by Plymouth University (2nd Supervisor). 'Allotments and alternative food networks: the case of Plymouth, UK’ 
• Dr Tilll Paasche. PhD awarded December 2011 by Plymouth University and funded by Plymouth University. ‘The Governance of Security in the Revanchist City: the Case of Cape Town, South Africa’
• Dr Fiona Ferbrache. PhD awarded March 2011 by University of Plymouth and funded by University of Plymouth. ' Transnational Spaces within the European Union: the everyday lives of British migrants in France'.
• Dr Marion Parish. PhD awarded Dec 2010 by University of Plymouth and funded by ESRC on 'A Life Geographic; self and landscape in Peter Lanyon's Land, Sea and Air' 
• Dr Nadine Schaefer. PhD awarded September 2008 by University of Plymouth, 'Rural Youth: Geographies of Everyday Life and future trajectories of young people in Mecklenburg-Vorpomen (East Germany)'
• Nicholas Bennett. MPhil awarded by University of Worcester (2nd Supervisor) ‘Parish Councils, Social Development and Rurality’
• Dr Linda Price. PhD awarded September 2004 by Coventry University (2nd supervisor) 'Stress in Agriculture: the Patriarchal Way of Life of Farm Families in Powys'
• Dr Christine Corcoran. PhD awarded October 2003 by Coventry University. 'The Role of Strategic Partnerships in the Governance of Rural Areas: the case of youth'
• Dr Penelope Mell. PhD Awarded May 1999 by Coventry University. 'The Theory and Practice of Community Based Planning in Rural Areas'