As a dual national (American and British), my interest in American history is personal as well as professional. My MA dissertation, on the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, examined a key moment in American foreign policy that affected American politics and society on every level, and also touched my family. Wanting to understand why and how the Vietnam War happened prompted a wider interest in understanding American foreign policy towards the developing world during the Cold War, and the efforts to avoid military conflict in foreign policy formulation.

Before arriving at Chester in September 2007, I was employed on fixed-term contracts at the University of Cambridge, the University of East Anglia, Keele University, the University of Essex, the University of Nottingham, and Queen Mary, University of London, teaching a range of modules on American history and politics at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

I successfully completed my PhD on the Carter Administration and the Horn of Africa in July 2002, supervised by Dr John Thompson, and subsequently held the position of Research Fellow (non-stipendiary) at Wolfson College, Cambridge. In addition I hold two degrees awarded by the University of East Anglia: a BA in American History and Politics (1993-1997), and a Masters with Distinction (1998).