Alex
Fellow by Special Election
I grew up in Salisbury in the South of England and came to Oxford to study Modern Languages at Wadham College in 2002. After my undergraduate degree, I did a PGCE in French and German and then I went on to study for my master’s and doctorate. I joined Teddy Hall in September 2011, just a month before I submitted my thesis. By the end of December that year, I’d done my first term of teaching, my first round of undergraduate interviews, and my doctoral viva – that winter was something of a rollercoaster ride! Outside of work, I do a lot of singing, reading, writing, and baking.
German was the first foreign language I learnt at school. I remember finding the grammar a real challenge to begin with, but I was so excited to discover the world of literature and music that was unlocked by having German. My academic research has focused on cultural memories of the National Socialist period and World War II, and depictions of children and childhood (especially within film). For the past four years I’ve been working on the history and memory of the anti-Nazi White Rose resistance circle. This work has become part of a much larger project – the White Rose Project – that I founded in 2018. I’m also currently writing a book about German-language comics and graphic literature. I’ve been incredibly lucky to have strong women role models in my field, not least my doctoral supervisor, Professor Karen Leeder, who was recently elected to the Schwarz-Taylor Chair of the German Language and Literature at Oxford. She will be the first woman to hold the post. I have also benefitted a great deal over the years from belonging to the professional organisation ‘Women in German Studies’ (WIGS).
The Research Expos and the ‘Access Hall Areas’ event are some of my favourite memories of my time at the Hall. Hearing about colleagues’ and students’ research, meeting alumni and members of the public, and frantically setting up activities and displays was a lot of fun. I enjoyed taking part in (and winning) the Teddy Hall Bake Off competition in 2018 and getting to judge the entries in 2019 alongside John Claxton (Chef de Partie).
What do you think when you hear ‘Women of the Hall’?
During my time here, I have found the Hall to be an increasingly friendly, open, and supportive place to work. In 2018 I had to have emergency surgery. Colleagues at the Hall were incredible, stepping in immediately to make teaching arrangements, keep projects running, and offer support. That kind of concern for, and commitment to, the well-being of others is something I associate very strongly with Teddy Hall.