Roma Thomas

Background

About Roma Thomas

I am Portfolio Lead for Social Science in the Faculty of Technologies, Education & Social Sciences at the University of Bedfordshire. I lead a portfolio of undergraduate & postgraduate Social Science courses including Childhood & Youth Studies, Criminology and Applied Sociology and Criminology within the School of Sport, Psychology & Social Science. In addition to my leadership role in teaching and learning I have a University wide leadership role for embedding Equity, Diversity and Inclusion across our teaching and learning provision. In my former interim role (during the academic year 2025) as Associate Dean, Education & Student Experience in the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences I led student experience initiatives & strategies for developing teaching, learning and student voice across the Faculty. I worked with colleagues, students & partners for continuous improvement in student experience and outcomes. Following University restructuring I have taken up the role of Portfolio Lead in the newly formed Faculty of Technologies, Education and Social Sciences. I am a research active scholar. My research and teaching specialisms include childhood and youth, social work, gender/young masculinities and child sexual exploitation. I also have a great interest in creative pedagogies and research informed teaching. My PhD research focused on teenage boys and school exclusion. I am Principal Investigator on a research project on harmful sexual behaviours and young boys. I currently supervise doctoral students focusing on young people & criminal exploitation and the subject of leadership in social work and the lived experience of black women social workers. I moved into Higher Education over a decade ago, having previously worked as a communications professional in the private and public sector. I also ran my own consultancy business specialising in project management, communications and equality and diversity. I continue to draw on the leadership, communications skills and experience gained in my previous roles throughout my work in higher education.