ROMLIT Team
Dr Spyros Themelis is an Associate Professor at UEA's School of Education and Lifelong Learning and is leading the ROMLIT project. He has led and participated in many research projects in the UK (e.g. on the Norwich and Ipswich Opportunity Areas) and internationally (in Brazil, Spain and Greece). His work appears in many languages (i.e. in English, Greek, Spanish, Chinese and Portuguese) and subject disciplines, and offers insights into the power dynamics that govern educational systems around the world, as well as youth and social movements, social inequalities, and the educational inclusion of Gypsies/Roma/Travellers.
Dr Lee Beaumont is an Associate Professor in Physical Education in UEA’s School of Education & Lifelong Learning. He joined the School in September 2007. Lee is a core team member on the ROMLIT project. He oversees ROMLIT’s ethics approach and ensures that it adheres to the ethics protocols and guidelines set by UEA’s ethics committee.
Helen Trelford has been a Lecturer in Education at the UEA School of Education & Lifelong Learning since 2018. She is a lecturer on the Primary PGCE course, teaching the English subject component. Helen brings a wide range of experience and knowledge about primary education literacy and advises on researching literacies in primary school settings.
Dr Rachel Rosen is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the Institute of Education, University College London. Her research focuses on marginalised children and families, especially those with precarious immigration status. She also researches how welfare and national border policies shape the lives of marginalised children and their practices of everyday living, care and togetherness.
Gibson Zucca Da Silva is a PhD student at UEA’s School of Education & Lifelong Learning, and a Research Associate on the ROMLIT project. His PhD research focuses on the ways in which social movements produce knowledge and the power dynamics that shape this knowledge. He uses decolonialising frameworks to shed light on the daily practices of discriminated-against groups, such as Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.
Jethro Shirley-Smith is a PhD student at UEA’s School of Education & Lifelong Learning, and a Research Associate on the ROMLIT project. His research focuses on how citizenship is performed in the everyday among Gypsies, Roma and Travellers in the UK. Jethro explores how these communities navigate their educational aspirations within the educational system and the challenges this poses to their distinct identity.
Dr Clare Meade is a freelance researcher and consultant on the ROMLIT project with a focus on literacy, family and intergenerational learning. Clare has contributed to a wide range of research and publications and was involved with establishing a Community Interest Company for young people and the community in Lowestoft. Her experience brings depth and community understanding to the ROMLIT project.
Karen Fairfax-Cholmeley is a Research Associate on the ROMLIT project who brings expert insight into family and intergenerational learning, informal learning and community development. Karen has extensive experience of working with families from the global majority, including from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller backgrounds, settled and new immigrants. She is a Romanian speaker and has extended Roma family from Romania.
Julie Colman is Head of Production for Rural Media, a Herefordshire-based charity producing award-winning films and digital arts projects. With a background in performing arts, and a passion for inclusion and talent development, Julie managed the Travellers’ Times project for 10 years and is supporting its move to community-led independence. She brings experience in promoting the ROMLIT project and developing legacy resources for the future.
Rich Matthews is Head of Development at Rural Media and oversees their Travellers’ Times project and rural youth voice project, P.O.V. Rich has worked in media for more than 30 years, working across some of the industry's most successful and well-known media companies. He is a writer, filmmaker, journalist, editor and lecturer, and brings much creativity to the ROMLIT project. Rich is also a part-time doctoral student at the University of Birmingham and a secondary school governor.