Role
Kristan is currently a Senior Lecturer in Criminology at NTU. She teaches on modules for the BA (Hons) Criminology degree including, Diversity Crime and Prejudice and Criminology in the Real World (year 2). Currently, she module leads on the Research in Practice Module which helps prepare students for their final year independent research projects. In addition to module specific teaching, Kristan is a personal tutor for students across the programme and supervises, at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, research projects.
Kristan has experience of supervising research project students in several related areas:
- Paedophilia
- Rape (including male rape)
- Domestic abuse
- Female sex offenders
- Honour based violence
- Prostitution
- Police Culture and/or LGBT+ issues
Kristan is keen to supervise students who are conducting primary and / or secondary research in any area related to sex crime and/or violence against women and young people and more recently in relation to police culture (and LGBT+ issues). She is very interested in the concept of unconscious bias and its impact upon professional practice.
Career overview
Kristan has previous experience of teaching on a range of programmes here at NTU. She taught 'research methods' for several years (qualitative and quantitative) and is an experienced researcher. She has utilised a range of research techniques, mainly qualitative, including life-history research and interviewing. She has also been involved with mentoring at NTU. When Kristan completed her PGCHE in 2007 (achieved with a distinction) she conducted primary research into student engagement and student feedback and this work was published. More recent research has focused upon the area of Domestic Abuse, Honour Based Violence and Unconscious Bias/Heteronormativity.
Research areas
Kristan is currently developing her research interests into Queer Criminology, LGBT+ issues and the criminal justice system. In 2019, Kristan co-authored a journal article exploring the role of heteronormativity and is currently undertaking a Professional Doctorate in a related area.
In 2015, Kristan worked on a local project with Terry Gillespie and Chris Crowther-Dowey in collaboration with Nottingham City Council and selected research partners, examining young people's attitudes towards 'healthy' and 'unhealthy' relationships. This was explored from the perspective of a community wide approach within the general context of desistance and community safety which fitted at the time with the Government agenda of reducing domestic abuse. This led to the publication of a chapter in 2016.
External activity
As part of her external engagement activity, Kristan has recently become a Board Member for Notts SVS Services (formerly Rape Crisis). In 2009 Kristan achieved the status of 'Fellow of the Higher Education Academy' (HEA).
Sponsors and collaborators
- Nottingham City Council
- Equation (formerly NDVF)
- Nottinghamshire Police
Press expertise
- Sex crime
- Sexual consent
- Domestic abuse
- Paedophilia
- Female sex offenders
- Young people and domestic abuse
- Unconscious bias and the Criminal Justice System