Dr Christine Thuranira-McKeever
PhD FHEA
Vice Principal (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) and Director of Distance Learning
Department: Office of the Principal
Campus: Hawkshead
Research Centres: Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health
Christine is the Vice Principal for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. In additon to this role, she is responsible for the academic guidance, strategic direction and leadership for the postgraduate distance learning programmes in Livestock Health and Production, Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health, and the Professional Doctorate Programme. She contributes to the teaching on these programmes and in other 91°µÍø courses. Christine also works with external partners and collaborators in developing customised distance learning training programmes.
Christine graduated from the University of Kent Canterbury with a BA (Hons) and the University of Manchester with an MA (Econ), before undertaking a PhD at the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine. Her PhD research focused on the economic costs of livestock disease to smallholder farmers. The broader aspects of her work include issues of market access, international trade in primary products and ultimately the effects of agricultural and animal health policy on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in developing economies. Christine spent a number of years working at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi/Addis Ababa and subsequently for the DFID Animal Health Programme, based at the University of Edinburgh.
Christine maintains an active interest in international development, from a socio-economic and educational perspective. Her education research interests are mainly in learning design for science-based courses, and enhancing the student experience in distance learning, particularly in areas relating to student support, tools to support student engagement and international institutional partnerships to support students.