photo of Valerie Whittington

Dr Valerie Whittington

Post:School Tutor (Law)
Email:V.Whittington@sussex.ac.uk

Biography

Personal information

Born Glasgow. Raised and based in Brighton. Inspired initially by my degree in the School of African and Asian Studies at Sussex, which offered a great cross cultural, interdisciplinary and critical environment in which to study.

Worked in theatre, tv and film until 1993. Qualified as a solicitor in 2001. Worked in criminal and family law, then returned to education as a teacher of Law and Politics in further education. Returned to study and research in Social and Political Thought in 2011. Currently working on theories of democratic engagement and activism through research into the political activism of Quakers in contemporary Britain.

Role

DPhil research student in Social and Political Thought (Pt/time - Final year, currently at pre-submission stage) Department of History, Art History and Philosophy.  

Doctoral Tutor, V604 Society, State and Humanity and V7070 Paradox and Argument 2018-19; V7091 Philosophy Politics and the Middle East, Spring semester 2020; Student mentor 

 

Qualifications

Undergraduate study

BA Hons, English Literature (with Comparative Epistemologies, in the School of African and Asian Studies), award: 1st class, University of Sussex 1984 - 1987.

Professional Qualifications

Common Professional Exam, Oxford Brookes /Middlesex University, 1996. - Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, award: Distinction, University of the West of England, 1999. - Admitted as a Solicitor in England and Wales by the Law Society, 2nd January 2001. - Postgraduate Certificate in Post-Compulsory Education, Central Sussex College, University of Sussex, 2008.

Postgraduate study

MA in Social and Political Thought, award: Distinction, University of Sussex 2013.

Prizes:

Law Society Prize for most outstanding student in the LPC open learning course at University of the West of England, 1999. Gillian Rose Prize in Social and Political Thought, awarded for MA dissertation, University of Sussex 2013.

Activities

Postgraduate Editor of the Journal Studies in Social and Political Thought (2017-2019) - SSPT began as a peer reviewed journal set up and run by the Staff and Postgraduate students of the Centre for Social and Political Thought at the University of Sussex.

Currently on the editorial team for the Postgraduate section of the History, Art History and Philosophy Department (HAHP) fortnightly newsletter.