City St George’s academic appointed as the University’s first Black woman Professor

Examining the intersection between physical and mental health

Professor Jones Nielsen, who is also an academic in the School of Health & Psychological Sciences in addition to her Assistant Vice President role, joined the University in March 2013. As a researcher, she focuses on driving real change in practice, and centres on issues of power and identity in workplace and healthcare settings. She has a disciplinary background in counselling and health psychology with expertise in utilising participatory, mixed-methods and other inclusive research approaches to study the impact of workplace and healthcare discrimination on mental and physical health outcomes. In recent years, she has been working across sectors, locally and nationally, to deliver interdisciplinary research on inequalities in mental health across health services with an emphasis on race within an intersectionality framework.

Alongside her research activity, Professor Jones Nielsen serves as a senior leader and is dedicated to turning high-level aspirations into practical, inclusive policies that improve organisational performance while aligning with core values. She has spearheaded significant progress towards institutional equity at City St George’s by applying an intersectional lens to address disparities related to race, ethnicity, gender, class, and sexuality, and was responsible for the successful submission of institutional EDI charter marks, such as the Athena Swan, Race Equality and Disability Confident Leader submissions.

Creating a truly inclusive environment

The announcement of Professor Jessica Jones Nielsen’s promotion was made at the groundbreaking Network for Racial Justice (NRJ)’s launch event of the Tacking Racism, Exclusion and Racial Injustices at City: The Lived Experience of Staff report in late November. The aim of the research was to explore the lived experiences of staff of colour as it pertains to racism and discrimination at the University. The report includes seven recommendations:

• Dissemination and engagement with the current research findings
• Systemic engagement
• Promotion and progression
• Recruitment
• Pay disparity, staff development and equality
• Communication
• Psychological support

Speaking about the professorship, Professor Jones Nielsen said:

This achievement holds immense meaning for me—it's the culmination of many years of hard work and perseverance. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has supported me along the way. To my students, who inspire and challenge me every day; to my mentors and so many others—your guidance has been invaluable; and to my colleagues, whose belief in me has been instrumental. I’m proud to be the first Black female Professor at my City St George's, a testament to the collective effort of so many who have come before me.