{{Short description|British academic, activist and writer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox scientist | honorific_prefix = | name = Nicola Rollock | image = Nicola Rollock at Black Educational Inequality in the UK discussion.jpg | caption = Rollock in 2019 | alma_mater = University of Liverpool <br /> Birkbeck, University of London <br /> UCL Institute of Education | thesis_title = Legitimate players? : an ethnographic study of academically successful Black pupils in a London secondary school | thesis_url = https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10007456/ | thesis_year = 2006 | workplaces = London Metropolitan University <br /> UCL Institute of Education <br /> Goldsmiths, University of London <br /> University of Birmingham<br />University of Cambridge <br/>King's College London | website = {{url|https://nicolarollock.com}} | birth_place = South West London, England }}
'''Nicola Rollock''' is a British academic, writer and activist. She is professor of social policy and race at King's College London, having previously been reader in equality and education at Goldsmiths College, University of London, and has written several books, including ''The Colour of Class: The educational strategies of the Black middle classes'' (2014). She has been included in the ''Powerlist'' of the most influential black Britons and has received the ''PRECIOUS'' award for her work in racial equality.
== Early life and education == Rollock was born in South West London, England, to parents from Barbados.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.changingpeople.co.uk/2017/inspirational-women-dr-nicola-rollock/|title=Inspirational Women Dr Nicola Rollock {{!}} Changing People Blog Changing People Blog|date=28 February 2017 |access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref> Her father encouraged her to focus on her education; she enjoyed reading as a child, and eventually studied English literature.<ref name=":0" /> She studied psychology at the University of Liverpool and graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1994. Rollock's further education included a Postgraduate Certificate in Family and Couple Therapy at Birkbeck, University of London. She was appointed head of education at the Runnymede Trust in 2001. For her doctoral studies she moved to the UCL Institute of Education, where she researched the educational attainment of black students in British secondary schools.<ref>{{Cite thesis|title=Legitimate players? : an ethnographic study of academically successful Black pupils in a London secondary school|url=http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/10007456/|publisher=Institute of Education, University of London|date=2006|degree=Ph.D.|first=Nicola|last=Rollock}}</ref>
== Research and career == After completing her doctorate in 2006, Rollock was appointed a postdoctoral fellow at London Metropolitan University, where she spent three years, before returning to the UCL Institute of Education as a research associate. Her research revealed that black children still faced an attainment gap, even if they were as rich as their white counterparts.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/jul/04/comment.education|title=Dr Nicola Rollock: Black pupils still pay an ethnic penalty - even if they're rich|last=Rollock|first=Dr Nicola|date=2007-07-03|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=2019-10-27|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> She has presented her research as evidence to parliament on the attainment of black pupils. Together with the Runnymede Trust, Rollock published ''The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry 10 Years On'', which looked at how British policing must evolve to support the diverse British population.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.runnymedetrust.org/uploads/publications/pdfs/StephenLawrenceInquiryReport-2009.pdf|title=The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry 10 Years On|last=Rollock|first=Nicola|website=Runnymede Trust|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref> The recommendations included sharing effective practice on recording racist incidents across the criminal justice system, improving the monitoring of racially motivated crime, increasing public scrutiny, addressing the retention and progression of black staff and reviewing the effectiveness of Stop and Search.<ref name=":1" /> The report was presented to the Home Office and Ministry of Justice in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/education/projects/stephen-lawrence-inquiry-government-response.pdf|title=Stephen Lawrence Inquiry 10 Years of Government Response|website=University of Birmingham|date=July 2009|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref>
In her 2019 report ''Staying Power'' (the title of which pays homage to Peter Fryer's 1984 book of the same name that documents the history of Black people in Britain), Rollock identified that there were fewer than thirty black British women professors in the United Kingdom, as of February 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ucu.org.uk/media/10075/Staying-Power/pdf/UCU_Rollock_February_2019.pdf|title=Staying Power: The career experiences and strategies of UK Black female professors|last=Rollock|first=Nicola|date=February 2019|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20190506150215740|title=Still too few black female academics hold professorships|first=Nicola|last=Rollock|date=11 May 2019|website=University World News|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref> This shockingly low number (there are 18,000 professors, more than 14,000 of whom are white men)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/sep/07/uk-university-professors-black-minority-ethnic|title=UK universities making slow progress on equality, data shows|last=Adams|first=Richard Adams |date=2018-09-07|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=2019-10-27|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> was covered in ''The Guardian'', ''Vogue'' and ''Stylist''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stylist.co.uk/life/black-women-universities-academia-self-care-staying-power/251309|title=Black female professors offer advice to the next generation of academics|last=Shaffi|first=Sarah|date=2019-03-22|website=Stylist|language=en|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gold.ac.uk/news/professors-study/|title=Black female academics 'face racism and bullying' on path to professorships|website=Goldsmiths, University of London|date=4 February 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/black-female-professors-uk-universities|title=We Urgently Need More Black Female Professors In UK Universities|first=Nicola|last=Rollock|website=British Vogue|date=6 February 2019 |language=en-GB|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref> Rollock identified that the underrepresentation of black women was due to explicit bias, bullying and racial stereotyping. Rollock is committed to making the black women professors more visible, as well as encouraging and supporting more women in to academia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blackballad.co.uk/people/dr-nicola-rollock-on-black-female-academics-balance-wellbeing?listIds=5925d3bb89cc51231bd4c235|title=Dr Nicola Rollock on: Black Female Academics, Balance & Well Being|first=Furaha|last=Asani|website=Black Ballad|language=en|date=11 August 2019|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref> The Black Female Professors Forum was established by Iyiola Solanke in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blackfemaleprofessorsforum.org/about/about/|title=About – Black Female Professors Forum|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref>
In 2019, Rollock was appointed to the Home Affairs Select Committee ''Macpherson Report: Twenty Years On'' inquiry, which will examine progress in the two decades since the Murder of Stephen Lawrence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/home-affairs-committee/inquiries/parliament-2017/macpherson-report-twenty-years-on-inquiry-17-19/|title=The Macpherson Report: Twenty Years On inquiry|website=UK Parliament|language=en|date=2019|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref> She was appointed lead on the black and minority ethnic (BAME) attainment gap at Goldsmiths, University of London.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gold.ac.uk/news/rollock-announcement/|title=Dr Nicola Rollock to lead work addressing BAME attainment gap|last=Morgan|first=Tom|website=Goldsmiths, University of London|date=February 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/uk-news/2019/10/25/goldsmiths-takes-action-to-address-race-study-findings/|title=Goldsmiths takes action to address race study findings|date=2019-10-25|website=Voice Online|language=en|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref> In this role, she leads a working group that engages academic and professional services staff as well as students to understand the origins of the achievement gap, and implement various solutions.<ref name=":2" /> The efforts are part of a wide Government of the United Kingdom initiative to end inequalities between different ethnicities in higher education.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/universities-must-do-more-to-tackle-ethnic-disparity|title=Universities must do more to tackle ethnic disparity|website=GOV.UK|language=en|date=1 February 2019|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref>
Rollock serves on the Wellcome Trust Diversity & Inclusion Steering Group<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wellcome.ac.uk/what-we-do/our-work/diversity-and-inclusion-steering-group|title=Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group {{!}} Wellcome|website=wellcome.ac.uk|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref> and the British Science Association Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishscienceassociation.org/edi-advisory-group|title=Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group|website=British Science Association|date=8 July 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref> She is a member of the BBC Academy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/en/articles/art20150505142037534|title=Nicola Rollock|website=BBC Academy|language=en|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref> Rollock provides regular comment on racial inequality to the media.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/oct/24/monolithically-white-places-academics-on-racism-in-universities|title='Monolithically white places': academics on racism in universities|last1=Gopal|first1=Priyamvada|date=2019-10-24|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=2019-10-27|last2=Rollock|first2=Nicola|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> She has criticised universities for engaging "with race in superficial ways".<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2016/jan/19/how-much-does-your-university-do-for-racial-equality|title=How much does your university do for racial equality?|last=Rollock|first=Dr Nicola|date=2016-01-19|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=2019-10-27|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
Related to her research, Rollock curated the touring exhibition ''Phenomenal Women: Portraits of UK Black Female Professors'', aiming "to challenge perceptions of what a professor looks like, to highlight the intersectionality of race and gender and to showcase the achievements of this under-represented group of academics."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2020/mar/phenomenal-women-portraits-black-female-professors-ucl#:~:text=Dr%20Nicola%20Rollock%20said%3A%20%E2%80%9CI,under%2Drepresented%20group%20of%20academics.|title=Phenomenal Women: Portraits of Black Female Professors at UCL|website=UCL|date=10 March 2020|access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref> Featuring photographs by Bill Knight,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/gallery/2020/mar/09/portraits-of-uk-black-female-professors-in-pictures|title=Portraits of UK black female professors – in pictures|first=Bill|last=Knight|newspaper=The Guardian|date=9 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-51800467|title=Portraits of Black Female Professors|website=BBC News|date=9 March 2020|access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref> ''Phenomenal Women'' was displayed at locations including in 2020 at London's Southbank Centre<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUozX-Iz4jg|title=Phenomenal Women: Black Female Professors (part of the Inside Out Series)|publisher=Southbank Centre|date=15 October 2020|access-date=26 July 2023|via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://istorialit.home.blog/2020/10/06/the-southbank-centre-presents-an-outdoor-exhibition-celebrating-britains-black-female-professors/|title=The Southbank Centre presents an outdoor exhibition celebrating Britain's Black female professors|website=Istoria Lit|date=6 October 2020 |access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref> and at the University of Cambridge in 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cam.ac.uk/news/public-portrait-exhibition-honouring-britains-black-women-professors-arrives-in-cambridge|title=Public portrait exhibition honouring Britain's Black women professors arrives in Cambridge|website=University of Cambridge {{!}} News|date=6 October 2021|access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref>{{efn| The Black female professors featured were: Gloria Agyemang, Joan Anim-Addo, Bugewa Apampa, Uduak Archibong, Diamond Ashiagbor, Florence Ayisi, Fareda Banda, Claudia Bernard, Sonia Boyce, Enitan Carrol, Donna Chambers, Nelarine Cornelius, Patricia Daley, Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, Dawn Edge, Akwugo Emejulu, Engobo Emeseh, Bernardine Evaristo, Lynette Goddard, Stephani Hatch, Gina Higginbottom, Marilyn Holness, Adele Jones, Tessa McWatt, Heidi Mirza, Dorothy Monekosso, Francisca Mutapi, Bertha Ochieng, Phoebe Okowa, Funmi Olonisakin, Olivette Otele, Ann Phoenix, Cynthia Pine, Tracey Reynolds, Laura Serrant, Maria Stokes, Iyiola Solanke, Shirley Anne Tate, Patricia Tuitt, Carol Tulloch, Ijeoma Uchegbu, Ola Uduku, Toni Williams, Marcia Wilson, and Cecile Wright.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://melanmag.com/2020/09/17/britains-black-female-professors-take-centre-stage-in-a-new-exhibition/|title=Britain's Black female professors take centre stage in a new exhibition|website=Melan Magazine|date=17 September 2020|access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref>}}
Rollock is a Distinguished Fellow of the Faculty of Education of the University of Cambridge.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.educ.cam.ac.uk/nicola-rollock-to-join-faculty|title=Dr Nicola Rollock to join Faculty as Distinguished Fellow|website=Faculty of Education News|publisher=University of Cambridge|date=2021|access-date=26 July 2023}}</ref> In September 2021, she was appointed Professor of Social Policy and Race at King's College London.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/dr-nicola-rollock-appointed-as-professor-at-kings-college-london|title=Dr Nicola Rollock appointed as Professor at King's College London|publisher=King's College London|date=29 September 2021|access-date=31 December 2021}}</ref>
Rollock is the founding editor of the Routledge journal ''Whiteness and Education.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=editorialBoard&journalCode=rree20&|title=Whiteness and Education|website=www.tandfonline.com|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref> She has written for ''The Conversation''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theconversation.com/profiles/nicola-rollock-142573|title=Nicola Rollock|website=The Conversation|date=24 October 2014 |language=en|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref> and the ''Financial Times''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rollock |first=Nicola |date=12 October 2017 |title=Theresa May's racial disparity audit lacks historical context |language=en-GB |newspaper=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/47433a4e-ae8c-11e7-aab9-abaa44b1e130 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref>
=== Awards and honours === Rollock's awards and honours include:
* 2015: Woman of Achievement by the Women of the Year Council<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/crre/news/2015/dr-nicola-rollock-attends-the-women-of-the-year-council.aspx|title=Dr Nicola Rollock attends the Women of the Year Council|website=www.birmingham.ac.uk|date=22 October 2015|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref> * 2016: PRECIOUS Award<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.familyfriendlyworking.co.uk/2016/11/06/winners-announced-of-the-10th-annual-precious-awards/|title=Winners Announced of the 10th Annual PRECIOUS Awards {{!}} Family Friendly Working|website=www.familyfriendlyworking.co.uk|date=6 November 2016|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref> * 2019: Powerlist of Britain's most influential people of African and African Caribbean heritage<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ucd.ie/equality/newsandevents/news/theglobaluniversity/|title=The Global University: Ethnic and Race Diversity in Higher Education & Research|website=www.ucd.ie|publisher=University College Dublin|date=October 2019|access-date=2019-10-27}}</ref>
=== Selected publications === Rollock's publications include:
* {{Cite journal|title='You got a pass, so what more do you want?': Race, class and gender intersections in the educational experiences of the Black middle class|date=2012-01-04|journal=Race Ethnicity and Education|volume=15|pages=121–139|doi=10.1080/13613324.2012.638869|s2cid=144262389|last1=Gillborn|first1=David|author-link=David Gillborn|author2=Nicola Rollock|author3=Carol Vincent|author4=Stephen J. Ball}} * {{Cite journal|title=Being strategic, being watchful, being determined: Black middle-class parents and schooling|date=2011-07-20|journal=British Journal of Sociology of Education|volume=33|issue=3|pages=337–354|doi=10.1080/01425692.2012.668833|s2cid=145702395|last1=Vincent|first1=Carol|author2=Nicola Rollock|author3=Stephen Ball|author4=David Gillborn}} * {{Cite journal|title=The invisibility of race: intersectional reflections on the liminal space of alterity|date=2012-01-04|journal=Race Ethnicity and Education|volume=15|pages=65–84|doi=10.1080/13613324.2012.638864|s2cid=143508824|last1=Rollock|first1=Nicola}} * {{Cite book|title=The Colour of Class: The educational strategies of the Black middle classes|last=|first=|publisher=Routledge|year=2014|isbn=978-0415809825}} * {{cite book|title=The Racial Code: Tales of Resistance and Survival|publisher=Allen Lane|year=2022|isbn=978-0241521052}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== Notes == {{Notelist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rollock, Nicola}} Category:Living people Category:Academics from London Category:Academics of Goldsmiths, University of London Category:Academics of King's College London Category:Academics of London Metropolitan University Category:Academics of the University of Birmingham Category:Alumni of the UCL Institute of Education Category:Alumni of the University of Liverpool Category:Activists from London Category:Black British activists Category:Black British women academics Category:Black British academics Category:Black British women writers Category:British women academics Category:British women non-fiction writers Category:English people of Barbadian descent Category:Year of birth missing (living people)