Dr Jessica Rucell

Jessica is an expert in international development, gender inequality and has worked in the United States, Asia and Africa. She has directed programs, research and advocacy on violence against women, cultural preservation and humanitarian response. Her contributions have had practical impact on policy, service delivery and advocacy. Jessica’s work through AOI aims to expand South African art and literary canons and respond to the call to decolonise South African university research and teaching. 

Her training is interdisciplinary. Jessica applies archival, quantitative and qualitative methods to her research and has taught sociology, human rights law, and history. She holds a PhD in Politics and International Development, University of Leeds, UK; a MA in Development Studies, University of Rotterdam, Institute of Social Studies, NL, and a BA in Asian Studies, The New School University, US.