Ashley Collar

Ashley is a Doctoral Candidate and Teaching Assistant in Sociology at the University of Manchester, with a strong passion for improving the representation of marginalised groups in higher education. Ashley was also a Hourly Paid Sociology Worker at MMU.

Born and raised in Manchester on a council estate in Moss Side, Ashley's upbringing has deeply shaped her sociological perspective and her intentions of being in academia: to do justice. Her research interests span across several areas, including the sociology of the body, neurodiversity, class, race, education and anti-racism. Drawing from her own experiences as a young, working-class woman with dyslexia and ADHD, Ashley approaches both her research and teaching with a personal understanding of the challenges faced by those often overlooked in academia. She believes that these experiences provide her with a distinct and valuable perspective in her work.

Ashley’s doctoral research sits at the intersection of sociology and criminology, where she explores the racial exclusionary practices in commemoration (using the 2017 Manchester Arena Attack as an example of this).

As the first in her family to attend university, this achievement carries significant personal meaning. Ashley is committed to making a lasting impact in academia and continuing to advocate and make change for the voices of those who are often underrepresented.