Dr Joanne Hill
Senior Lecturer in Physical Education and Sport Sociology
I have worked at the University of Bedfordshire since 2013, currently in the role of Senior Lecturer and as Co-Deputy Director of the Institute of Sport and Physical Activity Research (ISPAR).
My long-term work since my doctoral studies has been in the broad area of the sociology of physical education and physical activity, specifically the impact of the social construction of the body, gender and ethnicity on physical activity and sport (dis)engagement. I research social justice initiatives and critical pedagogies to support inclusion and equity in higher education, sport and physical activity. My research and perspectives on race equality in sport, women's running and street harassment, and developing positive movement cultures has been featured on BBC Politics East, BBC 24, Greatest Hits Radio, and ITV Anglia News.
I am a qualitative researcher predominantly using visual participatory methodologies and appreciative or strengths-based inquiry.
My teaching covers critical issues and inclusion in sport and physical activity, gender and sexuality, and qualitative research methods. I contribute to initiatives within the University of Bedfordshire to listen and respond to student experiences and improve retention. As Co-Deputy Director for ISPAR and leading the Centre for Physical Education, Sport and Human Movement, I support the development of ECR and PGR colleagues through writing and publication pipeline planning, and ways to align research and teaching through collaborative projects.
I played tenpin bowling as a student, winning women’s team bronze (2010) and silver (2011) at the BUCS Championships, and representing Great Britain Students on the BUCS Representative Squad in 2011.
Qualifications
- PhD Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, Loughborough University (2012)
- MA (with Distinction) Gender Studies, University of Sussex (2008)
- BA (Hons) Comparative American Studies, University of Warwick (2004)
Teaching Expertise
- Gender, Sexuality and Sport
- Narratives of Bodies and Health
- Critical Sport Pedagogy
- Research Methods in Sport, Physical Activity and Education
- Critical Issues in Sport and Physical Activity
- Participatory Action Research for Applied Sport Development
Fellow of the HEA
Research Interests
Currently I am interested in supervising postgraduate projects on the following areas:
- Meaningful engagement in physical activity and the impact of space on embodiment and meaning
- Women's running safety and the impact of street harassment on physical activity
- Supporting local sport/PA initiatives to tackle inequalities, within Sport England's Uniting the Movement strategy
- Social justice pedagogies and socio-cultural issues in physical education and sport degree programmes and initial teacher education
- Participatory and appreciative inquiry into positive movement subcultures
Research Supervision
Doctoral Students
- Hannah Foladi (2025) Adolescent girls’ perceptions of ‘connectedness to nature’ in the context of outdoor physical activity
- Mark Huhnen (2024) “How to do things without words”
Completed Doctoral Students
- Michelle Flemons (2019) “Occupational Socialisation and the Subjective Warrant of Physical Education Teachers”
External / Internal Roles
- Institute of Sport and Physical Activity Research Co-Deputy Director
- Centre for PE, Sport and Human Movement Lead
- MA Physical Education and Sport Course Coordinator
- University of Bedfordshire Women's Network Inclusive Curriculum Officer
Academic Citizenship and Leadership
- Associate Editor, Frontiers (physical education and sport pedagogy)
- Reviewer for a number of peer reviewed journals in physical education, sport sociology, health, and gender studies
Membership of Professional Bodies
- British Educational Research Association
- Society for Research in Higher Education
Research Projects
Current projects include:
- Co-production with girls of a walk-to-run curricular intervention
- Meaningfulness in physical activity: concepts and methodologies
- Active communities for physical literacy: residents' physical activity needs at Linmere, Houghton Regis, with Olivia Flemons, Professor Angel Chater and Dr Julia Fruer
- Community Exercise Clinic evaluation with Dr Jo Richards, Dr Louise Ferrandino, Dr Laura Charalambous, Dr Michelle Flemons and Kev Wyld
- Women's running and personal safety: spatial and feminist analysis with Dr Laura Gubby, Canterbury Christchurch
- BUCS Race Equality with Dr Gavin Ward, Dr Alun Hardman, Dr Ronnie Richards, Dr David Scott, Dr Lisa Edwards and Dr Amanda Jones
Research Profiles
- Hill, J., Walton-Fisette, J.L., Flemons, M., Philpot, R., Sutherland, S., Philips, S., Flory, S., and Ovens, A. (2022) Social justice knowledge construction among physical education teacher educators: The value of personal, professional and educational experiences. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2022.2123463
- Flemons, M., Hill, J., O’Donovan, T. and Chater, A. (in press). Recycling and resistance to change in physical education: The informal recruitment of physical education teachers in schools. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education.
- Martínez Bello, V. E., & Hill, J. (2020). Gender, age and physical activity representation in children’s colouring books / Representación del género, la edad y la actividad física en libros para colorear infantiles. Cuestiones de Género: De La Igualdad y La Diferencia, 15, 291–312.
- Lynch, S., & Hill, J. (2020). “I had to pop a wheelie and pay extra attention in order not to fall:” Embodied experiences of two wheelchair tennis athletes transgressing ableist and gendered norms in disability sport and university spaces. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2020.1731575
- Pang, B. & Hill, J. (2018). Representations of Chinese gendered and racialised bodies in contemporary social media sites. Sport, Education and Society 23(8), 773-785.
- Hill, J., Philpot, R., Walton-Fisette, J. L., Sutherland, S., Flemons, M., Ovens, A. and Flory, S. (2018). Conceptualising social justice within physical education teacher education: International perspectives. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy 25(3), 469–483.
- Walton-Fisette, J. L., Philpot, R., Phillips, S., Flory, S., Hill, J., Sutherland, S. & Flemons, M. (2018). Implicit and explicit pedagogical practices related to sociocultural issues and social justice in physical education teacher education programs. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy 25(3), 497-509.
- Ovens, A., Flory, S., Sutherland, S., Philpot, R., Walton-Fisette, J. L., Hill, J., Phillips, S. & Flemons, M. (2018). How PETE comes to matter in the performance of social justice education. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy 25(3), 484-496.
- Pang, B. & Hill, J. (2018). Rethinking the ‘aspirations’ of Chinese girls within and beyond Health and Physical Education and physical activity in Greater Western Sydney. Sport, Education and Society 23(5), 421-434.
- Hill, J., Sandford, R.A. & Enright, E. (2016). ‘It has really amazed me what my body can now do’: Creating a body-positive community in and through dance. Sport in Society 19(5), 667-679.
- Hill, J. (2015). Girls’ active identities: navigating othering discourses of femininity, bodies and physical education. Gender and Education 27(6), 666-684.
- Hill, J. (2015) ‘If you miss the ball, you look like a total muppet!’ Boys investing in their bodies in physical education and sport. Sport, Education and Society 20(6), 762-779.
- Enright, E., Hill, J., Sandford, R.A. & Gard, M. (2014). Looking beyond what’s broken: Towards an appreciative research agenda in PESP. Sport, Education and Society 19(7), 912-926.
- Hill, J. (2013). Using participatory and visual methods to address power and identity in research with young people. Graduate Journal of Social Sciences 10(2), 132-151.
- Azzarito, L. & Hill, J. (2013). Girls looking for a “second home”: Bodies, difference and places of inclusion. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy 18(3), 351-375.
- Hill, J. & Azzarito, L. (2012). Representing valued bodies in PE: a visual inquiry with British Asian girls. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy 17(3), 263-276.
- Hill, J. (2022, July). Meaningful physical activity at home after lockdown. Reflecting on space, interaction and adventure. Paper presented at the International Conference on Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise, Durham University, Durham.
- Ward, G., Hill, J., Hardman, A., Scott, D., and Richards, R. (2022, July). Race and Equality in University Sport. Paper presented at the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) annual conference, University of Warwick, Coventry.
- Hill, J., and Baird, A. (2022, June). Commuting students’ geographical, emotional, and cultural dimensions of learning before and during COVID-19. Paper presented at University of Bedfordshire Research and Innovation conference, Luton.
- Hill, J., and Flemons, O. (2021, September). Meaningful and sustainable physical activity at home. Paper presented at the University of Bedfordshire ISPAR annual conference, online.
- Hill, J., Baird, A., Wesley, K., Tchibonkola, J. and Stewart, A. (2021, December). Student journeys: Academic identity among commuting students before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Paper presented at Society for Research in Higher Education Annual Conference, online.
- Flemons, M., Hill, J., & O’Donovan, T. (2021, June). Recycling and resistance to change in PE: The informal recruitment of PE teachers in schools. Paper presented at AIESEP International Congress, online.
- Hill, J., Wesley, K., Baird, A., & Stewart, A. (2019, September). Student Journeys: a collaborative project on academic identity with commuting and first generation higher education students. Paper presented at British Academy Research Association annual conference, Manchester.
- Pang, B. & Hill, J. (2018, July). Representations of Chinese gendered and racialised bodies in contemporary media sites. Paper presented at AIESEP World Congress, Edinburgh, 26 July.
- Hill, J., Philpot, R., Walton-Fisette, J. L., Sutherland, S., Flemons, M., Ovens, A. & Flory, S. (2018, July). Conceptualising social justice within physical education teacher education: International perspectives. Paper presented at AIESEP World Congress, Edinburgh, 28 July.
- Flory, S.B., Phillips, S.R., Ovens, A., Sutherland, S., Philpot, R., Walton-Fisette, J.L., Hill, J., & Flemons, M. (2018, April). How physical education teacher education comes to matter in the performance of social justice education. Paper presented at American Education Research Association Annual Conference, New York, 16 April.
Contact Details
T: 01234 793183
E: joanne.hill@beds.ac.uk
Postal address: Polhill Avenue, Bedford MK41 9EA
address
School of Sport Science and Physical Activity
Faculty of Education, English and Sport
Bedford campus
Polhill Avenue
Bedford
MK41 9EA
UK