Dr Reshmi Roy (Lahiri-Roy)

Image of Reshmi Roy

Position: Lecturer
Study area: Education, Humanities and Social Sciences
Location: Berwick Campus, Office 130B, Building AA
Phone: 03 8780 5752 
Email: r.roy@federation.edu.au
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6922-6858

Qualifications

  • PhD in Education – Deakin University, Australia, 2026
  • PhD in English and Cultural Studies (UC doctoral scholarship holder) -- University of Canterbury, New Zealand, 2005
  • Master of Arts with distinction (Gender Studies) -- University of Canterbury, New Zealand, 2000
  • Master of Arts (English-Comparative Literature) -- University of Mumbai, India, 1996
  • Diploma in Journalism -- Mumbai, India, 1994
  • B.A. Hons (English) -- University of Bombay, India, 1993
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Professional Service

Teaching

Courses

  • HM5 Bachelor of Arts
  • TM9 Master of Education Studies
  • TZ5 Bachelor of Education (Primary)

Units

  • Gender, Sexuality and History (BAHIS 2005/3005)
  • Tyranny of Distance (BAHIS2009/3009)
  • The Sociological Imagination (SOSCI1002)
  • Childhood and Adolescent Development and Characteristics (EDBED 1017)
  • Learning and Teaching (EDBED 1016)
  • Specialist Topics in Education: Directed Reading Project (EDMED 7068)
  • Qualitative Research Methods in Education (EDMED 7056)
  • Academic Reading and Writing in Educational Research (EDMED 7058)
  • Contemporary Educational Theories and Evidence-Based Practice (EDMED 7065)

Biography

Reshmi joined the Institute of Education, Arts and Community at Federation University in 2023. Prior to that she has taught mainly at Deakin University along with working as a researcher for Monash University, Mitchell Institute of Policy (VU) and Southern Cross University. Reshmi was a doctoral scholarship holder at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand and obtained her PhD in English and Cultural Studies (2005). She has recently completed a second PhD (by publication) in the field of Inclusive Education at Deakin University. Reshmi also holds a Masters in Gender Studies (University of Canterbury, NZ) as well another in Comparative Literature (University of Mumbai), along with a Diploma in Journalism (Mumbai). Her career in education encompasses research, teaching, and industry engagement across the tertiary education, school, and non-profit sectors.

LinkedIn Profile

Areas of expertise

An interdisciplinary social scientist, Reshmi’s current research focuses on advancing global understanding of how auto/ethnographical experiences of education shape the creation of academic identities among marginalised groups within Higher Education in an era characterised by neo-liberalised individualisation. A core focus of her research is gender equity stressing on migrant women’s empowerment and their social, cultural, and emotional vulnerabilities. Her research areas are transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary covering Australian Research Council FOR CODES: 1301, 1399, 1608, 1699, 2002, 2005.

Reshmi is an Associate Editor for The Australian Education Researcher and is on the editorial board of Qualitative Research Journal, the editorial board of reviewers of International Journal of Qualitative Methods and a member of the HERD editorial review board. Her publications are in Gender and Education, International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, Pedagogy, Culture & Society, Journal of Intercultural Studies, Emotion, Space and Society, Women’s Studies International Forum, Journal of Postcolonial Writing among others. Reshmi is an invited reviewer for reputed journals such as Social Identities, Frontiers in Sociology, International Migration Review, Cultural Studiesß>Critical Methodologies and numerous others. She is the co-editor of Asian Women, Identity and Migration Experiences of Transnational Women of Indian Origin/Heritage (Routledge UK, 2020/21). She is currently co-writing a book on negotiating academic literacies as a woman academic of colour.

Google Scholar profile

Research interests

  • Race, Gender, and Migration in education
  • Inclusive Education and Social justice
  • Women of Colour in Academia
  • Innovative Qualitative Methodology
  • Reflexive Research Positionalities

Current Supervisions

  • Deepa Chandram Ram (doctoral candidate). Proposed Title: Bridging Worlds – An autoethnographic study of intersecting identities of a migrant woman Science lecturer, Researcher, Artist, and Poet (Associate Supervisor).
  • Saleha Nadeem (doctoral candidate). Proposed Title: Planning Effective Parent-School Partnerships for Students with Disabilities: A Path to Holistic Development. (Associate Supervisor).
  • Tabassum Maqbool (doctoral candidate). Proposed Title: Intersectional Identities and Pedagogy: Experiences of South Asian Women Educators in Victorian Secondary Schools. (Associate Supervisor).
  • Sharlynn Das Arulanandam (doctoral candidate). Proposed Title: “How Malaysian-Born Teachers in Australia Draw on Their Educational Roots to Shape Teaching Practice.” (Associate Supervisor).
  • Nipuna Thibbutumunuwa (M. Phil candidate). Proposed Title: Bridging Borders: Diplomacy, Policy, and the Migrant Workers' Journey. (Associate Supervisor).
  • Natasa Adamovic (Minor thesis). Proposed Title: Exploring Challenges Faced by EAL/NESB International Students in Australian Community Services Programs. (Associate Supervisor).
  • Bismi Jomon (Minor thesis). Title: Navigating family, fracture, feminism and faith: An autoethnographic exploration of the interwoven threads of generational trauma, family violence, and single parenting within a multicultural Australian context of a woman of colour. Completed Jan 2026.

Publications (last 5 years)

Refereed journal articles

  • Roy, R. (2025). Book review: Diti Bhattacharya, Unfolding Spatial Movements in the Second-Hand Book Market in Kolkata: Notes on the Margins in the Boipara. Cultural Geographies, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/14744740251378753
  • Martinussen, M., & Lahiri-Roy, R. (2025). The politics of intersectional (un)belonging: a duoethnographic mapping study with academic women. Gender and Education, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540253.2025.2546055
  • Sum, N., Lahiri-Roy, R., Culton, W., Gough, L., Koziaris, H. and Strain, E. (2025), "School leadership, communities and crises: a collaborative autoethnographic exploration of humanism as professional and community capital", Qualitative Research Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-12-2024-0298
  • Gatwiri, K., McPherson, L.M., Lahiri-Roy, R. (2024). “Embedding Cultural Knowledge in Social Work Education: Reflections from Master of Social Work Students at a Regional Australian University”, British Journal of Social Work. bcae132, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcae132
  • Webb, S. C., Reshmi Lahiri-Roy, Elizabeth Knight, & Koshy, P. (2024). The Intersection of Geography, Topography and Mindset: A Nuanced Understanding of Regional, Rural and Remote Students’ Tertiary Participation in Australia. Australian and International Journal of Rural Education, 1–18. Retrieved from https://www.journal.spera.asn.au/index.php/AIJRE/article/view/72
  • Lahiri-Roy, R., Roy, A., Karnik, R. and Likhite, S. (2024), "“Let’s catch up at Shivaji Park”: Emotively conversing on connecting and un/belonging through a public space", Qualitative Research Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-04-2024-0084
  • Belford, N., Sum, N. & Roy, R. (2024) Gendered Dimensions of Migration and Conviviality: A Virtual Space for Autoethnographic Explorations of ‘Finding Home’. Journal of Intercultural Studies, DOI: 10.1080/07256868.2024.2325962
  • Lahiri-Roy, R.  (2024) “Intersectional perspectives and youthful trauma”: (Re)considering Gauri in Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Lowland, Journal of Postcolonial Writing, DOI: 10.1080/17449855.2024.2307404
  • Sum, N., Lahiri-Roy, R. and Belford, N. (2023). Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-03-2023-0085
  • Lahiri-Roy, R. & Whitburn, B. (2023) “Precarious Inclusion: A Collaborative Account of Casualisation and Teaching Leadership Challenges at the Post-pandemic University.” Qualitative Research Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-12-2022-0160
  • Lahiri-Roy, R. & Martinussen, M. (2023) “Do our Diversities Count?” Collaborative reflections on dwelling in academe’s intersectional shadowlands. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09518398.2023.2178037
  • Roy, A., Newman, A., & Lahiri- Roy, R. (2022). “Antecedents of short-term international mobility programs: A systematic review and agenda for future research.” Globalisation, Societies & Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767724.2022.2076657
  • Joseph, D., Belford, N. & Lahiri- Roy, R. (2022). “Transnational Daughters in Australia: Remote Caring in Covid-19 times.” Transnational daughters in Australia: Caring remotely for ageing parents during COVID 19. Emotion, Space and Society, 42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emospa.2021.100864
  • Joseph, D., Lahiri-Roy, R., & Bunn, J. (2022), "A trio of teacher education voices: developing professional relationships through co-caring and belonging during the pandemic", Qualitative Research Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-04-2021-0045
  • Webb, S., Knight, L., Black, R, & Roy, R. (2021). Exploring students’ feelings of place. Australian and International Journal of Rural Education, 31(3), 43-60. https://journal.spera.asn.au/index.php/AIJRE/issue/view/41
  • Lahiri-Roy, R., Belford, N., & Sum, N. (2021). “Transnational women academics of colour enacting pedagogy of discomfort: Positionality against a pedagogy of rupture.” Pedagogy, Culture & Society, 31(3), 339-357, DOI: 10.1080/14681366.2021.1900345
  • Lahiri-Roy, R. & Belford, N. (2021). “Walk like a Chameleon”: Intersections and Differences Within Gendered Diasporic Identities and Settlement Experiences (South Asian Popular Culture) 19 (2), 47-62. https://doi.org/10.1080/14746689.2021.1879134
  • Lahiri-Roy, R., & Belford, N. (2021). ‘A Neo-colonial Education’: Querying its Role in Immigrant Identity, Inclusion and Empowerment. Journal of Intercultural Studies, 42 (2), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/07256868.2021.1889487

Book Chapters

  • Lahiri-Roy, R. & Sum, N. (2025). “Diasporic women and cultural enclaves: An acculturation lens on inhabiting and traversing diverse sites.” Southcott, J., Gindidis, M. & wake, R. (Eds.), Women of the Diaspora: Generational Transformations. Bloombury Publishing. Pp. 29-48. https://www.bloomsbury.com/au/women-of-the-diaspora-9798216268383/
  • Lahiri-Roy, R. (2024). “Seeking Academic Voice: An Autoethnographic Study of Casualisation in Teacher Education”. Burke, J., Cacciattolo, M. & Toe, D. (Eds), Inclusion and Social Justice in Teacher Education. Springer: Australia. Link
  • Lahiri-Roy, R. (2024). “Lost Conversations’: The Negotiations and Violations of Emotion Cultures Embedded in Migrant Journeys” Sahoo, A.K. (Ed.), Routledge Handbook of South Asian Migrations, Ist edition, Routledge: London. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/edit/10.4324/9781003327363/routledge-handbook-south-asian-migrations-ajaya-sahoo
  • De Peres Costa, S. & Lahiri-Roy, R. (2021) "An Infinity of Traces: Reshmi Lahiri-Roy Interviews Suneeta Peres da Costa" in Lokuge, C. & Ringrose C (Eds.) Creative Lives: Interviews with Contemporary South Asian Diaspora Writers. Ibidem Press/Columbia University Press: Germany https://www.ibidem.eu/en/creative-lives-9783838215440.html
  • Lahiri-Roy, R. (2020), "Listen and You'll hear": Autoethnography and Educational Desire” in Belford, N., & Lahiri-Roy, R. (Eds.) Asian Women, Identity and Migration: Experiences of transnational women of Indian origin/heritage (1st ed.). Routledge: UK
  • Belford, N., & Lahiri-Roy, R. (2020). Conclusion: ‘Gendered subjective multivocality’ and the emotional dynamics within journeys of hopes and fears. In N. Belford & R. Lahiri-Roy (Eds.), Asian Women, Identity and Migration: Experiences of transnational women of Indian origin/heritage (1st ed.). Routledge: UK
  • Lahiri-Roy, R., & Belford, N. (2020). Introduction: Journeys of Hope and Fear In N. Belford & R. Lahiri-Roy (Eds.), Asian Women, Identity and Migration: Experiences of transnational women of Indian origin/heritage (1st ed.). Routledge: UK

Refereed Conference Proceedings (selected)

  • “Connecting, intersecting and disconnecting across multiple spaces”: diasporic women academics of colour culturally negotiating academic enclaves. Paper presented at the 2025 AARE Conference - New Connections and Directions for Educational Research. Nov 30-Dec 4, 2025. University of Newcastle, Australia.
  • “Academic sisterhoods”: connecting to collaboratively converse on concomitantly being ‘good workers’ and ‘academic mothers’ in Australian Universities. Paper presented at the 2025 AARE Conference - New Connections and Directions for Educational Research. Nov 30-Dec 4, 2025. University of Newcastle, Australia.
  • “Slaking educational desire”: Sifting through my connections with the educational roots and routes of my foremothers. Paper presented at Re-Routing and Re-Imagining Gender and Education annual conference. May 27-30, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
  • “Navigating Rivers of Blood”: The impact on routes through academia of menstruation, pain and shame in Australasia (co-author Dr Aimee Turner, Federation University). Paper presented at Re-Routing and Re-Imagining Gender and Education annual conference. May 27-30, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
  • Crisis, repair, remedy: A collaborative autoethnographic exploration of school leadership/community through a humanist lens. Abstract accepted for "Research, Remedy, and Repair: Toward Just Education Renewal." AERA (American Educational Research Association) Annual Meeting/Conference 2025. April 23-27. Denver, Colorado, USA.
  • Going Beyond Intersections of Geography, Topography and Mindset: Considering the Interplay of Race, Ethnicity, Gender and Social Class on Regional, Rural, and Remote Students’ Tertiary Education Participation in Australia. Paper presented at the Rural Education Research Conference 2025 (AARE Rural Education SIG), University of Canberra, ACT, March 14-15.
  • School leadership as humanist practice: addressing crisis to sustain learning. Paper presented at the Redefining Education, Purpose, and Possibilities. ICSEI Congress 2025, University of Melbourne, Victoria, February 10-14, 2025.
  • "Outsiders, Strangers, or Insiders?”:  Shape-shifting resistant migrant selves in cultural enclaves. Paper presented at the Alfred Deakin Institute Conference: Remaking Futures: Justice, Equality and Global Flourishing. November 25-26, 2024.
  • "Desiring the Moon and the Stars as well”: Exploring the Educational Desire of Three Women Academics of Colour through Feminist Intersectionality and Endarkened Narrative Inquiry”. Paper presented at the 20th Gender and Education Conference 2024, Charles Sturt University, Port Macquarie, June 17-21, 2024. Bursary Recipient.
  • Quotidian EduActivisms: Decolonising Teacher Education as Migrant Academics of Colour Paper presented at Australian Association for Research in Education Annual Conference. Nov 26-Dec 1, 2023, University of Melbourne.
  • “Leadership learnings from crises: Voices on empowerment and community relationships” Paper presented at Australian Association for Research in Education Annual Conference. Nov 26-Dec 1, 2023, University of Melbourne.
  • “Discomfiting Reflexivities in Qualitative Research: Autoethnographic Understandings of Researcher Positionality as a Female Migrant Academic of Colour in Australian Academe.” Paper presented at the European Conference for Educational Research 2023 (Under EERA), Glasgow, UK. August 22-24, 2023.“Hazardous Terrains”: Negotiating a Second Doctoral Journey as a Mature Age Woman of Colour. Paper presented at Australian Association for Research in Education Annual Conference. Nov 27-Dec 1, 2022, UNISA, Adelaide.
  • “A model to valourise diversity.” Paper co- presented (with Dr Elizabeth Knight, CIRES, VU) at Australian Association for Research in Education Annual Conference. Nov 27-Dec 1, 2022, UNISA, Adelaide.
  • “Reimagining Australian Higher Education Institutions in challenging times”: The Impact of Race on the Inclusion of Senior Female Academics of Colour in the workplace. Paper presented at Australian Association for Research in Education Annual Conference. Nov 28-Dec 2, 2021, Online Conference.
  • “Negotiating the academic labyrinth’: Positioning women of colour as sessional academics within Australian university spaces.” Paper presented at Australian Association for Australian Women’s and Gender Studies Biennial Conference. July 13-16, 2021, Flinders Uni, Adelaide.

Media outputs and public engagement

Associations

  • Editorial Member, Social Justice, Inclusion and Diversity (SJIDE), Federation University
  • Member, Research for Educational Development (REDI), Deakin University
  • Founding and current member, New Zealand South Asia Centre (NZSAC), University of Canterbury
  • Member, South Asian Studies Association of Australia (SASAA) (by Invitation)
  • Member, AWGSA (Australian Women and Gender Studies Association)
  • Member, Migration and Mobility Research network (School of Global and Urban Studies, RMIT University
  • Member, Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE)