Sophia Kier-Byfield
University of South Wales
Welsh Crucible 2026
Sophia obtained her BA in English Literature at Royal Holloway, University of London, and went on to complete a master’s degree in modern and Contemporary Literature, Culture and Thought at the University of Sussex. After several years working as an English teacher and developing a facilitation practice in community arts and informal learning spaces, she was awarded a scholarship to undertake a PhD on the topic of feminist pedagogies at Loughborough University. Sophia is currently based at the Welsh Institute for Health and Social Care at the University of South Wales and is developing a research specialism in Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV), with a particular focus on using participatory methods with communities, championing the importance of storytelling and lived experience, collaborating with frontline services, and exploring innovative approaches to education and prevention.