About
Rosalind Willis is a Social Gerontologist with a background in Psychology. Rosalind teaches and conducts research in the fields of ethnicity, care and support, and dementia. Originally from the Republic of Ireland, her experience as a migrant to Britain has informed the way she approaches research on ethnicity and culture. Rosalind conducts both qualitative and quantitative research. From 2020-2023 she was the Director of the Graduate School in the Faculty of Social Sciences. She is the Director of PGT Programmes in the Department of Gerontology. Rosalind was Treasurer of the British Society of Gerontology (2013-2017).
Research
Research groups
Research interests
- Ethnicity
- Ageing
- Dementia
- Unpaid Care
- Social Care
Current research
I am interested in conducting research on inequalities in later life related to ethnicity, nationality, migration status, religion, and culture. I study experiences and satisfaction with social care services, and determinants of informal care provision and receipt. Dementia is a particular interest, and I have conducted a service evaluation on treatment effectiveness of a memory clinic that informed the National Dementia Strategy, as well as research on experiences of dementia in Pakistan.
Selected Research Grants:
Dr Rosalind Willis (Principal Investigator)
Co Applicants: Prof Maria Evandrou, Dr Pathik Pathak
Funder: National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) School for Social Care Research (SSCR)
Project title: Acceptability of and satisfaction with social care among South Asian groups: a case study of Hampshire
Duration 1/02/12 → 31/08/14
Dr Rosalind Willis (Principal Investigator)
Funder: National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) School for Social Care Research (SSCR)
Project Title: ‘Adding academic value’ - Problems with measuring satisfaction with social care
Duration: 1/07/14 → 31/08/14
Dr Rosalind Willis (Co-Investigator)
Co-Applicants: Prof Asghar Zaidi (PI), Dr Nicolas Farina, Dr Sara Balouch
Funder: AgeUK, Age International, HelpAge International, Alzheimer's Disease International
Project Title: Understanding, Beliefs and Treatment of Dementia In Pakistan
Duration: 1/03/17 → 28/02/18
Research projects
Completed projects
Publications
Teaching
Rosalind teaches at postgraduate level in the substantive area of Gerontology, more specifically in the areas of ethnic diversity in later life and mental health in later life, particularly dementia. She also teaches at undergraduate level with a module on older people and crime.
Rosalind also teaches research methods, including qualitative methods. She has 20 years' experience with the NVivo software, and has trained professionals and students in its use.
External roles and responsibilities
Biography
I am originally from County Meath in the Republic of Ireland. My higher education studies were in Wales (BSc Psychology, Bangor University) and England (MSc Forensic Psychology, University of Kent; PhD Gerontology, King's College London). I have worked as a researcher in Dublin (methadone clinics), London (Henderson Hospital; Institute of Psychiatry), and Kent (Salomons). I joined the Department of Gerontology at Southampton in 2010 as a Lecturer, and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2016.
Prizes
- Vice Chancellor's Teaching Award (2016)
- Vice Chancellor's Team Award (2012)
- Vice Chancellor's Teaching Award (2016)
- Vice Chancellor's Team Award (2012)