I was born in Newport, South Wales, but moved to Leicestershire at the age of three. Studying Chaucer at A-level inspired me to do a BA in English Language with Medieval Literature at the University of Sheffield (no longer possible, unfortunately). After a gap year doing voluntary work with disabled people I went on to postgraduate study at the University of Oxford, where I took a taught MPhil in English Medieval Studies 1100–1500 and then completed a doctorate on Old Norse-Icelandic literature.

I came to Cardiff University in 1999 to take up a lectureship in Old English and Old Norse, and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2007, Reader in 2010, and Professor in 2012. I teach modules on Old English and Old Norse language and literature and on medievalism for the BA and MA in English Literature. I am currently Director of Studies and Chair of the Board of Studies for English Literature.

I have served on the Council of the Viking Society for Northern Research since 2001 and have been an editor of the Society’s journal Saga-Book since 2004 and co-editor of its Text Series since 2007. I am also currently on the committee of Teachers of Old English in Britain and Ireland.

For my CV, click here.