Dr Nekeisha Spencer is a Senior Lecturer at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona. She holds a PhD in Economics from Binghamton University and is an accomplished economic researcher specializing in environment, climate and economic development studies. Her work has been published in reputable academic journals such as Environmental and Resource Economics, Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Ocean and Coastal Management, and Climatic Change.
She has been recognized for her outstanding research contributions through the prestigious UWI Principal’s Research Award for Most Outstanding Researcher for two academic years, as well as for her involvement in a project with the greatest development impact. Her research experience has also led to contributions to technical reports for international organizations, including the World Bank and UNICEF.
Beyond research, Nekeisha excels in teaching. Her innovative approach and dedication to student success have earned her multiple teaching awards, including runner-up for the Beryl Allen Teaching Award for Innovative Strategies and, more recently, runner-up for the UWI Guardian Life Premium Teaching Award.
CaribOx Project Officer Helena Neimann Erikstrup interviewed her about her plans for the duration of the fellowship.
What will you be working on in Oxford?
While in Oxford, I will conduct archival research at the Bodleian Libraries to access historical materials on 19th- and 20th-century British asylums. These documents, including case histories, asylum regulations, and patient experiences, will provide critical insights into the diet, entertainment, and environmental conditions of British asylums. This research is essential for completing my comparative study of mental health care in the English Caribbean and Britain, offering a deeper understanding of how these factors influenced patient well-being and asylum reforms. The findings will contribute to historical economic analyses of mental health and inform current policy discussions on institutional care.
For more updates about CaribOx, keep your eye out on this space.
