Jo is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy of the United Kingdom (FHEA) and a Junior Fellow at the Center for Applied Transgender Studies (CATS). They have taught a range of core and specialist courses, from the history of anthropology to the anthropology of kinship, sex, gender, race, and desire. They have also run specialist workshops on sex work, film, labour rights, and activism in India with public anthropology collectives. Alongside a PhD in Anthropology from SOAS, Jo has an MA in Sociology from CHRIST University Bengaluru, and a BA in Mass Media with a specialisation in Journalism from the University of Mumbai.
In 2024, they won a Teaching and Learning Award for their inclusive classroom practices at SOAS, University of London.
Learning Facilitated:
2021-Present Mithra Trust
At Mithra, I co-facilitate accessible, safe and brave spaces twice a month for small groups as a social anthropologist bridging my knowledge of sociology, anthropology, media and culture studies to be accessible to people in mental health support spaces. As part of my work here, I am training to be a Narrative Therapy Practitioner in 2025.
2024-2027 London School of Economics and Political Science
Anthropology of Kinship, Sex and Gender
Level: Undergraduate 2nd Years and Postgraduate Students
2022-2024 SOAS, University of London
Course Convener, 190: Explorations in Anthropology
Tutor: Anthropology of Race, Gender and Desire (Advanced Undergraduate)
Tutor: Anthropology in and of the World” (Introductory)
2021 Academic-ish x Jo : 8 weeks of a course on Filming Sex Work in India
2021-2022 EdGE Mentor, Omprakash
Worked one-on-one with students across programs to ongoing learning, inquiry, and personal growth through personal mentorship on formative tasks and capstone projects especially focusing on the complexities of trying to ‘help others’ especially when crossing significant gaps of culture and power in their projects.
Mentored students through periodical check ins by phone or video call, to provide ongoing feedback as students design and execute self-directed research and digital storytelling projects.
2020-2021 Research Tutor, The Brilliant Club
Taught students from non-selective state schools in their fourth form a philosophy course called “What is fairness?” based on my PhD research, giving me invaluable experience in transforming complex ideas for children of all ages to understand, retaining the complexity. Students experienced university-style learning through the modules, and doing assignments with feedback that helps them develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to secure a place at a highly selective university.
2016-2018 The Circle, Wilson College Mumbai (Mental Health Peer Support Group)
Started one of the first and only college student-led peer support mental health groups in India at the time. Scaled to other colleges in the University of Mumbai and set up support for facilitators to create support spaces with a network to support each other. Conducted awareness campaigns outside of university.
WayToJo 