Dr Jesse Heley BA, MA and PhD from DGES.

Jesse's research is situated within the broad fields of political geography, economic geography & spatial planning, being particularly concerned with rural restructuring & shifting class dynamics in the British countryside. Currently, Jesse's research addresses; the nature & impact of globalization in rural localities; rural governance and regional institutions; the role of older volunteers in shaping & maintaining rural services & development; & ethnography & the ethical implications of undertaking 'native', 'local' & 'insider' research.

Current Funded Research Projects:

• 'Rural-Urban Outlooks: Unlocking Synergies (ROBUST)', European Union Horizon 2020 Societal Challenges (Co-I), Website: www.rural-urban.eu
• ESRC Civil Society Research Centre (WISERD) Theme 'Leader, Polarization, Austerity & Civic Deficits' www.wiserd.ac.uk 

Selected Previous Research Projects:

• 'The Global Countryside: Rural Change and Development in Globalization (GLOBAL-RURAL)', European Research Council Advanced Grant, 2014-19 (Co-I, with Michael Woods). Website: www.global-rural.org

Current PhD students 

Emanuele Amo

Jesse Heley was awarded a BA and MA from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Having completed his Ph.D. at the same institution on the subject of 'Rurality, Class, Aspiration and the Emergence of a New Squirearchy', Jesse was appointed as a Research Associate in DGES in 2009. He took up a Lectureship in Human Geography in the same department in April 2012.

Director of Undergraduate Studies, DGES

WISERD Civil Society Theme Leader, Polarisation, Austerity and Civic Deficit