Orla Phelan
Orla studied for her BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Trinity College, Oxford and completed her course in June 2024. During her studies she specialised in Philosophy and Politics with a particular research interest in contemporary political theory in applied contexts, such as disability and environmental justice.
Prior to coming to Oxford, Orla worked as member of teaching staff in a comprehensive school, directly supporting students with complex educational needs, and as a strategic affairs researcher at an international biosciences company. She is passionate about improving education, having co-founded a national campaign during her time at school. The ‘Fill in the Blanks’ campaign called for the inclusion of mandatory teaching of British colonial history and migration in the secondary school curriculum, involved consultation with the Shadow Education Secretary, and was featured in the BBC, The Guardian and Elle Magazine.
Having herself studied at Oxford as a disabled student, she is passionate about drawing on her own experiences to improve future disabled students’ time at the University, particularly using her theoretical background on disability justice in a practical research setting to directly inform policy. Additionally, Orla is excited by the prospect of developing her qualitative and quantitative research skills further and working collaboratively in a student-staff partnership.
Outside of work and study, Orla enjoys film, photography and learning about art history, and is always curious about opportunities to further expand her horizons.
