Yara Issa

Biography

Yara recently joined the School of Health and Social Care as a Lecturer, bringing extensive interdisciplinary expertise in sociology, research methods, and student development. Prior to this role, Yara taught in the Sociology and Criminology Department, where she delivered undergraduate modules focused on researching and analysing social phenomena using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Her teaching integrates advanced analytical tools such as NVivo and R software, equipping students with practical and theoretical research skills. Yara is a dedicated academic and researcher who recently completed her PhD in Sociology at the University of Essex. Her doctoral research focused on the intersection of childlessness, parenthood, psychological well-being, and marital satisfaction, with a particular emphasis on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to her teaching experience, Yara has held several significant research roles that showcase her expertise in data analysis, policy development, and project management. As a Research Assistant at the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER), she contributed to the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) by designing and developing a new questionnaire related to home ownership. Her responsibilities included data management, coding, and organizing large datasets to support the Understanding Society project. Yara also worked as a Research Assistant in the Vice Chancellor’s Office at the University of Essex, where she analysed data on student demographics and engagement. Her findings informed institutional policies on diversity and inclusion, helping to create a more equitable and supportive academic environment. During her role as a Research and Engagement Intern at Colchester Borough Council, Yara conducted fieldwork for a country park's annual customer satisfaction survey, achieving an impressive response rate of 268 in just two weeks. Additionally, she carried out secondary data analysis on demographic trends, such as health and financial security among older populations, to inform local policy decisions. Earlier in her career, Yara gained valuable experience as a Learning Support Assistant, where she supported students of all abilities in mathematics, reading, and writing, with a particular focus on innovative teaching techniques for children with special educational needs. Yara is highly skilled in various software tools, including NVivo, R, SPSS, Stata, Qualtrics, and Microsoft Office. She has published proposals in the Sociology Department journal (IDEAT) and was awarded the Sage Quantitative Methods Prize for the best BA dissertation at the University of Essex.

Qualifications

• PhD Sociology University of Essex

• MSc Survey Methods for Social Research University of Essex

• BA Sociology and Social Psychology University of Essex