Professor Alison Baverstock

Kingston School of Art
Department of Journalism, Publishing and Media
School of Creative and Cultural Industries
Penrhyn Road

Professor of Publishing, Director of the Kingston University Big Read, founder of Reading Force

[email protected]

About

I co-founded MA Publishing at Kingston in 2005–6 and have been heavily involved in the international development of publishing studies throughout the period. I believe strongly that a professional discipline, offering both academic thinking and professional practice at the highest level, equips our graduates for a career in publishing, as well as allied fields. Understanding both the 'how' and 'why' leaves them well placed to solve problems we do not yet even anticipate.

Prior to working in higher education, I was a publisher. I have researched and written broadly about the industry and contemporary culture. My books are widely translated and used world-wide within industry, academia – and general society.

A lot of my research related to my commitment to widening awareness of the ongoing benefits that come from involvement in reading and books. I have been significantly involved with initiatives to encourage participation. These include founding the award-winning Well Worth Reading within public libraries (1985 onwards, now part of The Reading Agency), Reading Force (www.readingforce.org.uk) within Forces families and at Kingston our pre-arrival and internationally recognised shared-reading scheme – The Kingston University Big Read (which won a Times Higher Education (THE) Award for Widening Participation in 2017).

My industry-related research has explored the discipline of publishing studies, self-publishing, marketing in publishing, what shapes an author and how shared reading can serve to make transition between educational stages easier (now working within schools as well as HE).

I have also published four books (with Gill Hines) on parenting, including the bestselling Whatever! A down to earth guide to parenting teenagers (Piatkus), and introducing young people to art – a personal passion. A first generation student myself, I am committed to widening participation, inclusion and civic engagement.

I live in Kingston. I'm always keen to convince others that it's a great place to live, as well as work.

Qualifications

PhD
MA
PFHEA
National Teaching Fellow (2018)
Winner of the Pandora Award, for a significant contribution to the publishing industry (2007)
Recipient of a PM's Pillar of Light Award (2019)
Lifetime contribution to military wellbeing from 'Soldiering On' (2022)
Winner, with Claire Jackson, of the Universities Alliance, Best Innovation Award (2022)

Domains

Publications

Want to read more?: Two experts give their tips on what you can do

Paliokosta, Paty and Baverstock, Alison, 2026, The Conversation, Published

Professor Alison Baverstock

About

Qualifications

Domains

Teaching and learning

Research

Publications

Articles

Books

Book Sections/Chapters

Conference Items

Theses

Stay connected