Angana Moitra

Angana, a 2020 TEEME graduate from Kent, is currently an Assistant Professor at O.P. Jindal Global University, teaching BA English (Honours). She also freelances as a copy-editor for Penguin Random House and the Centre for Privacy Studies, University of Copenhagen. Her career highlights include a forthcoming monograph publication with Palgrave Macmillan and a research fellowship at the British Library.

Tell us about your career path since graduation.

I am currently working as Assistant Professor at the Jindal School of Languages and Literature in O.P. Jindal Global University, India where I teach a variety of courses on the BA English (Honours) degree programme. I worked in various academic settings shortly after graduation and continued to freelance as copy-editor for such publishers as Penguin Random House and institutions such as the Centre for Privacy Studies, University of Copenhagen.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

A typical day at work sees me divide my time between teaching, research, and administrative work. I offer both Core (i.e. compulsory) and elective courses pertaining to my areas of interest and teach classes ranging from 12-40 students. After class, I work in my office, either working on a research paper intended for publication, on a conference presentation, or preparing for the following class. I also serve as the faculty liaison for student internships and sit on the Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee of the university. In addition to these, I continue to offer pastoral and mentorship support to students.

Can you share a professional highlight from your career so far?

I have recently been awarded a research fellowship by O.P. Jindal Global University to conduct archival research at the British Library in summer 2024. This follows in the wake of me signing a contract with Palgrave Macmillan to publish my doctoral thesis as a monograph on their prestigious 'The New Middle Ages' series.

How did your time at Kent help you achieve your current career?

It was entirely fortuitous that I went on to take the highest degree of my educational life at Kent since as a medievalist, Canterbury had always held a special place in my heart. I was entirely fascinated by Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales during my MA, and the fact that Canterbury was the 'birthplace' both of English Christianity (since this is where Augustine's delegation arrived in 597 CE to begin the conversion of the land) and of one of my favourite playwrights, Christopher Marlowe endeared me very strongly to the town even before I had taken up my place at Kent. 

At Kent, I was fortunate to access the combined strengths of the excellent staff at both the Schools of English and History, and as a member of MEMS (Kent's Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies), I was able to benefit from a plethora of incredibly interesting courses ranging from palaeography and codicology to an historical appraisal of Shakespeare's King Lear. Thanks to the superb partnership networks at Kent, I was able to do an internship at Shakespeare's Globe, a foundational experience that changed the trajectory of my vocational career.

What advice would you give to our current/prospective students who are looking to get into the same line of work?

Although there has been a tendency to devalue higher study in the Humanities as being not 'career friendly' enough, I believe it is more vital than ever before that we continue to champion the cause of disciplines such as literature, history, cultural studies, and cognate fields. In a world mired by geopolitical instability, we need to be able to think critically, reflectively, and--above all--with compassion and empathy to solve the problems that technology and the sciences have either failed to or struggle to solve. The real takeaway from a career based on academic research in the humanities is that it offers key and indelible insights into the human condition -- insights which are indispensable to understand the future of humanity. 

To all students unsure about taking up a career in this field, I can only emphasise that in a world oversaturated with engineers, scientists, programmers, policy analysts, lawyers, and finance specialists (all of whom, make no mistake, have their own place and are important in their own ways), we need more people in touch with the core essence of what it means to be a human being -- something which only the studia humanitatis can provide.

Do you have a favourite memory from your time at Kent?

My favourite memories are of the MEMS pub evenings on Thursdays which were full of fun, conviviality, and merriment. Thanks to these pub evenings, I discovered so many pubs around Canterbury! (The Unicorn remains my favourite, although I also have fond memories of Old Rosie, the cider at The Black Griffin). Another memorable day was Graduation Day on 29 March 2022!

Is there anything you would do differently if you could repeat your time at Kent?

I would have probably taken more time to explore the town thoroughly and ventured out beyond the High Street and its environs. When I went back for graduation, I saw Canterbury with fresh eyes and remembered that so much remains that I haven't explored!

Are you still in touch with other Kent alumni or academics?

I am in touch with my supervisor, Prof Catherine Richardson and with other MEMS faculty. I am also in touch with my MEMS batchmates on social media (especially Facebook and Instagram).

What are your future ambitions?

I wish to continue working at the interface of teaching and research. I am currently aiming for a Marie Curie postdoctoral fellowship in collaboration with the University of Copenhagen. My dream would be to win an award for my monograph, in which case I will be sure to thank Kent in my acceptance speech!