This week’s guest on ‘Pause. And Rewind…’ was not a particularly ambitious teenager. It was generally teased that he likely wouldn’t go on to achieve anything great. Fast forward to today and three degrees, a published book & an Honorary Doctorate later, he’s the leading figure in integrating intersectionality, inclusion and equity in higher education systems, policy and programmes both nationally and internationally.
Dr Arun Verma (he/him) grew up in a big, working class family in Southwest London embedded in two very different cultures. His homelife was centred around Hinduism with the cultural celebrations & festivities that came with that. And on the flip side, his family were the only Indian family on the street & he went to a Church of England school. The two, he feels, were worlds which didn’t fit quite together and he felt both a sense of belonging but also displacement at times - initially from being the quiet one in the family & later with being gay.
Arun didn’t like being told what to do or what to learn. He originally wanted to be a jazz musician & reflects on his experiences on playing in jazz bands around London yet when it came to continuing this as a career, he felt he didn’t have the tenacity that others had.
Flitting between various roles & career focuses including marketing & counselling, he set his sights on research and eventually, after 20+ applications, he was accepted for a PhD at the University of Dundee after a long & gruelling interview process. This was a truly transformative experience for Arun - his discovery of intersectionality not only shaped his career, reputation & impact but became a personal journey & healthy metaphor for his own experiences. This also resulted in a full circle moment having been awarded an Honory Doctorate from Dundee last year during a special ceremony which he recounts.
We chat about the joy of community & working in DEI with amazing humans - and as someone who has got to work with Arun, I agree! - switching off, Arun’s pride in finishing what he starts & how essential disruption is. Enjoy!
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