Chris is Professor of Education and Society and Head of the School of Education. Following his degree in Modern Languages, Chris trained as a secondary teacher (at Edge Hill University!) and enjoyed 16 years in secondary education. He was Assistant Headteacher with whole-school responsibility for behaviour, safeguarding, child protection, wellbeing, and working with external agencies. He also had responsibility for CPD, teaching and learning, work-based learning, and quality. This professional experience fuels his practical interest in education and youth.

While working full-time in school, Chris gained his PhD from the University of Birmingham. He joined Edge Hill in January 2018 and obtained a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education from Edge Hill University in 2019. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Chris was promoted to Professor in 2024. 

Chris's research focuses on equity, diversity, and inclusion, with a particular interest in the intersections between gender, sexuality, religion, and disability in society and culture. He is a specialist in queer theory and queer studies.

Chris has published five monographs and edited three major collections. In the area of religion and sexualities, he is author of Undoing Theology (2018, SCM Press) and Queer Theologies: The Basics (2019, Routledge; second edition 2026). He also has research interests in religion, masculinities and safeguarding published in The Bible and Sexual Violence Against Men (2020, Routledge). Drag: The Basics (2025, Routledge, co-authored with Dr Mark Edward) explores the histories and activism associated with drag, including its representation in contemporary society, media and culture.

Chris co-edited T&T Clark Handbook of Sexualities in the Bible and its Reception with Caroline Blyth (2026, Bloomsbury). He is also co-editor of The Bible and Violence, an large, international two-volume series with over 100 chapters on Violence in Biblical Texts (vol. 1); and Violent Uses of the Bible (vol. 2).

Chris has published numerous book chapters and journal articles on religion, gender, sexualities, drag, as well as the use, function, and impact of the Bible in the contemporary world. This includes recent work on incel ideology and the Bible.

He is regularly invited to contribute to media pieces, including The Conversation. He has been interviewed on BBC Radio 4 and on NewsTalk Radio, Dublin.

Chris’s professional experience and research interests inform his teaching across a range of modules. Chris has worked on Initial Teacher Education courses in Modern Languages and RE. He was previously Subject Lead for Social Sciences, including provision in Sociology and Childhood and Youth Studies. He enjoys working with postgraduate researchers at MRes and PhD level. He is a UK Council for Graduate Education Recognised Research Supervisor. 

Chris’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion fuels his citizenship at Edge Hill. He is a strong advocate and advisor for the University on EDI. Externally, in 2025, he was invited to be part of the UK Quality Code Advice and Guidance writing group due to his commitment to inclusion in supporting students. In 2026, he was part writing group to set out the relationships between EDI and UKRN’s remit.