DoctorHelena Cook

Dr Helena Cook is a Samoan/Irish lecturer in the School of Social and Cultural Studies. Helena’s research centres on the experiences and aspirations of young people, with a focus on justice, cultural knowledge, and the reimagining of civic life in Aotearoa. Her current work is anchored in her Royal Society | Te Apārangi Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship, through which she is leading an in-depth study of how Pacific young people understand and engage with politics. This project explores culturally grounded forms of political participation and the barriers and opportunities that shape meaningful youth civic engagement in Aotearoa. Alongside this project, Helena investigates how young people navigate and contest systems that shape their lives, and the ways those systems might better support youth voice and leadership. Through this research, Helena aims to contribute to decolonial scholarship, culturally grounded practice, and more just educational and civic futures for Māori and Pacific youth 

Helena is the Programme Coordinator for the Youth and Community Leadership programme, and chair of the Civics and Citizenship working group of the New Zealand Political Studies Association. She sits on the board of Te Whare Kōhungahunga o UC I Early Childhood Learning Centre, is an Associate Editor for the New Zealand Journal of Teachers Work and has been a keynote speaker on the topics of identity, inclusive leadership, Pacific education, and political representation. Her professional experience has focused on the recruitment, retention, and success of Pasifika students at tertiary institutions and the academic support of international aid and development scholarship students, integrating her research with practitioner expertise.

Helena is excited to receive enquiries from students interested in fields of equity and education, Pacific education, civics and citizenship, youth voice, and political representation. She looks forward to also supervising interdisciplinary projects, particularly from politics and sociology.