Heidi Affi (she/her)

Heidi is a PhD Candidate in Middle Eastern Studies at Exeter's Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies. Through transdisciplinary methods, she researches Syrian counter-memories from the 2011 Syrian revolution until the fall of the Assad Regime in December 2024. She focuses on affective and creative memory projects centring on landscape, space, and non-human experiences. As a writer, consultant, and artist, she generally explores contemporary surrealism, cultural and alternative geographies, and land-based practices. Heidi is also a co-founder of azl, a digital publication of art, writing, and open-source knowledge exchange. She has a background in environmental and community health. 

Heidi holds an MSc in Human Rights and Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a dual Bachelor's in Political Science and Religious Studies from Macalester College (US). Her research at Exeter is funded by the Al Qasimi Foundation Studentship and is supervised by Professors William Gallois, Billie Jeanne Brownlee, and Laleh Khalili. 

Heidi is a PGR Representative alongside her friend and peer, Marcus Hibbeln, bringing together student needs and Institute resources to organise events, roundtables, and peer-led support in academic and social settings.