Patricia Daley

Patricia Orchid Daley is a British human geographer and academic, specialising in forced migration, political ecology, and Africa. She is Professor of Human Geography of Africa at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford.

Early life and education Daley was born and brought up in rural Jamaica. At the age of 12, she emigrated to England.

Daley was the first of her family to attend university, and studied at Middlesex Polytechnic, graduating with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree. She then undertook postgraduate studies at Goldsmiths College and the School of Oriental and African Studies, both part of the University of London,

Academic career Daley previously taught at Dartmouth College, and Loughborough University. She is the first black woman to be appointed a lecturer at Oxford. Daley served as Vice-Principal of Jesus College from 2018 to 2021 and was elected to the governing Council of the University of Oxford in 2021.

In 2017, Daley was one 24 notable individuals chosen by the University of Oxford to have their portrait painted. Daley's portrait was painted by Binny Mathews. It was first exhibited at a temporary exhibition and then permanently at the Exam Schools of Oxford University. The portrait commission was part of a project to augment the existing portraiture at Oxford with a greater, "diversity of background, gender and accomplishments of scholars, staff and alumni."

In 2020, Daley was announced as one of the United Kingdom's 100 most influential people of African or African Caribbean heritage, in recognition of her contribution to education by being included in the 2021 edition of the annual Powerlist. In October 2025, a portrait of Daley painted by artist Chloe Cox was hung in the dining hall of Jesus College, making Daley the second person of colour to be displayed there, after college alumnus Norman Manley.

Selected works

R Elena Fiddian-Qasmiyeh, R . E. and P. O. Daley (Eds.). (2018). Routledge Handbook of South-South Relations. Routledge. ISBN 1138652008.