About

Education

BA, Social Anthropology (Harvard)
MPhil, Development Studies (Sussex)
PhD, Action Research in Professional Practice (Bath)
Certified Teacher, Higher Education (Sussex).

Contact

Jethro Pettit

Jethro Pettit is a facilitator of learning for social and organisational change, and a practitioner of transformative methods of teaching. He designs and leads innovative courses, workshops and training events, research projects and strategic reviews for international agencies, civil society organisations, foundations and universities around the world. Jethro speaks English, Spanish, Italian and French.

Jethro’s research and publications focus on adult learning, inclusive participation, civil society and social movements, accountable governance, gender, human rights and environmental justice. He is an Emeritus Fellow of the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, UK.

Jethro lives in the Apennine mountains in Italy where he practices permaculture, cultivates vegetables, fruit, olives, chickens and bees, and helps to create and maintain wilderness hiking trails.

Professional Services

Jethro’s approach to learning is inclusive and transformative, using critical, reflective, creative and experiential methods that inspire participants to question thinking, re-examine practice and discover new pathways for action.

Services may be combined to create unique learning experiences, including virtual learning; coaching in social and organisational leadership; training in facilitation and transformative teaching methods; and production of high-impact publications.

See examples of recent projects

Previous Work Experience

Director of Teaching and Learning
Institute of Development Studies, Sussex, UK
(2014 – 2016)
Led the Institute’s Teaching and Learning Strategy, including MA and PhD programmes, professional short courses, learning partnerships and e-learning.

Research Officer and Research Fellow
Institute of Development Studies, Sussex, UK
(2001 – 2016)
Research, teaching, evaluation and advisory work related to social and political empowerment, organisational learning and change, professional development and higher education.

Director of International Programs
World Neighbors, Oklahoma, USA
(1993 – 2001)
Led community-based development team working in 20 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America with seven field offices and annual budget of US$2m.

Senior Associate, International Programs
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, Boston, USA
(1988 – 1991)
Led development and social justice programs in Asia and Latin America, promoting community leadership and organization, the environment, child rights and women’s reproductive health

Desk Officer / Program Representative, Central America and the Caribbean
Oxfam America, Boston, USA
(1983 – 1988)
Coordinated $1 million annual partnership program with social movements, humanitarian responses and human rights initiatives in eight countries.