LOS ANGELES-raised Penny Jane Burke feels a "tremendous sense of relief" at President-elect Joe Biden's victory, saying he has restored hope in the country's future.
Professor Burke, who is director of the University of Newcastle's Centre of Excellence for Equity in Higher Education, said she had been "absolutely glued" to the election coverage and was planning at time of publication to Facetime with her California-based parents and brother and celebrate the result.
"It's been quite emotional," Professor Burke said.
"It's probably one of the most emotional elections I've ever experienced."
Professor Burke, who left the US when she was 21, said it had been concerning watching Trump "undermine a lot of important moves towards a more progressive future", deepen divisions and make incorrect claims about the media and election process.
She said she was buoyed by Mr Biden's message about healing together and he appeared to be patient, calm and focused on the public, not himself.
"There's a real sense of hope at the moment that is so reassuring."
She said Mr Biden's appointment of Kamala Harris as his vice president was also significant.
"This is not only important historically, but also in terms of hope and possibility for the future, signalling progression - in the US and internationally - towards racial justice and gender equity," she said.
"The blatant misogyny and racism unleashed through the Trump presidency has been heartbreaking to witness and it is deeply moving to already see the initiation of an agenda towards change via the Biden-Harris partnership."
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