Tell us a little bit about your background...
After completing my BA Honours Psychology and MSc Research Methods at Strathclyde, I left academia to spend a bit of time in the third sector. I was a Youth Worker for See Me Scotland in their Education and Young People’s Team, during which I supported over 30 of our youth champions to represent See Me in their national anti-stigma efforts. I then worked for SAMH, as a Connect Coordinator, supporting transitions between primary and secondary school in a learning community in Springburn. Finally, I coordinated the running of youth groups as a Youth Work Team Leader at Fuse Youth Club in Shettleston. Amidst all of these brilliant experiences I continued to grow in my understanding of young people, their particular needs, and the importance of uplifting their voice and experiences. After these few years, I found myself the successful applicant for my now completed PhD Project investigating how young people experience mental health stigma. You can read more about this here.
When did you realise that you wanted to pursue psychology?
I made the decision to really give psychology a proper ‘go’ when I accepted my offer to the MSc Research Methods in Psychology at Strathclyde. Taking the leap of faith to challenge myself with a degree dedicated to research was a big step for me, and showed me how much I loved challenging myself to better understand the human experience through research. Working across different roles with young people continued to inspire me to pursue a career in psychology, but not in the way I first thought. I began turning away from the medical model and focused instead on emancipatory and participatory approaches to youth empowerment and mental health. Which led me to my PhD and then into my role as a lecturer.
What interests you most about your area of specialism?
I am deeply passionate about uplifting the voices of young people, which is why I have a specialism in participatory youth mental health research. When you truly begin to acknowledge the ways in which young people are disenfranchised in our society, the ways they are spoken for and about but often not with, and the ways they are deemed as ‘too young’ to understand the very real experiences they have before them, you find it hard to look away. Children and young people are so incredibly creative, passionate, grounded, and inspiring to work with. They aren’t stuck behind the red tape of ‘how things have always been done’ and they smash the box they’ve been put in time and time again. Working with children and young people through co-production and participatory research methods is what research is all about for me. Who says you have to have a PhD and work in a University to create knowledge? Who says young people don’t have brilliant ideas for the future? Let’s work together. Let’s build something that works for the people who need it.
Where do you currently work?
I work at Glasgow Caledonian University, as a Lecturer in Psychology. I work across our BSc Applied Psychology undergraduate programme and our DPsych Health, Counselling and Sport & Exercise programme. I am also our BSc Level 3 and Level 4 Coordinator. I deliver lecture content across countless modules, including Foundations in Psychology, Social Cyberpsychology, Personality and Individual Differences, Advanced Research in Applied Practise, to name a few. I supervise research students on our BSc Level 4 Empirical Project and with several of our DPsych students.
What do you like most about your role?
Narrowing it down to 3:
1. Working with our students so closely. Whether this is via supervision of research projects, pastoral support along their career journey, or in my capacity as coordinator. Playing a role in student learner journeys feels like a true privilege and I am incredibly passionate about ensuring everyone has the right support and encouragement they need across their early academic development. Learning is for everyone!
2. Working with my colleagues. I am involved in a number of exciting research projects and teaching development at the moment, with many inspiring colleagues across the Department of Psychology at GCU. We have a wealth of expertise across applied and theoretical domains and I love the opportunities I have to collaborate with different members of staff. Special shoutout to my doctoral supervisor, Professor Simon Hunter, who was also my lecturer at Strathclyde.
3. Inspiring the next generation of psychologists. Watching students’ go from shy 1st years to passionate 4th years walking across the graduation stage is a highlight of my year. Knowing that every year in the Department is another year of supporting and inspiring the next generation of psychologists is a real joy.
Are you working on any research at the moment?
I am! I have just submitted a paper from my PhD research, in collaboration with my three young co-researchers. You can read more about our PhD work and participatory approach here. I am actively applying for grants with several colleagues, in the areas of youth mental health stigma, youth stigma experiences in child and adolescent mental health services, youth stigma experiences of alopecia and more. I am also supporting lots of interesting work with my students, including a Carnegie Vacation Scholarship project on the use of AI wellbeing tools. To hear a little bit more about my work, I have a few videos and blogs available here.
What has been the highlight of your career?
Working with my supervisor and co-researchers during my PhD. Simon is a brilliant mentor and colleague and my co-researchers are a continued source of inspiration in all of the work I do. Writing my acknowledgements for my final PhD submission is a memory seared into my brain for eternity. I still get goose bumps when I think about what an incredible (and tough) experience my doctoral research really was.
What is the best advice that someone gave you?
Do it scared, do it tired, do it half hearted, but make sure you actually just do it. Life isn’t waiting for things to be perfect and there are lots of people doing the things you want to do way worse than you would do them. We spend so much time writing lists, making plans, envisioning the future. But this is all it’s own hidden sense of procrastination. So just do it. Apply for the job. Send the email. Bet on yourself. It pays off in the long run.
What advice would you give to someone looking to work in academia?
Find your niche and own it. Don’t let what people have always done stop you from proposing new ideas. I can’t stress enough that none of us actually know what we’re doing half the time. We’re just using the skills we have gained through our life and making the best decisions we can in the moment. Trust me, you will always have something to bring to a team. Find what it is and sell it. I once wrote ‘I am basically a golden retriever’ in a cover letter (and got that job), so the sky is the limit.
What are you excited about?
A well-earned break from teaching and marking. The summer marks a really great period of reflection and learning for me as an educator. I revisit all of my modules and lectures to update things. I consider things I can grow and develop on. I get to be creative and flexible with my time. It’s wonderful! I also love to read. I’m hoping to read around 30 books over the summer months, so I’m incredibly excited to dive into those with a matcha in the sun (hopefully)!
