Dr Lizann Bonnar

Deputy Associate Principal

Psychology

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Personal statement

I joined Psychology at Strathclyde in September 2004, following a MA (Hons) and PhD in Psychology at the University of Glasgow. My PhD was in cognitive psychology, specifically visual attention and recognition.  Although my research background is in experimental design and quantitative research methods, I have learned to use qualitative methods with students in a range of projects. Current research projects with students are in the area of student mental health and sense of belonging amongst students who are traditionally under-represented in higher education. I am also engaged in collaborative projects with colleagues and students on applying an intersectional approach to equality, diversity and inclusion across the student journey.

In addition to my role in the Department of Psychological Sciences and Health, I am Vice Dean (Academic) in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (since 2019). In this role, I lead on the enhancement and quality assurance of the Faculty's UG and PGT education portfolio (over 100 degree programmes with around 8000 students in 15 discipline areas that are organised into 7 departments/centres).  I am passionate about transforming teaching, learning and assessment so that students and graduates develop the personal attributes, knowledge, understanding and skills needed to address the challenges and opportunities of the 21st Century. A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion across all stages of the student journey underpins this work. I also lead the University's Assessment and Feedback Working Group (since 2013) and the Generative-AI - Learning, Teaching and Assessment working group (since 2023). In these roles I have led the development of university policies/procedures, guidance, and other resources.

Externally, I am a member of the Undergraduate Education Committee (UEC) of the British Psychological Society (since 2015) and have led a working group of this committee on advancing equality, diversity and inclusion in the discipline through a review of the Standards for Accreditation of UG and Conversion level degrees. I have also been a member of the QAA Subject Benchmark Statement Advisory Panel for Psychology.

 

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Teaching

At undergraduate level, I am class leader for the final year C8437 Psychology Work Placement class, and supervise several honours and MSc dissertation projects each year. Prior to taking up the role as Vice Dean Academic (now .7FTE), I was class leader for C8321 Research Methods and Data Analysis, and also taught on Introduction to Research Design and Analysis (C8203), and research methods classes on three MSc programmes: MSc in Research Methods in Psychology, MSc Clinical Health Psychology, and the online MSc Psychology with a specialistion in *Business (conversion). 

I led on the development of a university-wide module called 'Multi-disciplinary Perspectives of Sustainable Development', and worked with colleagues across the University to deliver this for the first time in January 2020. The module has been developed in line with UNESCO's Education for Sustainable Development Learning Objectives and is delivered (led by Professor Debra Willison) by staff from all four faculties and attended by students from different degree levels and disciplines across the University. 

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Professional Activities

AdvanceHE Employability Symposium 2026
To be assigned
10/3/2026
AdvanceHE Employability Symposium 2026
To be assigned
10/3/2026
Promoting International Students’ Employment
Speaker
11/4/2025
Explorance Impact Tour Shaping the Future of Higher Education: Student Voice and AI. Glasgow, 11 January 2024
Participant
11/1/2024
Advance HE Roundtable on AI - Universities of the Future.
Speaker
14/12/2023
Invited Member of Keynote Symposium on ‘Decolonising the Curriculum’, Annual Conference of the Division of Academics, Researchers and Teachers in Psychology (D-ARTP) of the British Psychological Society
Invited speaker
24/11/2022

More professional activities

Projects

STEP (Scottish Tertiary Enhancement Programme) - REACTS
Bovis, Christopher (Principal Investigator) Barton, Karen (Co-investigator) Bonnar, Lizann (Co-investigator) Cumming, Staci (Co-investigator) Gould, Helyn (Co-investigator) Hasty, William (Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2025 - 01-Jan-2026
Participation in British Academy/Students Organising for Sustainability UK SHAPE Impact Project
Bonnar, Lizann (Principal Investigator) Morse, Tracy (Co-investigator) Williams, Manuela (Co-investigator) Gallou, Eirini (Co-investigator)
Staff from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Centre for Sustainable Development participated in the British Academy/Students Organising for Sustainability UK SHAPE (Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts for People and Environment) Impact Project. The project sought to support the local community of Townhead and Ladywell to address some of their sustainability challenges. As a first activity, students worked with community leaders to engage with the wider community via an exhibition in the Village Hall on Townhead and Ladywell: Past, Present and Future.
01-Jan-2022 - 06-Jan-2024
Understanding Student Retention During the Pandemic
Bonnar, Lizann (Principal Investigator) Jack, Kate (Principal Investigator)
The pandemic has impacted every aspect of our education provision and exacerbated existing inequalities in the student population (e.g., digital divide). However, there are signs of encouragement in analyses of progression, award (Advance HE, 2021) and retention data in parts of the sector. Discussions are focusing on the potential positive impact of mitigations put in place to support students through the pandemic. At Strathclyde, retention has increased by 2.9% in the pandemic years and in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) alone, this has increased to 5%. The aim of this project is to understand the drivers behind this increase. In the first year, the project will seek to identify the factors behind increased retention in HaSS and learning from this pilot, will extend the aim to understanding retention in the other three faculties in Year 2. The project will apply an equalities lens. In developing an enhanced understanding of student retention, the project seeks to advance equality, diversity and inclusion so that all students have the opportunity to flourish through each stage of the student journey.
20-Jan-2022 - 30-Jan-2023
Understanding Student Attainment During the Pandemic
Bonnar, Lizann (Principal Investigator) Jack, Kate (Principal Investigator)
This project seeks to understand student attainment during the pandemic. It will apply an equalities lens to the data, in order to identify any award/attainment gaps.
20-Jan-2022 - 30-Jan-2023
QAA Enhancement Theme Funding on Resilient Learning Communities - Decolonising the Curriculum in Humanities and Social Sciences
Bonnar, Lizann (Principal Investigator)
£1000 of funding received to support two student interns to develop resources to support decolonisation of curricula across the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
01-Jan-2022 - 30-Jan-2023
PhD studentship for Claire Crichton-Allen - Pedagogies and assessment of C21 competencies for sustainable futures
Strachan, Scott (Principal Investigator) Bonnar, Lizann (Principal Investigator)
Secured fully funded PhD from Centre for Sustainable Development– “Pedagogies and assessment of C21 competencies for sustainable futures” - co-produced proposal and co-supervising student with Lizann Bonnar from School of Psychology
01-Jan-2022 - 30-Jan-2025

More projects

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Contact

Dr Lizann Bonnar
Deputy Associate Principal
Psychology

Email: lizann.bonnar@strath.ac.uk
Tel: Unlisted