Dr Lizann Bonnar

Deputy Associate Principal

Psychology

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Personal statement

I joined Psychology at Strathclyde in 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. My research background is in experimental design and quantitative research methods, and in recent years I have learned to use qualitative methods with students in a range of projects. Recent research projects with taught 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 equality, diversity and inclusion across the student journey.

In addition to my role in the Department of Psychological Sciences and Health, I am Deputy Associate Principal for Learning, Teaching and Assessment (since August 2025), and was previously Vice Dean (Academic) for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (2019 - 2025). As part of my role as Deputy Associate Principal, I lead the University's Assessment and Feedback Working Group, Generative-AI - Learning, Teaching and Assessment Working Group, the Careers and Employability Working Group, and I co-convene the Student Experience Committee with the Strath Union President. 

Externally, I have previously been a member of the Undergraduate Education Committee (UEC) of the British Psychological Society (2015 - 2025) 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 (2023). I am currently a member of the Scottish Careers Collaborative.

 

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Teaching

Currently I am module leader for the final year C8437 Psychology Work Placement class, and supervise several honours and MSc dissertation projects each year. I've previously taught/assessed across the BPS accredited curriculum at UG and PGT levels, with a focus on research methods and quantitative data analyses. 

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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
Launch of the Social and Environmental Sustainability Strategy
Invited speaker
20/11/2025
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

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