Personal statement

I am a Research Associate with the CILIA-LGBTQI+ study. I'm based at the School of Education, University of Strathclyde. I'm currently also on part-time secondment to the Scottish Funding Council as a Senior Policy Analysis Officer, with responsibility for implementation of the Gender Action Plan and the British Sign Language (BSL) National Plan. I was previously a Research Associate with the TransEdu Scotland research project, based at the University of Strathclyde and funded by the Scottish Funding Council. The research investigated the experiences of, and current provision for, trans people in Further and Higher Education across Scotland.

Qualifications: I have an interdisciplinary PhD in Law and Applied Social Sciences from Durham University, and BA Combined Honours in Social Sciences (1st Class) also from Durham University.

For further information about my research activities, visit Strathclyde KnowledgeBase.

Prizes and awards

Herald Diversity Award: Recipient; 11/10/2018
Strathclyde Medal Team Award: Recipient; 28/9/2018
Guardian University Award: Recipient; 2018

more prizes and awards

Qualifications

PhD Law and Applied Social Sciences, Durham University
BA Combined Honours in Social Sciences, 1st Class Hons, Durham University

PGCert Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, University of Strathclyde (Ongoing)

Publications

Supporting Transgender and Non-Binary Students and Staff in Further and Higher Education : Practical Advice for Colleges and Universities: Lawrence Matson, Mckendry Stephanie; (2019)
Empowering Leadership to Support Transgender Students and Staff within Higher Education : What Works to Raise Awareness and Effect Change?: Mckendry Stephanie, Lawrence Matson; (2019)
TransEDU Scotland : Researching the Experience of Trans and Gender Diverse Applicants, Students and Staff in Scotland's Colleges and Universities: Mckendry Stephanie, Lawrence Matson; (2017)
Taking time off : accessing gender-affirming healthcare whilst in employment or education: Lawrence Matson; TransForming Medicine (2017)
Barriers to Access : Report on the Barriers Faced by Young Disabled and D/deaf People in Accessing Youth Arts Provision in Scotland: Lawrence Matson,; (2016)

more publications

Professional activities

From Section 28 to LGBTQI+ Inclusion? Legacies, tensions and trajectories in Education: Organiser; 1/5/2019
How to help trans and non-binary students and staff - Tes Blog: Recipient; 22/2/2019
How can staff in higher education support trans & non-binary people during transition? - JKP Blog: Recipient; 8/2/2019
Transgender: Intersectional / International: Member of programme committee; 11/2018
National Gender Conference: Organiser; 25/10/2018
First Minister's National Advisory Council on Women and Girls: Participant; 14/6/2018

more professional activities

Projects

Comparing Intersectional Life Course Inequalities amongst LGBTQ People in Five European Countries: Taylor, Yvette (Principal Investigator) Lawrence, Matson (Researcher); 01-Jan-2018 - 31-Jan-2021
Empowering leadership to support transgender students and staff within higher education: Mckendry, Stephanie (Principal Investigator) Lawrence, Matson (Principal Investigator); There is increasing evidence that trans people face
significant challenges studying and working in higher
education (ECU, 2009; LGBT Youth Scotland, 2018; NUS,
2014; Stonewall, 2018a,b). Research undertaken at the
University of Strathclyde to explore the experiences and
challenges of this diverse group discovered a far greater
proportion of students considering or having left their
course, and issues around learning and teaching,
placements and confidentiality (Mckendry and Lawrence,
2017; Lawrence and Mckendry, forthcoming 2019). While
staff were often keen to support trans students, there was a
lack of awareness or training to provide background
context, a wider understanding of terminology or the
support requirements that might improve their student
experience. Similarly, trans and gender diverse staff
encountered barriers in relation to applying for roles and a
range of aspects of daily working life.

Building upon the University of Strathclyde research, this
project explored how to raise awareness effectively and
promote change and leadership. The project worked with
a sample of institutions to determine what materials would
be effective in increasing awareness of the transgender
population and building capacity and motivation to improve
support. Engagement also focused on developing
practical resources to enable positive change. The
TransEDU research team – Dr Stephanie Mckendry and
Dr Matson Lawrence – created and evaluated training
materials, policy templates, mapping documents and
multimedia resources that will inform university leaders
and practitioners about the lived experiences, support
needs and perspectives of trans students and staff.
The project developed the support website trans.ac.uk
as a free, open-access resource for those in higher
education supporting trans, non-binary and gender
diverse people. It includes training resources and
materials, case studies of best practice, animated
videos and guidance.; 01-Jan-2017 - 01-Jan-2018
Developing Trans+ Policy and Provison in HE: Lawrence, Matson (Principal Investigator); KE Partnership and Training Exchange with Trinity College Dublin; 18-Jan-2017 - 25-Jan-2017
TransEdu Scotland: Investigating the experiences of, and current provision for, trans applicants, students and staff in Further and Higher Education across Scotland: Mckendry, Stephanie (Principal Investigator) Lawrence, Matson (Researcher); 27-Jan-2016 - 29-Jan-2017
Investigating the barriers faced by young disabled and D/deaf people in accessing youth arts provision in Scotland: Lawrence, Matson (Principal Investigator); 01-Jan-2015 - 01-Jan-2016

more projects

Address

Education
Lord Hope Building

Location Map

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