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  1. Gillian Johnston
    Gillian joined BGU in October 2022 as a Sociology/Criminology lecturer. Her current role is Programme Leader for both the BA (Hons) Sociology and BA (Hons) Criminology programmes. Gillian played a pivotal role in developing the recently validated BA (Hons) Criminology programme. Gillian’s qualifications span both disciplines. She graduated from the University of Lincoln with a BA (Hons) Social Science degree and later graduated from Keele University with an MA in Criminology and Research Methods. She is currently undertaking an EdD. Her area of interest and the topic of her thesis is related to class, gender and Higher Education. The aim of her research is to examine the impact that social background and gender may have on mature working-class women whilst on their Higher Education learning journey. The working title of her research: Exploring the inner worlds of mature working-class women on their journey through Higher Education. Gillian’s criminological interest is with punishment and prisons. She has gained extensive practical skills through her volunteering experiences with several local organisations that offer support to offenders in the prison environment and ex-offenders in the community. Gillian teaches on several Sociology modules: What is (the point of) sociology?Advanced Social ThoughtDiscourse and Identity: Local, National and Global ContextsProfessional ContextsIn Dialogue: Subject Studies Across the Arts and HumanitiesSurveillance and Society She will also be delivering several modules on the BA (Hons) Criminology programme.
  2. Mary Brown
    Mary joined BGU November 2023. Lecturer in Sociology and Criminology. Mary has contributed to the programme development and delivery of the new undergraduate programme: BA Criminology degree and to the BA Sociology degree, developing several modules including the new module Sociology of Education, one of her specialist subject areas. More widely, Mary contributes to the Lincolnshire Youth Justice Team Futures4Me programme on the Community Panel. She is involved with developing placement opportunities as part of the BA Criminology as well as developing involvement of multiple sections of Lincolnshire police and agencies within the Criminal justice System in vocational curriculum development and employability. Other connections and class based learning development Mary has affiliated with include from Social Work teams, the Lincolnshire Recovery Partnership and LiNCHIGHER. Previously, Mary gained her BA (Hons) Social Sciences degree at the University of Hertfordshire (1995), her PGCE from Nottingham Trent University (2010) and her Master of Philosophy research degree from University of Lincoln (2022). Mary has taught at Lincoln College, where she was a lecturer in sociology, criminology (2007-2024) and policing (2021-2024) and at the University of Lincoln where she was an Associate Lecturer (2018-2021). Mary’s research interests are principally focused on young people and social class, particularly in the field of education and the relationship between these and what they mean for experience and success in education. She has contributed to improved innovation and focus on learning programmes and their accessibility for wider participation students and those with more practical focus particularly from working class backgrounds. Such interests are also shared with the wider sociological community via the British Sociological Association and Mary is a contributor to discoversociety.org. By applying research literature reviews of sociologists of education, Mary has applied new found ways of contributing to teaching programmes.
  3. Dr Julia Lindley-Baker
    Julia Lindley-Baker coordinates and teaches on undergraduate programmes in Special Educational Needs and Inclusion(SENI) across the university. Having originally trained as a special needs teacher with a focus upon the primary age range, she has taught and held senior leadership positions in a range of different settings, always with a special education focus. Julia joined the staff of Bishop Grosseteste University in 2010, following ten years as Vice Principal of a special educational needs college. Teaching Julia co-ordinates and teaches on a wide variety of modules drawing upon her knowledge and understanding of SENI. Her teaching interests include the sociology and history of special needs, pedagogy of special needs and the diverse nature of inclusive practice. She also has extensive experience of delivering inset and CPD for teachers and teaching assistants. She has delivered training locally, nationally and internationally. She is recognised as a senior fellow by the higher education academy (SFHEA).
  4. Dr Laura Way
    Dr Laura Way is currently a lecturer in sociology and a fellow of the HEA. Laura gained a MA in women's studies from the University of York before completing a PGCE and MA in Education with Nottingham Trent University. Her PhD in sociology with the University of Leicester focused on ageing punk women and the construction of identity. Prior to joining BGU, Laura worked within the further education sector. Her research interests include age, gender and subcultural participation; creative research methods; and punk pedagogies. Laura is a steering group member of the Punk Scholars Network and Editorial Board member for the Intellect journal 'Punk & Post-Punk'.
  5. Professor Chris Atkin
    Programme Leader MA in EducationProfessor Chris Atkin’s education qualifications include Certificate in Education (Further Education), Bachelor of Education (Hons.), Master of Arts in Learning and Teaching, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Chris’ main research expertise lies in the policy and practice of post-school education and training; with a particular focus on rural communities. He has completed a range of research projects funded by the UK funding councils (ESRC, EPSRC, NERC), the Higher Education Academy (HEA), the British Academy, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the National Research and Development Centre for adult literacy and numeracy (NRDC), Local Authorities and the Learning and Skills Council. His research has included both national and international comparative studies including ‘practitioner based’ enquiry with a range of educational stakeholders. He currently teaches on master's and doctoral programmes. Chris has held academic posts at De Montfort University (1994-99), the University of Nottingham (1999-2010) and Liverpool Hope University (2010-12). Chris joined Bishop Grosseteste University in September 2012.
  6. Emeritus Professor Mike Cole
    Dr Mike Cole is Emeritus Professor in Education and Equality at Bishop Grosseteste University. His research has focused primarily on racism and on Marxist theory, as well as Marxist critiques of Critical Race Theory in Education. More recently, he has worked on public pedagogy. His latest books on public pedagogy are Trump, The Alt-Right and Public Pedagogies of Hate and for Fascism: What is to be Done? (2019), Theresa May, the Hostile Environment and Public Pedagogies of Hate and Threat: The Case for a Future Without Borders (2020), and Climate Change, the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Public Pedagogies: The Case for Ecosocialism, all published by Routledge. He has also been working on an extended monograph, entitled, Racism and the Tory Party: from Disraeli to Johnson, as well as two edited collections, Education, Equality and Human Rights: Issues of Gender, Racism, Sexuality, Disability and Social Class 5th Edition and Equality, Education and Human Rights in America: Issues of Gender, ‘Race’, Sexuality, Disability and Social Class, all to be published by Routledge in 2022.
  7. Thomasin Nicholds
    Thomasin is the Head of Programmes; Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and the Associate Dean; International. Having spent a large proportion of her career in the Third Sector, responsible for the strategic development and running of a wide range of services for children, families and communities. These include organisational development programmes for other businesses, community research, Ofsted regulated Further Education, health and wellbeing programmes. In this context she has worked at a national level developing and informing policy, engaging in a wide range of partnerships and leading strategic networks. Thomasin is an experienced Charity Trustee has been on the Boards of organisations of varying sizes and reach. Thomasin has studied Occupational Psychology at postgraduate level and has a particular interest in leadership, inclusivity in the workplace and organisational change. She has worked closely with the University of Lincoln International Business School’s Community Organisations Group for over 15 years in an Associate role. For two years Thomasin was the Principal Investigator for an externally funded, gender and leadership research project, working with colleagues with a background in Social Psychology, Business, Education and Sociology. Thomasin has a background teaching on the Psychology BA (Hons) programme and supervises undergraduate dissertations.
  8. Reverend Dr Tania ap Siôn
    The Revd Dr Tania ap Siôn is Reader of Religions, Humanities and Education, and joined Bishop Grosseteste University in 2018. She holds a BA and MA in Theology from Oxford University, an MA in Religious Studies from the University of Wales, Bangor, and a PhD in Education (focusing on theology, psychology and education) from the University of Warwick. Tania’s academic research has a strong relationship with professional practice in church-related, school-related, and community-related contexts. This is underpinned by the professional qualification of PGCE in Religious Studies, ordination as an Anglican priest in the Church in Wales, active membership of national and international organisations concerned with religion in schools, and the position of Executive Director of the St Mary’s Centre (a Christian research institute in Wales). Previously, Tania has held academic posts at Bangor University (1994-2007), Glyndwr University Wrexham (2011-2015), and the University of Warwick (2015-2018). Funded by the Wrexham (Parochial) Educational Foundation in partnership with Bishop Grosseteste University, since October 2020 Tania has been working on the St Giles’ Centre Research, Development and Impact Project in Religious Education, which is an exciting and innovative development taking place in the Wrexham County Borough, North East Wales.
  9. Martin Smith
    Martin Smith joined BGU in 2016 and is the technician for Psychology. His main role is supporting staff and students with using the variety of Psychology equipment we have available in the department, such as the virtual reality headset and BIOPAC devices. Martin delivers a number of practical sessions across the degree to help support student understanding of psychological concepts. Martin also co-ordinates the SONA system, which is used to help advertise staff and student research projects. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Lincoln and completed a Research Master's looking at using Virtual Reality as a means of investigating how we use language for objects that are in motion. Martin is part of the Psychology, Health and Wellbeing Research and Knowledge Exchange unit, where he offers additional technical support for other members of the unit.
  10. Rachel Linstead
    Rachel joined BGU in 2021 as a Lecturer in Business and Enterprise. Alongside this role Rachel runs a successful consultancy business specialising in workplace culture and wellbeing. Rachel holds an MSc in workplace health and wellbeing and is a qualified nutritionist and business coach and mentor. Rachel’s main research interests include workplace culture, leadership and management, high performing teams and workplace health and wellbeing. Rachel has successfully ran two workplace health and wellbeing conferences and has spoken at both national and international conferences on the subject of nutrition and its impact on both workplace performance and mental health. Rachel teaches on the undergraduate BA (Hons) Business programme and the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship. Rachel's teaching specialisms include leadership and management, organisational psychology and sociology, business start-up and Leadership for a changing world.

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