Alison joined Bedfordshire in 2006 as a senior lecturer, followed by a promotion to Head of School of Applied Social Studies in 2018.

Prior to this, Alison began her career in higher education, in 2003, at De Montfort University, working as a lecturer, whilst maintaining her clinical practice.

Alison qualified with an Undergraduate degree in Sociology, an MSc in Mental Health and as a Psychiatric Nurse in 1987. She started her career working as a psychiatric nurse and has worked in a variety of health and social care settings such as; acute psychiatry, older adult services and forensic mental health within both NHS, private and charity sectors.

Her research focuses on the experiences of living with rare diseases. Her Doctorate in Professional Practice, titled ‘The experiences of being diagnosed with Lymphangioleiomyomatosis’, examined eleven women’s experiences of being diagnosed with this very rare lung disease.

Aside from her role at Bedfordshire, Alison is a Governor for Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, using her expertise to help represent local interest within the Trust.

Qualifications

• Professional Doctorate in Professional Practice - University of Northampton
• MSC Mental Health – University of Northampton
• BSc (Hons) Sociology – De Montfort University
• Registered Mental Health Nurse

Research Interests

• Cannabis as a form of self-medication
• Rare diseases
• Mentally disordered offender
• Gangs and mental health

Projects

• Innovative assessments
• Staff wellbeing
• Widening Participation

External roles

• External Examiner at University of the West of Scotland