Adeela Ahmed Shafi

Professor Adeela Ahmed Shafi, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and member of the British Psychological Society, is a leading academic in the education of incarcerated youth at the University of Gloucestershire. With over 16 years of experience in Higher Education, her work bridges psychology, criminology, and social justice to re-engage young offenders in secure custodial settings. She is the founder of the Transdisciplinary Research for Youth Justice Network (TRYJUSTICE) and leads the Centre for Whole Society Resilience (CWSR).

• BSc (Hons) Psychology, University of Bristol
• PGCE Education, University of Wales
• MEd Psychology of Education, University of Bristol
• PhD Education, University of Bristol

Her research focuses on the role of education in improving outcomes for incarcerated children, emphasizing transdisciplinary collaboration and international policy development. She has led Erasmus+ projects such as Re-Engaging Young Offenders with Education & Learning (RENYO) and Active Games for Change (AG4C), and is the lead editor of the first authoritative international handbook on this topic by Palgrave.

Key awards

• MBE for social justice contributions
• Power 100 Excellence in Education
• Bristol City Council Services to the Community

She teaches modules on BA Education, MA Education, and PGCAP, with a focus on psychology, research methods, and international dimensions. Her community engagement includes roles as Chair of the Avon & Somerset Police Scrutiny Panel and Commissioner for Race Equality in Bristol.