Anna Lise Gordon

Prof Anna Lise Gordon is a Professor of Education at St Mary’s University, currently working part-time. She previously directed the Institute of Education and received the 2019 Inspirational Leader Award. Her research focuses on teacher and pupil wellbeing, resilience, and mental health initiatives in schools. She leads a five-year Mercers’ Company-funded project on whole-school mental health strategies and co-directs the Centre for Wellbeing in Education.

Anna Lise holds a National Teaching Fellowship (2012), is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and has won the St Henry Walpole Prize twice (2009, 2013). She earned her MA in Education (2008, Surrey) and EdD (2016, Nottingham Trent), focusing on teacher resilience and early career challenges. She also co-leads the University Mentoring Scheme and has extensive experience as an external examiner for teacher training programs.

Her research spans wellbeing in schools, bereavement awareness training for teachers, and professional development. Notable projects include the UKRI-funded ‘Wellbeing Leads – Who cares?’ and collaborative work on first-generation student mental health transitions. She has authored numerous publications, including the Head of Languages Handbook and chapters on resilience in teacher education.

Anna Lise has held leadership roles in professional bodies like the Association for Language Learning (2016-2018) and the University Council for Languages. Her presentations address teacher resilience, wellbeing initiatives, and professional development globally.