Grace Lucas

Dr. Grace Lucas is an Associate Professor of Mental Health and Society and serves as Associate Dean for Education Quality and Student Experience at City, University of London. She joined the institution in Autumn 2017 and has held progressive roles including Research Fellow, Lecturer, and Senior Lecturer. She also holds leadership positions such as Director for Educational Enhancement and Innovation.

Her academic background includes a PhD in English/Humanities (Medical Humanities) from Birkbeck, University of London, an MSc in Medical Humanities from King's College London, and an MA in English from the University of Cambridge. She also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice with Distinction from City, University of London.

Grace's research is deeply interdisciplinary, focusing on embodiment and embodied methodologies in mental health. She investigates how mental health is not merely 'in the head' but is shaped by physical, social, and lived experiences. Her scholarship explores the relationship between mental and physical health, life course models of illness, health inequalities, and student wellbeing. She has a particular interest in eating disorders, body-mind connection, and maternal mental health.

Her most recent publications show a strong trend in qualitative and systematic reviews on body-oriented therapies, maternal mental health, and healthcare professional perspectives. These works reflect her commitment to patient-centered, embodied, and socially informed approaches to mental health.

Grace is also the author of the bestselling mental health memoir Thin (Penguin, 2007), which bridges personal narrative with academic discourse on mental health.

She has contributed to research on healthcare roles, paramedic regulation, and cancer care, demonstrating a broad impact across health sciences. Her leadership in educational innovation further underscores her commitment to student experience and academic quality.