Ivana Lessner Listiakova

Dr. Ivana Lessner Listiakova is an Associate Professor and Head of Childhood and Education in the School of Business, Arts, Social Sciences and Technology at the University of Suffolk. She has previously held academic positions at Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia, Palacky University in Olomouc, Czech Republic, and the University of Northampton, UK.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD in Pre-school and Primary Education (2012)
• Master's degree in Therapeutic Education (2009)
• Additional studies at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest and New York University

Dr. Lessner Listiakova's research focuses on inclusive education, learning support, sensory processing difficulties, and creative arts therapies including art and dramatherapy. She has extensive expertise in working with children with autism, ADHD, sensory processing difficulties, and multiple disabilities. Her methodological expertise lies primarily in qualitative research methodologies and interpretative and pragmatic research paradigms, though she has also conducted mixed-methods research. She has been involved in research projects focused on evaluating expressive art therapies, multisensory approaches, and autism education.

Her recent publications show a strong emphasis on autism education in rural settings, teacher training for autism support, and the application of expressive arts therapies in educational contexts. These works demonstrate her commitment to addressing educational disparities and developing effective interventions for vulnerable populations.

Professional recognition includes:

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA, D2)
• Member of ProLP Association of Therapeutic Educators in Slovakia
• Editorial board member of Preschool Education Journal in Slovakia
• Peer-reviewer for multiple international academic journals

Dr. Lessner Listiakova has supervised numerous BA and MA dissertation students and is currently accepting PhD students with a focus on inclusion - inclusive education and social inclusion, interventions and strategies to support vulnerable and marginalised groups. She has secured research funding for projects including the ASD-EAST project focused on training specialist teachers working with children with autism in Croatia, Poland and North Macedonia, and has collaborated with institutions like FermynWoods Contemporary Arts and The National Museum of Computing. Her international engagement includes coordination of several international LLP Leonardo da Vinci projects across multiple European countries.