John Lydon

Professor John Lydon is a leading scholar at St Mary’s University London, where he serves as Director of the MA in Catholic School Leadership Programme and Deputy Director of the Centre for Research and Development in Catholic Education. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Notre Dame in London. His academic work focuses on spiritual capital, Catholic school leadership, and the maintenance of distinctive religious charisms in the face of 21st-century educational paradigms emphasizing marketisation and school effectiveness.

• Education: PhD (University of Surrey), MA (University of Liverpool), BA (University of Durham)

Lydon’s research explores how Catholic schools sustain their religious identity through spiritual capital theories, leadership formation, and innovative programs like the MA in Catholic School Leadership. His work intersects with global challenges such as detraditionalisation, intercultural dialogue, and evangelisation in formal and non-formal educational settings.

His 15 most recent publications (2009–2022) address themes like Teacher Vocation, Charism Transmission, Leadership Models, and Spiritual Capital Renewal, with a focus on Salesian pedagogy, faith formation, and global Catholic education partnerships across Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • Moderator of the Vatican-Supported Catholic-Inspired NGO Forum
  • Founding Member of the International Catholic Education Alliance
  • Distinguished Partner with Global Researchers to Advance Catholic Education (GRACE)

Lydon supervises doctoral students from Africa and mentors post-doctoral researchers in Catholic education. He has served as External Examiner for doctoral and master’s programs in the UK and Scotland and as a Section 48 Inspector for Catholic schools in England. His international engagements include keynote addresses at the University of Jaffna (Sri Lanka), St Louis University (USA), and the Vatican, alongside collaborations with UNESCO and the World Union of Catholic Teachers.