Megan Lawton

Professor Megan Lawton is a leading figure in academic practice and inclusive education at the University of Wolverhampton, where she serves as Professor of Learning and Teaching in Academic Practice within the Directorate of Students and Education and the Directorate of Academic Development and Success. A National Teaching Fellow and Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, she has significantly advanced staff development, neurodiversity, and inclusive pedagogy in higher education.

• Doctorate in Professional Studies (Learning and Teaching), Middlesex University
• MBA, Wolverhampton Polytechnic
• PGCE in Further Education, Wolverhampton Polytechnic
• BA in Visual Communication Studies, West Midlands Institute of Higher Education

Her research centers on imposter syndrome, neurodiversity, flipped learning, transnational education, and visual research methodologies. She advocates for inclusive practices, drawing from personal experience with dyslexia, and has published extensively on staff development and Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). Her work emphasizes empowering marginalized learners and rethinking traditional pedagogical models.

The recent publications reflect a strong trend toward inclusive, reflective, and globally aware academic practices, with a focus on mental wellbeing, equitable teaching strategies, and the internationalization of curricula. Her research integrates personal insight with systemic innovation, particularly in supporting Deaf students and neurodiverse academics.

Her scientific awards include:

• National Teaching Fellow (NTF), 2017
• Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA), 2017
• Senior Fellow of the HEA (SFHEA), 2014
• Regional Winner, Cosmopolitan Achievement Awards for Women, 1992
• National Award for Widening Access to HE, 1992

Megan Lawton has led impactful initiatives, including the Development and design of an IPS education framework and career pathway (2020–2021). She has advised on academic development nationally and internationally, serving as an external reviewer for Hong Kong Baptist University and the University of Ulster. Her leadership extends to mentoring and coaching, supported by her ILM Level 5 certification.

She founded the Visual Language Centre (VLC) at the University of Wolverhampton in 1991, a pioneering initiative that advanced British Sign Language in higher education and created the first BA (Hons) BSL/English program in Europe. The VLC remains a landmark in inclusive academic innovation.