Rebecca Lawthom

Professor Rebecca Lawthom is Head of School and Professor of Community Psychology at the School of Education, University of Sheffield. She holds a BA in Psychology, an MSc in Occupational Psychology, and a PhD, and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Member of the British Psychological Society.

Her research is grounded in community, critical, and feminist psychology, with a strong emphasis on participatory and co-produced methodologies. She works collaboratively with marginalized groups, including disabled people, migrants, and older adults, aiming to challenge inequality and promote social justice. Her work spans interdisciplinary domains such as education, health, social care, and sustainable development.

Her recent publications reflect a growing focus on aging in place, disability studies, gender, and the ethics of inclusive research. Themes include age-friendly cities, men's sheds, critical disability theory, and the impact of neoliberalism on social justice and identity. Her research often involves international collaboration, particularly with Brazil and India.

She has received external funding for projects on refugee health, forced labour among migrants, and age-friendly communities. Notable grants include ESRC-funded work on aging and place-making, and evaluations of community initiatives like Men in Sheds.

• Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy
• Executive Editor, Community, Work and Families
• Editorial Board Member, Qualitative Research in Psychology, Community, Work and Family, and Disability and the Global South
• Chair, Psychology of Women Section, British Psychological Society (2012–2015)
• Member, Community Psychology Section Committee, BPS (2015–)
• Member, Expert Reference Group from Poverty to Flourishing, BPS (2020–)

She has supervised 35 doctoral students to completion and is active in research capacity building. She is affiliated with the iHuman Executive and the Critical Psychology and Education Cluster at the University of Sheffield. Her teaching spans over 20 years in psychology and social sciences at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.