DrLaura Nicklin

Student Success - Graduate Outcomes - Education - Cyberpsychology - Social Justice

I am currently Student Success and Graduate Outcomes Lead in the Student Success Directorate, commencing the role January 2026. This follows over 5 years at the University of Wolverhampton as an L/SL in Education and Inclusion Studies, teaching on a range of undergraduate and postgraduate modules alongside my engagement in ongoing Education and Cyberpsychology based research projects, in the School of Education and Psychology. This follows my previous role as a Cyberpsychology Research Fellow at The University of Wolverhampton in the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing. I have working in Higher Education since 2013 as a Research Associate, Associate Lecturer and Seminar Tutor in the Department of Education, University of York and teaching a number of lectures across UG and PG modules in Education at The University of Worcester. 

I successfully completed my PhD Education at the University of York exploring prison education and theatre based interventions including my thesis, a multi-sited ethnographically-informed study of a Shakespeare-focussed prison-based education initiative.

I previously gained my BA(Hons) Language and Literature and Education from The University of York in 2012, followed by my MA in Shakespeare and Education at The Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham in 2013. I am also the co-convenor for the British Education Research Association‘s “Arts-Based Educational Research” special interest group.

Since 2013, I have worked in academia, teaching and student support including in teaching, wellbeing and mentoring/ support roles. I have developed my practice across higher education, beginning in student-focused roles as a Lecturer, Level Lead, and Personal Tutor. During this time, I supported undergraduate and postgraduate students in developing academic confidence, navigating transition into higher education, and achieving successful progression through their studies. Over time, my work has evolved into a more staff-focused approach. In my current role as Student Success and Graduate Outcomes Lead, I focus on supporting academic colleagues to enhance their higher education practice, navigate their professional development, and strengthen student experience and outcomes. I currently mentor academic staff and graduate interns, while also supervising undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations. Across all of these contexts, my practice centres on supporting transition, retention, achievement, and professional growth through reflective and developmental dialogue.

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