Role
Lyn is a Principal Lecturer within NTU's School of Social Sciences.
Career overview
Before transitioning to academia, Lyn established a longstanding career within the criminal justice sector. Beginning her career as a prison officer, she later qualified as a probation officer, which eventually led to a senior role within high-secure care. This practical background not only informs her teaching but also fosters fruitful collaborations between NTU and criminal justice agencies. Lyn's commitment to bridging academia and practice is evidenced by her active involvement in professional bodies such as the Probation Institute, where she is the editor of the Probation Quarterly publication and she contributes to shaping the discourse on probation practice by contributing to position papers and discussion groups.
Lyn holds a PhD in Criminology which was awarded by the University of Northumbria, entitled ‘Statutory Supervision under the Early Implementation Phase of the Transforming Rehabilitation Agenda.’ This longitudinal research study provided critical insights into organisational dynamics and its effects on practitioners and probation clients under the most fundamental change to probation policy since its inception in 1907. Leveraging her extensive practitioner experience, she delved into the nuanced challenges faced by both groups of stakeholders, offering a unique perspective that bridges theory and practice.
Lyn entered academia in 2012 and has been teaching since 2014. She has designed and delivered various modules related to prison and probation policy and practice, mental health and youth justice during the past decade. Since becoming a principal lecturer in 2021 her teaching allocation has centred around sentence management, contemporary criminal justice policy and practice and social policy. The majority of Lyn’s role is focused on the strategic oversight of various aspects within the School of Social Sciences. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Educaion Academy and she contributes to Advance HE’s leadership development program as a mentor, furthering the advancement of women in academia and beyond.