Lara Frumkin is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology and Counselling, a chartered psychologist, senior fellow of the Higher Education Academy, associate fellow of the British Psychological Society and international affiliate of the American Psychological Association. Most recently she has been production chair of D810, critically exploring psychology 1 and prior to working in academic, worked in government and in policy.
You are here
- Presenters
- Presenters
Presenters
Laura is a Senior Advisor at The Open University where she works in the Proactive Student Support Team, advising students about STEM and Access modules. This involves contacting students before they start and throughout their studies, helping them achieve their goals. Laura has worked as a Senior Advisor since February 2019. Prior to this, she worked as a Student Recruitment Advisor. Laura really enjoys speaking to students from all walks of life, and often feels inspired and motivated by the challenges that students overcome.
Laura is VP Education on behalf of the Open University’s Student Association. She studies an MBA in Technology Management whilst working full-time. Laura chairs the Senate Reference Group, Appointments Committee and monthly Student Voice Forums for all reps, and is member of Qualifications & Assessments, Assessment Policy and Review, Student Outcomes Oversight and Senate.
Outside of her volunteer work Laura completed her PhD in human-computer interaction, has held Head roles in a number of different FE/HE institutions leading on new curriculum design and was named one of TechWomen100 winners in 2020.
Laura Paterson is a Lecturer in English Language and Applied Linguistics at The Open University. She is currently Module Team Chair of the first module on the Applied Linguistics pathway, EE817.
Her research uses techniques from corpus linguistics and critical discourse analysis to interrogate the representation and public understanding of UK poverty.
She is currently co-authoring the book Discourses of Poverty and Place: Geographical Text Analysis and Critical Discourse Analysis with Ian Gregory and has also published work on discourses of marriage, the Occupy movement, and gender neutral pronouns.
Lauren completed her BSc (Hons) Sports, Fitness and Coaching degree with The Open University in the summer of 2017.
Dr. Laurence Hopkins is an Associate Lecturer with the Open University on DE100 and DE200 (Investigating Psychology 1 and 2). He has many years’ experience of lecturing in Higher Education and currently supervises Forensic Psychology Masters dissertations at Manchester Metropolitan Universit. He sees himself primarily as a teacher of Psychology and is particularly interested in inclusive education. He has tutored many prisoners on Open University courses and recently attended the first graduation ceremony of a prisoner to ever be held inside HMP Manchester. He has 3 daughters (2 of whom are identical twins), is still keen on playing tennis and squash even though he has just turned 60 and has recently taken up stand- up comedy as a hobby!
Laurence is an associate lecturer on the Open University Business School’s MBA programme, teaching in the areas of creativity, innovation and management. Laurence has authored and contributed to MBA modules and texts in these areas, and also works closely with the OU’s Executive Education team and Centre for Policing Research and Learning.
Outside of his work with The Open University, Laurence has over 20 years’ experience working in Ireland, Europe and Australia, delivering organisational change, strategic realignment and innovation. As a consultant, Laurence has worked internationally with leaders and executives in a wide range of sectors including technology, transportation, financial services, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, and agri-business. He is a co-founder of Brain for Business, an initiative bringing together practical insights from the world of behavioural and brain science to deliver better business practice and outcomes.
Leah Clark is a lecturer in Art History in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. She is chair of the MA in Art History as well as Project Lead on Open Arts Objects, an innovative project that provides free open access films and teaching support materials geared to the new A-level in Art History. Leah specialises in Italian Renaissance art, with a focus on the collection and exchange of art objects in the Italian courts in the fifteenth century. Her interest in Art History originally came about in a rather unconventional way: her parents ran a sail training organisation and she grew up sailing around the world, which required her to do some of her schooling through distance learning. She was introduced to a broad range of ‘art’ in different countries and she became fascinated with the variety of visual materials that she was exposed to. Working at The Open University combines her interest in Art History with her own hands-on experience as a distance learner.
Leanne is the current Area Association Representative for England at the OU Students Association, I'm also a member of the Disabled Students Group Committee. I'm very active in the student community and host many events through the Association for students to come and feel a part of a community. I'm a current student studying at level 2 for a BA in Criminology.
Lee Knight is a Senior Student Support Advisor working in the Faculty of Business and Law and specialises in undergraduate business qualifications and modules. He is most passionate about undergraduate law as he is also studying law as an Open University student – so he feels privileged to see the OU at work from both sides! His favourite thing about the OU is its ‘openness’ - he is proud to work with students who are achieving great things because of the opportunities the OU has given them.
Leighah is currently a combined STEM student at the OU (including 120 'rogue credits' in French as she loves French and French style!). She has studied in the past with the OU in Psychology, as well as studying a degree in Drama, a Masters in Counselling and Psychotherapy Studies and a Post Grad in Applied Social Research at other universities, as well as various other things over many years.
Leighah founded and co-owns Physis Creative, Educational, and Personal Development Services, where all sorts happens from Psychotherapy, coaching, dance therapy, personality typology and style consultancy, aided by the resident Sloth icon 'Masuma Sloth' (designed by the resident artist Masuma Chowdhury), because learning from the sloth is good for wellbeing!
Liam is a post-doctoral researcher in the Planetary Science group. After leaving school with GCSEs, he completed his undergraduate physics degree part-time with The Open University, while working full-time in the civil service. He then left work and moved to Milton Keynes to study for a PhD at the OU. His research involved using a computer model of Mars’ atmosphere to help understand the present-day water cycle. After completing his PhD Liam stayed on at the OU as a post-doctoral researcher, where he’s have been researching how Mars’ climate has varied over the past 20 million years. When he’s not working on projects about Mars, Liam says he likes to keep fit, play the electric guitar, and reminisce about the hills in Cumbria (Milton Keynes is too flat!).
Having changed tack from running her own business, Lidia is currently completing a full-time graduate LLB with The Open University and is due to graduate later this year, following which she plans to undertake a BPTC and pursue a career at the Bar. Lidia is the OU Law Society’s Officer for Scotland, and her research interests include human rights and access to justice.
Liesl is an education adviser in the Faculty of Business and Law and has been with The Open University for one year, having completed her postgraduate study prior to joining as a staff member.
Her role is to provide guidance to students with complex study issues, either by phone or email.
Born in Peru, Liliana Torero-Fernandez arrived in the UK in 2000 and started an Open University degree in 2002, before graduating with a BA (Hons) in Language Studies in 2008. Liliana recalls that her graduation ceremony was very emotional, and she thanks her OU studies for helping her to regain her confidence in studying at higher education level, as well as her confidence in the English language (which is not her mother tongue).
Linda Robson is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Engineering and Innovation at The Open University.
She is Chair of T198: Engineering at Work, and co-Chair of YXM130: Making your learning count. Linda has been an OU student for over 20 years and is currently studying for a Doctorate in Education, looking at the experiences of students who take a deferral during their studies.
In her spare time Linda enjoys making and eating cake, which fuels her other passions of sea swimming, cycling and marathon running.
Linda has been retired for almost ten years and lives in the West Country with her rescue cat, Dinks. When she retired, she dreaded spending the days watching daytime tv and missed the challenges of a demanding job. She therefore decided to see what the OU had to offer. Linda looked at the STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) prospectus and decided she would like to study for a Certificate in Planetary Studies. She contacted the OU and they suggested that she perhaps try a STEM Access module first to see how she got on. Despite having only achieved GCE O levels more than 50 years ago, she embraced the module wholeheartedly, didn’t encounter any hiccups along the way, discovered all the nooks and crannies of the website and ended up with a Distinction. This, together with a supportive and encouraging tutor, gave her confidence to do a ‘proper’ degree, embarking on a BSc (Hons) in Natural Sciences on the astronomy pathway.
Until 1993, most products in the Western world were created for white, healthy, right handed, adult males. This fact has stayed with me throughout my design practice career. Thereby after nearly twenty years as a design practitioner / academic, experience has allowed me to be continually inspired by the ‘design for all’ concept. Inclusive, universal, and collaborative design are all variations of a theme in design which instigates working with the user throughout the design development ‘story’.
As Internal Communications Manager, Lisa works with her main customer groups, People Services and the University Secretary’s office to support people change communication.
When she’s not working, she can be found spending time enjoying the company of her family and friends, drinking gin and planning her next holiday (and retirement to Cyprus).
At The Open University, Lisa Claydon teaches on the Public and Criminal Law module, and on Law, Society and Culture. She is the module leader for an undergraduate, Level 3, independent study module called Exploring Legal Boundaries. This module provides undergraduate students with research training and allows them to explore an area of interest to them which is law related. She is interested in how people learn and has a particular research interest in making learning engaging. She researches criminal law and is particularly interested in mental condition and other defences which are based on excusing conditions.
Dr Lisa Lazard is a senior lecturer in Psychology at The Open University. Her research broadly focuses on the psychology of gender and she has published on a wide range of issues including sexual harassment and violence, parenting and constructing identities. Her current research focuses on gendered online life. Her recent projects include young women's construction of identities in selfies posted to social media networks and digital mothering. She is currently the Editor in Chief of the Psychology of Women Section Review (British Psychological Society Publications).
Liz Chamberlain is a Senior Lecturer in Education Studies (Primary) in the School of Education, Childhood and Youth Studies at The Open University.
Liz is Academic Director for the Leave No Girl Behind project, Strengthening Adolescent Girls' Education (SAGE), in partnership with the NGO Plan International, working with 15,000 girls in Zimbabwe. She started her career in London as a primary teacher and spent several years teaching overseas in Borneo. It was here that her interest in teacher professional development was established. Liz's research interests are Primary Literacy with a specialism in writing, and international teacher education development. She is co-Director of the OU's Children's Research Centre.
Please visit for more details: https://wels.open.ac.uk/people/lc23854
Elizabeth Ellis is the Senior Product Development Manager for Learning Innovation. She declares herself to be slightly obsessive about student engagement in the development of learning and teaching tools, platforms and activities; the enhancement of learning and teaching through technology; and the quantified self.
Liz is a senior lecturer of the Open University Law School, having been its teaching director from 2020 until July 2023. She also tutors for the Open University on level two and three law modules. She has worked as part of the Open Justice Centre since 2016, supporting law students to carry out voluntary legal projects both as part of their law degree and on an extra curricular basis. She is particularly interested in online learning and the use of technology in legal education. She has advised the Law Society on various aspects of legal education including online education and diversity within the legal profession.
Liz is the faculty of business and law’s representative on the OU’s Generative AI (GAI) group for teaching and learning. She has caried out and published research into the impact of GAI on teaching and assessment, and its impact on the public’s access to justice.
Dr Liz Marr is Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Students) and has responsibility for all student facing development and enhancement.
Liz was a mature student herself and actually started with an OU module at the age of 28, before going on to study full time for a degree, a masters, a doctorate, and MBA – once she realised she could do it, there was no stopping her.
She would like to have hobbies but works nearly all the time because she loves it – especially Student Hub Live!
Liz McCrystal is Associate Head of School (Students and Nations). In her current role she works closely with the Student Support Team in Nottingham as the Academic Lead, manages the School’s group of Staff Tutors and supports development work relevant to the School in the Nations.
Liz is also a qualified social worker and teacher, and she has a wide range of experience of work-based learning both vocational and professional.
Liz Moody is a Senior Lecturer in Management in the Executive Education team of The OU Business School. Since joining the OU she has worked with external organisations delivering learning that features the essential business and leadership knowledge and skills to run successful organisations – from leading teams, to managing change and marketing. Before joining the OU she ran her own consultancy helping leaders to fulfil their own and their organisations’ potential. She has increasingly worked with entrepreneurs in social enterprises and start-ups where tech has enabled innovation of products and services. She wrote the first online FinTech course in 2015 and has continued to research the sector and follow disruption and its impact on customers. Liz enjoys many sports and keeping fit to offset her other passions which are cooking and eating! Good ideas are only the start of a great business, the rest takes effort and can be learned.
Liz Shakespeare is an Educational Advisor based in the Manchester Office. Liz works as part of the STEM Student Support Team providing guidance and support to students studying across these areas. Liz is also an OU student and has studied modules in English Literature, Management and Counselling. When she isn’t working or studying Liz enjoys vegetarian cooking and campervan trips.
Lorena is a Senior Lecturer in Economics at the School of Social Sciences & Global Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) at the Open University. She is Co-Director of IKD: Innovation, Knowledge and Development Research Centre. She completed her PhD thesis in Economics at SOAS, University of London (fully funded by SOAS Economics dpt.) with a title ‘A nexus between the role of the state, market transition and food consumption: The case of Uzbekistan’. Lorena holds a MSc from SOAS in Political Economy of Development (fully-funded). She received a previous Masters in Development Economics from University La Sapienza of Rome, Italy.
Hi, I’m Lorna O’Herlihy. I work in Research and Academic Strategy (RAS) as a Research Development Manager. I have been in my current role at the OU since March 2015 – prior to this I was a fundraising manager in the charitable sector. My role includes providing support to academics and their faculty research support teams with regard to applications for external funding, running funding workshops and facilitating visits to the OU by a variety of funding bodies. It also includes providing training on identifying external funding opportunities and acting as the OU point of contact for ResearchFish – an online facility used by several funding bodies to track impact and outputs for projects they have supported.
My favourite thing about the OU is the flexibility it offers to students. I personally benefitted from this, having obtained my science degree a number of years ago when I was juggling working and bringing up my son and daughter – twins – who are now 20.
Lorna Sibbett is a member of the team responsible for the Open Programme. She is an enthusiastic tutor, reluctant Academic Conduct Officer, and leader of a student partnership project on the experiences of our credit transfer students. Her Weimaraner Meg loves to join SHL sessions, but may not have much to contribute on GenAI.
Lou Cromie (pronouns she/her) is a 46-year-old mother, wife & OU Student working towards a Combined STEM degree. She originally started out on the Open degree pathway but switched after discussing options with Student Support. She is currently about to start her second Level 2 course S290 (Investigating Human Health & Disease). Her first Level 1 course was SDK100 (Science & Health: an evidenced based approach) followed by DE100 (Investigating Psychology).
Lou has been working with disabled students for the past 17 years. His current role involves speaking with students and creating a confidential profile for each one, capturing all relevant and current information to ensure that the correct and appropriate support is in place for each and every student.
Lou Robinson is the Vice President Engagement at the OU Students Association and supports on Student Voice and Association communications including the online magazine The HOOT. She is also the co-chair of the OU Students Association’s Environmental & Sustainability Working Group and works with the University on sustainability.
Lou is an Open degree graduate and STEM student and is currently studying: S283: Planetary science and the search for life; S295: The biology of survival and S309: Earth processes towards a BSc (Hons) Geology degree. Outside her studies Lou tutors online and can be found hiking, exploring museums, and reading in her free time.
Louise Westmarland is Professor of Criminology at The Open University. She has been working in the Social Policy and Criminology Department for nearly 20 years and her research interests include police ethics and integrity and also gender and policing. Louise has published books and articles on policing and also research methods and is currently writing a book about police corruption.
I’m a Senior Lecturer in Computing, and the Associate Dean, Curriculum, leading strategic planning, governance and quality assurance of the STEM curriculum. I began my scientific career as a computer scientist in Milan, Oxford and Newcastle Universities. I then took a detour into software practice, as lead developer of innovative pedagogical software, which taught me what it takes to deliver innovation successfully and lead agile multi-functional teams, key skills I brought back into my research and teaching.
My primary research concerns the development of theories, methods and tools to engineer solutions to complex problems in organisations, put to test via engaged research in real-world organisational contexts.
Prior to working full-time for the Open University, Lucy Anderson combined working as an OU tutor with her research career. Combining two very different jobs meant Lucy had to carefully plan (juggle!) time, assignments and deadlines so she has a keen grasp of what is, and what isn’t, physically and mentally doable. Both roles also require a lot of time speaking that odd language known as “academic communication”, ensuring that scientific concepts can be understood by any audience. Now working in a regional academic role at the Open University, Lucy puts those communication and timekeeping skills to good use preparing module materials and assignments. Now in her second year with Student Hub Live, Lucy is very much looking forward to sharing her study skills hints and tips, alongside picking up some new ones.
Working in communications, Lucy chose to take up a module in sociology (DD103) with an aim to complete a degree in social science or an open degree. Lucy chose to study not only to further her career prospects, but also to prove to herself she could do it after dropping out of an Art degree at a conventional university – it just wasn’t for her. Her current area of study interest is community and society, namely our roles as members of these groups. Lucy likes studying with the OU as she can fit it around her life and hobbies. She is passionate about both people and animals (mainly cats!) and is a keen runner and gym goer, running 10k every day before work – she says it to make up for all the cakes she bakes in her spare time.
Luqman is a lecturer in work-based learning with the Faculty of Business and Law. He is currently the qualification lead on the Senior Leader Master's Degree Apprenticeship (SLMDA) and is closely involved in the development of the Police Degree Apprenticeship as a module production chair. Luqman has authored contributions to learning materials at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Luqman is a chartered accountant with interests in supporting business enterprise and start-ups. Outside of academia, Luqman engages in consultancy assignments and continues to support and promote small business enterprise.
Qualified as a solicitor 1995 and practised till about 5 years ago (civil litigation, public law). About 10 yrs ago combined work as a solicitor with tutoring for OU (part time). Since stopping practice I work for the OU full time - level 1, one of the introduction to law modules, and level 2, criminal law; public law.
Senior lecturer. Passionate about how the human body performs under a range of conditions such as healthy individuals as well as when things don’t work as they should.
Lynda is a Disability Support Adviser in the Disability Support Team. She has been with the OU since 2001, working in Associate Lecturer Services and as an Educational Adviser. Lynda also studied with the OU, gaining both a BA & MA in Art History, so she knows about many of the challenges our students face. Lynda is passionate about student support, and she has spent many summers as a learning adviser at residential schools, supporting students face-to-face.
Outside work, Lynda shares the care of her elderly parents, but in any spare time she enjoys cycling, walking, concerts, and is an active member of her local Methodist Church.
Lynne Watson was an Associate Lecturer at the Open University for 20 years and has been a Staff Tutor in Nursing and HSC (Health and Social Care) for the past 6 years. She is a Fellow of Higher Education and has a degree in Specialist Community Practitioner Public Health Nursing along with her Registered Nurse Adult qualification.
Explore
Undergraduate
Postgraduate
Policy
-
Follow us on Social media
-
