Jacqueline Akhurst

Biography

Before my university lecturing career, I taught in primary and secondary schools in KwaZulu Natal; and following professional psychology training, I worked as a School Psychologist. I lectured at the University of Natal, 1992 – 2003 (and was recently appointed as Honorary Professor at its successor, the University of KwaZulu Natal). After moving to the UK in 2004, I worked for two years in the Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Psychology at the University of York, then moving to York St John University (YSJU) as a Senior Lecturer. I achieved a Principal Lectureship in Psychology at YSJU through personal promotion in 2008; and became Professor of Community Psychology in March 2014. I re-located to Rhodes University in 2015. My research focusses on community-based interventions, often utilizing Action Research and Activity Theory. I am a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS), a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) in both Counselling and Educational Psychology.

Research Interest

"Community Psychology, in particular Community-Based Learning in Higher Education; working with minority and marginalised groups, utilising Collaborative & Participatory, Action Research, Psychology applied to students’ learning in Higher Education, Professional development of psychologists / counsellors / teachers / ministers of religion, via and Peer Group Supervision and Mentoring programmes Career counselling / employability and counselling in educational contexts"