Professional Recognition

Steering Group Member 

Chair of the Professional Recognition Working Group

Academic Mentor and Lecturer in Psychology (UG & PG) for nearly 10 years. Background in Teaching & Learning, Positive Psychology, and Coaching. Use a strengths-based approach to foster student resilience & motivation in Learning.  Passionate about helping students see their potential and engage fully with Higher Education.

JLDHE Managing Editor and Deputy Chair of the Professional Recognition Working Group

Chad McDonald is a Senior Academic and Study Skills Tutor at Manchester Metropolitan University. Much of his work has focused on supporting students at transition points in higher education, especially in Arts and Humanities disciplines. He was a member of LearnHigher’s working group from 2021 to 2024, and he is the Deputy Chair of ALDinHE’s professional recognition working group. Chad became the Managing Editor for the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education in 2024. He is an Advance HE Senior Fellow (SFHEA) and an ALDinHE Certified Leading Practitioner (CeLP).

I am a Learning Developer at Canterbury Christ Church University working with students studying in the Creative Arts and Industries,  Humanities and Languages. I am based within a Learning Skills Team alongside fellow Learning Developers and Learning & Research Librarians. My practice is underpinned by experience gained in a variety of learning and teaching roles, including teaching history and study skills to undergraduate students; working with adult learners preparing to return to education and teaching Key Skills to A level students in a Further Education college. Before moving into learning development, I undertook research for a PhD in History at the University of Liverpool after which I gained further research experience on a project at Liverpool John Moores University, as well as on a library and archive digitisation project hosted by Libraries, Museums and Galleries on Merseyside.

Heather manages the University of Surrey’s Academic Skills & Development team comprising Learning Development Advisers and Learning Development Librarians. A key research area is inclusive and holistic learning development encompassing cognitive, affective and emotional aspects of a learner’s journey.

This informed her contributions to developing an institutional approach to ‘Resourcefulness and Resilience’ (one of five key ‘pillars’ of Surrey’s Curriculum Framework) and the development of team projects exploring learner support for ‘study wellbeing’ and transitions, as well as contributions to student guidance for the effective use of Artificial Intelligence.

Heather is a member of ALDinHE’s Professional Recognition and EDI groups.

Sam has been a Learning Development tutor at the University of Northampton since 2018. Prior to this, she gained several years’ experience as an EAP lecturer in higher education, and taught English as a Foreign Language to teenagers and adults in F.E. colleges, the community, and the workplace.  She is an ALDinHE Certified Practitioner and a Fellow of AdvanceHE.  Her research interests include using the student voice to understand the student experience; supporting widening participation in the HE sector; and the development of academic writing skills among students.

Steering Group Member
ALDinHE Secretary

Sheryl has been a member the Steering Group since May 2020. She is Head of Learning Development at the University of Northampton which was awarded a CATE in 2025. She is an Advance HE Senior Fellow, a Senior Fellow in Learning Development and Qualified Teacher. Her background teaching Sport Science in Further and Higher Education institutions has offered a plethora of experience actively engaging learners. Her research interests include asynchronous resources and inclusive teaching.