Biography
Magdalena Smusz is a Lecturer in Psychology at Birmingham Newman University. Prior to that, Magdalena worked as an hourly paid academic tutor at the University of Salford, where she taught seminars on psychology courses. She also spent a few years at Barry Bennett holding a position as a mental health mentor. In that role, she supported university students, who suffered from different mental health conditions, with their academic responsibilities while dealing with mental health issues.
Magdalena has a PhD in Applied Psychology from the University of Salford. Her PhD project focused on exploring the experience of romantic relationships and sexuality education in neurodivergent and neurotypical young people from the perspectives of young people, educational professionals, and caregivers. She also graduated with an MSc in Applied Psychology (Therapies) and BSc (Hons) in Psychology and Counselling at the University of Salford.
Magdalena holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice (PCHEP) and is recognised as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). She is also a Chartered Member of The British Psychological Society (CPsychol).
Profile
Research Interests
Magdalena’s research interests involve neurodiversity, education, equality, social inclusion, social justice, mental health, and spirituality.
Magdalena is currently a member of a supervisory team on two doctoral research projects, which topics are related to neurodiversity.
Teaching
Magdalena’s teaching responsibilities involve creating lecture content as well as delivering lectures and seminars on psychology undergraduate and master courses at Birmingham Newman University.
Magdalena has a passion for working with young people and helping them achieve their academic goals. She believes that every person can achieve everything they aspire to provided they receive adequate opportunities and support.
Membership of Professional Organisations
Chartered Membership of The British Psychological Society (CPsychol)
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
Other Activities
Research supervision
- PhD student supervision (ongoing) (research advisor) at Birmingham Newman University.
Topic: How heteronormative and neurotypical dominant discourses and structures impact criminal justice processes and outcomes of individuals between the ages of 18-25.
- PhD student supervision (ongoing) (research advisor) at Birmingham Newman University.
Topic: The experiences of loneliness in young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) aged 16-25 years old during the transition to adulthood.
Conference Addresses and Papers
- Conference: 2021
Organising, chairing, and presenting at the Sexuality in Neurodivergent Individuals, Two-part Online conference (01/09/2021 and 08/09/2021).
Researchers in the field from different countries were invited to discuss sexuality in neurodivergent people. An additional focus of the event was the challenges encountered when conducting research on sexuality in neurodivergent individuals. Over 200 people attended Part 1 and over 100 Part 2.
- Paper presentation: 2021
Presenting the PhD research at the SPARK conference, University of Salford.
- Paper presentation: 2020
Delivering a short presentation on sexuality education and romantic relationships in neurodivergent and neurotypical young people (PhD project’s topic) in an online webinar: “Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice, CYCJ’s Associates Webinar Series, University of Strathclyde” (over 300 clinicians, psychologists, etc. attended the webinar).
- Paper presentation: 2024
Presenting a paper “Exploring the Experience of Romantic Relationships and Sexuality Education in Neurodivergent and Neurotypical Young Individuals” at the Neurodiversity and Justice Conference at Birmingham Newman University.
Publications
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Smusz, M. et al. (2024). Exploring the Experience of Romantic Relationships and Sexuality Education in Neurodivergent and Neurotypical Young Individuals. . Sexuality and Disability, 42, 753-764.
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Smusz, M. et al. (2023). Broad Perspectives of the Experience of Romantic Relationships and Sexual Education in Neurodivergent Adolescents and Young Adults. . Sexuality and Disability, 42, 459-499