I am the Academic Advisor for the School of Applied & Social Sciences  and as such I offer direct support to students on issues such as eligibility for extensions, deferrals, missed studies, and liaise with academic staff and student services staff to help students progress. I offer advice on university procedures and regulations that might affect students’ progress and advise students on progression panel decisions.  I also support students undertaking appeals, helping them prepare their case by directing them to the appropriate regulations and support services.  I provide academic input to Fitness to Study panels, and in conjunction with the HoDs, investigate cases of academic misconduct/plagiarism.  I also represent the School at Student Disciplinary Panels for academic misconduct

I hold an MA (Hons) Psychology and an MSc in Applied Computing, both from the University of Dundee as well as a PgCert HET and an MPhil from Abertay University.  I’m also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

I ended my teaching role in July 2026 to focus on my role as Faculty Academic Advisor.  I previously taught  research methods and statistics in second and third year   I was module lead for PSY206 Essential Research Methods and Analysis for Psychology and PSY420 Work-Based Learning.  I also taught into PSY303 Advanced Research, Design and Analysis, and contributed to PSY410 Psychology Honours Project. 

My undergraduate dissertation examined the effects of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) on mother's attitudes towards their children and while studying for my MSc Applied Computing I worked on the development of a website for survivors of rape and sexual abuse.  My MPhil used a mixed methods approach to examine changes in psychological functions across the menstrual cycle. 

Pedagogical Projects

As School Academic Advisor (SAA), I am interested in examining how we can best support our students in completing their degrees.  In collaboration with Lynn Wright  I am examinng why students might choose not to submit assessments.  In collaboration with other FAA's and Student Support Officers, I am examining reasons given by students for not completing their degree.

Funded projects

Savage, A., Wright, L., & McAra, N. (2016).  Development of on-line resources to support Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology, Life Sciences and Analytical Chemistry: £1400

Wright, L., McAra, N., Scrimgeour, A. & Wilson, K.  (2008). Enhancing RE-search methods (£720)

Wright, L., Hardie, S.M., & McAra, N. (2014).  r-E:search methods for post-graduate students: £2800

Current projects

Collaborating with Dr Lynn Wright to collect qualitative data from final year students to consider how we can improve their experience of their projects.

Collaborating with Dr Christopher Watkins and Dr Fiona Stirling on a thematic analysis of interview data exploring the impact of meeting with professional psychologists on career orientation in students.

I have been a STEM ambassador since 2009 and was a judge for Big Bang Scotland in 2011, 2012 and 2013.