Lecturer
Dr. Nicola Preston began her involvement with restorative practices as a police officer with Thames Valley Police, in the United Kingdom, where she was part of a team — the Restorative Justice Consultancy — that successfully introduced restorative justice into police work. She has also been a school teacher specializing in children with special needs, thus bringing two distinct and relevant areas of expertise to the IIRP Graduate School. Nicola is now a senior lecturer in special educational needs (SEN) and inclusion, and program lead for the National Award in SEN Co-ordination, at the University of Northampton in the U.K.
Nicola has published numerous book chapters, articles and research reports in the U.K. and Europe and is on the editorial committee of the European Forum for Restorative Justice Newsletter. She has presented at many national and international conferences. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Northampton. Her research thesis was entitled: "Stories of restorative justice and school exclusion: An autoethnography of relational understanding." Nicola also holds a Master of Arts in Restorative Practices and Relationships from the University of Chester; a Master of Arts, Education, Special Educational Needs and Restorative Practices, Merit, from The University of Northampton; a Post Graduate Certificate, Education, from Oxford Brookes University; a Post Graduate Certificate in Special Educational Needs from the University of Northampton; and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Reading. Nicola is a member of the British Psychological Society and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Twitter: @nicolapreston9