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About

Hello! I'm Joanne Mullan, an enthusiastic and dedicated education professional based in Scotland. I had a significantly adverse childhood and was raised in care due to my mother's severe mental illness. Most professional decisions I make stem from a hope to make things better for people experiencing such difficulties.I have a multidisciplinary background with degrees in Education, Psychology and a Diploma in Counselling and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. I’m currently completing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership which is, surprisingly, taking up a huge chunk of my time.In 2018, I founded Starra Education to bring together my interests in education, mental health, and inequality. Through this work, I previously delivered accredited Mental Health First Aid qualifications, Youth Mental Health First Aid, and trauma and attachment-informed training. I also contributed to the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Mental Health and was designated Mental Health First Aider for those meetings. Over time, my work has increasingly focused on education, leadership, and research, particularly at the level of systems and institutional practice. As a result, Starra is no longer offering training or open programmes.I have been teaching at The University of Glasgow since 2019. I currently oversee the Access Psychology course. I tutored on various other Widening Participation programmes, and am passionate about widening access and ensuring disadvantaged students get what they need to thrive in their educational journeys. My research investigates how universities support care-experienced students, and what needs to be done better.I'm also a Director at Govan Youth Information Project, working towards the advancement of education and poverty relief in the Govan area of Glasgow. A particularly important role for me as this is where I am from and continues to be an area of multiple deprivation.Earlier in my career, I held leadership roles within a large international school in the UAE, with experience spanning across all key stages.Throughout my career, I have strived to champion mental health, foster emotional wellbeing, and advance inclusive education. I am a passionate learner and educator, keen on empowering individuals and creating a positive impact on society.The word Starra comes from Scots Gaelic and means “barrier”. I get huge satisfaction removing barriers from my path and helping others to do the same, through Education, lights me up.

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