Faculty of Health, Sport and Behavioural Sciences
Dr Kimberley Hill is an Associate Professor and Deputy Head of the School of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Northampton. Kimberley is a Chartered Psychologist and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). She is also a Fellow of the British Psychological Society (FBPsS), the highest designation bestowed by the Society, awarded in recognition of her significant contribution to the advancement of psychological knowledge and practice. Kimberley also holds a prestigious National Teaching Fellowship from Advance HE, awarded in recognition of her outstanding impact on student outcomes and the higher education teaching profession.
Kimberley was awarded an Academic Excellence Scholarship to undertake her First Class BSc (Hons) Psychology degree at Oxford Brookes University. She later received the Postgraduate Taught Research Prize for her MRes Psychology degree, jointly delivered by Oxford Brookes University and the University of Oxford. Subsequently, she was awarded a Studentship to complete her Psychology PhD and has since gained Postgraduate Certificates in both Academic Practice and Research Degree Supervision.
Following her role as a Lecturer at Oxford Brookes University, Kimberley joined the University of Northampton in 2014. She has extensive experience of departmental and programme leadership and played a key role in leading the department through the University’s transition to active blended learning.
Kimberley has established expertise in health promotion and the prevention of health risk, perception and social action in context. She has published widely within these areas, and her research has informed policy, practice and scholarship at local, national and international levels. As Lead of the Centre of Psychological Science’s Health, Education and Behaviour Change Research Group, she works collaboratively with external organisations, educators and professional networks. Her work contributes to the advancement of psychological knowledge and the development of evidence-informed approaches across health, education and behavioural change contexts.
Kimberley supervises and examines undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral research projects (PhD and ProfDoc), provides module leadership, and teaches across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes aligned to her expertise. She is committed to embedding applied, student-led learning within the curriculum and engaging students as partners in addressing real-world social issues. She has secured funding for teaching and learning initiatives and contributes her expertise through learning and teaching advisory roles on relevant boards and committees.
Kimberley’s work has been recognised through awards for her teaching, research, and collaborations with external partners to advance higher education practice and policy. This includes contributing to the development of university policies and processes relating to student wellbeing and safety, developing curriculum-embedded consent education in schools and universities, and working with organisations, charities, and external partners to enhance practice and outcomes.
Committed to widening participation and increasing access to education, Kimberley has extensive experience in the development and coordination of programmes for a global market. She has validated and led many successful Psychology programmes between the University of Northampton and global academic partners, while helping to establish effective models of partnership working and high-quality programme delivery.
Kimberley is passionate about disseminating psychological knowledge and increasing access to science. As a National STEM Ambassador and previous Psychology STEM and Schools Engagement Lead, she has championed the University’s Psychology STEM agenda, leading initiatives and events that have engaged thousands of young people with the subject. To enhance employability and widen participation, she has organised Psychology Alumni Careers Panels, and over a hundred outreach activities involving local schools, further education colleges, and higher education institutions. She actively involves students as positive role models within this work to deliver Practical Experience of Research Days and conferences for teachers, school pupils, community groups, and other stakeholders.
Kimberley has also established a number of mentoring initiatives, both within and beyond higher education, to support educators, practitioners, and researchers. These include co-founding the EUSPR Early Career European Prevention Network and serving as a British Academy mentor. She has also chaired a cross-university STEM Steering Group and the Northampton and District A-Level Psychology (NAP) Teachers’ Group, supporting Psychology teachers and strengthening links between schools, colleges, and higher education.
Further information about Kimberley’s teaching and research can be found on her PURE profile.