Dr Susan Levy, Senior Lecturer, works in the Doctoral Academy as Programme Director of Professional Doctorates, and in the School of Education and Social Work, in the discipline of Social Work.  She joined the University of Dundee in 2007, having previously held posts at the University of St Andrews, University of Edinburgh, and the Open University. 

Susan’s research centres on three key areas, 1) international social work, indigenous knowledge and cultural diversity, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa; 2) disability studies, user involvement and co-production; and 3) the use of the arts and creativity for social change and as a research methodology.  She has worked on projects funded from a variety of sources including government and research council, she holds British Academy funding for Writing Workshops in sub-Saharan Africa.  She supervises PhD and Professional Doctorate students, and welcomes students with interests in pursuing a doctorate in areas that align with her research interests.

Susan chaired the School's Athena SWAN/Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee for four years, including leading on the University's first successful AHSSBL's Departmental Athena SWAN Bronze Award.  She continues her commitment and involvement with diversity and gender equality in HE through her appointment on the Gender as a Spectrum Sub-Group of Advance HE's Athena SWAN Governance Committee. 

She is an Associate Editor of the European Journal of Social Work, and Editor of Creative Works for the Review of Disability Studies: International Journal. Susan is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts; and is on the Board of Directors of Indepen-dance, an inclusive dance organisation. 

Recent Funded Projects:

2020, British Academy: African Social Work Writing Workshop, Principal Investigator (PI), working with Prof Uzoma Okoye, Prof Mark Smith, Dr Richard Ingram, Prof Hugh McLaughlin.

2019, ESW: International Social Work, Comparative Study of Nigerian and Scottish Social Work Students, working with Prof Uzoma Okoye and Dr Richard Ingram.

2018, Social Work Scotland: Social Care in Scottish Prisons, Principal Investigator (PI), working with Dr Fiona Kumari-Campbell, Dr Lynn Kelly and Dr Fernando Fernandes.

2017-18, Health Improvement Scotland: Arts Practice for developing Communication and Agency with People with Profound and Multiple Disabilities, Artlink, Edinburgh. Principal Investigator (PI), working with Dr Hannah Young.

2015-16, Scottish Social Services Council: Review of Social Work Education Report: How can universities best select the right people for social work programmes? PI: Prof. Viv Cree, with Dr Gary Clapton, Dr Susan Levy and Dr Richard Ingram.

2014, Glasgow Centre for Population Health: A Review of Evidence Relating to the Impacts of Arts and Culture on Health and Wellbeing. PI: Prof Divya Jindal-Snape with Prof Thilo Kroll, Dr Jacqui Morris, Prof Dan Davies, Dr Ros Scott, Dr Susan Levy and Chris Kelly.

2013-14, Scottish Funding Council: Inclusive Music – evaluating the impact of Paragon’s Play On inclusive music programme on the lives of young people with additional support needs and their families. PI: Dr Susan Levy with Anna Robb and Prof Divya Jindal-Snape.

Susan teaches at postgraduate level, and welcomes applications from interested doctoral students on areas that align with her areas of research.