Staff profile

Michael’s research interests include the political epidemiology of student mental health and wellbeing. In particular, his research explores how higher education policies impact on student wellbeing.

• ESRC-funded.
• Student Research Team and Advisory Member for the Student Mental Health Research Network (SMaRteN)
• Researcher for the University Mental Health Charter.
• Student member on the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust Advisory Board.
• Postgraduate Associate of the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing.
• Editor of the Student Minds Blog.

Conference Paper

• Priestley, M. (2019). Sick of Study: Student mental ‘illness’ and neoliberal higher education policy. In X. Shao, & E. Dobson (Eds.), Imagining Better Education: Conference Proceedings 2018 (183-199)

Journal Article

• Slack, H. R., & Priestley, M. (2023). Online learning and assessment during the Covid-19 pandemic: exploring the impact on undergraduate student well-being. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 48(3), 333-349. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2022.2076804
• Priestley, M., & Mazzoli-Smith, L. (2023). The Epistemology and Ethics of Analysing Lived Experience Data: A Pragmatic Foucauldian-Informed Approach to Coproducing Student Mental Health Initiatives in the Neoliberal University. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 22(January-December 2023), https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069231215234
• Priestley, M., Broglia, E., Hughes, G., & Spanner, L. (2022). Student Perspectives on improving mental health support Services at university. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 22(1), 197-206. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12391
• Priestley, M., Hall, A., Wilbraham, S. J., Mistry, V., Hughes, G., & Spanner, L. (2022). Student perceptions and proposals for promoting wellbeing through social relationships at university. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 46(9), 1243-1256. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877x.2022.2061844
• Brewster, L., Jones, E., Priestley, M., Wilbraham, S. J., Spanner, L., & Hughes, G. (2022). ‘Look after the staff and they would look after the students’ cultures of wellbeing and mental health in the university setting. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 46(4), 548-560. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877x.2021.1986473
• Jones, E., Priestley, M., Brewster, L., Wilbraham, S. J., Hughes, G., & Spanner, L. (2021). Student wellbeing and assessment in higher education: the balancing act. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 46(3), 438-450. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2020.1782344