Matson Lawrence

Matson is an Equality and Diversity Manager at the University of Strathclyde. He co-leads the Equality & Diversity Office team within the Access, Equality and Inclusion service.

Matson worked on the TransEDU Scotland research and wider TransEDU project based at the University Strathclyde (2016-2018). Funded by the Scottish Funding Council, the research examined the experiences of, and provision for, trans and non-binary applicants, students and staff in colleges and universities across Scotland. The project was awarded a Guardian University Award, a Herald Scotland & GenAnalytics Diversity Award, and a Strathclyde Medal Team Award.

Matson's co-authored book – Supporting Trans and Non-Binary Students and Staff in Further and Higher Education: Practical advice for colleges and universities – was published by Jessica Kingley Publishers in January 2019.

Matson was also a Research Associate with the NORFACE-funded CILIA-LGBTQI+ study, based in the Strathclyde Institute of Education, examining intersectional lifecourse (in)equalities among LGBTQI+ people in four European countries (2018-2021).

Matson was seconded to the Scottish Funding Council as a Senior Policy / Analysis Officer, with responsibility for overseeing implementation of the Gender Action Plan in Scotland's colleges and universities.

Matson has led Creative Scotland-funded research on young disabled and D/deaf people’s access to arts provision with Birds of Paradise Theatre Company. He has worked extensively with intersectional LGBTQI+ communities in the third and arts sectors, through roles at LGBT Health and Wellbeing and in community arts.

Matson holds an interdisciplinary Doctorate in Law and Applied Social Sciences from Durham University examining young adults’ perspectives on sexual media and its legal regulation, and has been a Research Assistant on several gender-based violence projects.

Matson co-chairs StrathPride, the LGBTQI+ staff and PGR network at the University of Strathclyde, and the TransEDU Community of Practice for the tertiary education sector in Scotland.

• PhD Law and Applied Social Sciences, Durham University
• BA Combined Honours in Social Sciences, 1st Class Hons, Durham University

• PGCert Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, University of Strathclyde (Ongoing)