Laura Ritchie is Professor of Learning and Teaching at the University of Chichester, UK, chartered psychologist, speaker, writer, musician, and enthusiastic lover of life. She is vibrant in her teaching, research, music-making, and in life; she embodies a ‘yes’ attitude. Her enthusiasm is contagious and inspires people to realize their goals through positive achievement and reach beyond their dreams.

As a researcher and educator Laura has published and presented internationally, in both North and South America and across Europe. Laura’s teaching is heavily influenced by her research on people’s self-beliefs and cognitive processes as they learn and perform/carry out tasks. Laura has devised both undergraduate and postgraduate curricula, including a the first undergraduate music pedagogy degree in the UK, the MA Music degrees at Chichester, and the first instrument-specific postgraduate course in teaching for the European String Teachers Association. Laura’s musical background is as a classical cellist, having originally trained in Chicago with Hans Jensen before she came to the UK. As a musician Laura spans genres and has performed both as a classical recitalist and as a member of The Mummers, appearing on Jools Holland and at Glastonbury.