Dr Nicole Holt

Dr Nicole Holt is a Principal Lecturer in Public Health and Wellbeing and Course Director for the MSc Global Public Health at Canterbury Christ Church University. She is a dedicated educator and researcher committed to advancing health equity, improving community wellbeing, and supporting diverse learners across all levels of study.

Nicole has extensive experience in designing and delivering innovative undergraduate and postgraduate modules, leading course revalidations, and shaping forward‑thinking curricula that respond to contemporary public health needs. She has a strong track record in mentoring students and colleagues, fostering reflective practice, and demystifying complex theoretical models through accessible, engaging teaching.

Her leadership extends across programme management, recruitment and marketing, academic link tutoring, and contributions to university committees focused on quality assurance and student experience. She has coordinated a range of faculty‑wide initiatives, including co‑writing workshops, student‑led publications, and collaborative digital content creation.

Nicole is also an experienced researcher with a strong interest in all areas of public health, particularly social prescribing and community‑based assets. As her profile shows, she has contributed to a wide range of research projects and has an extensive record of publications.

I have teaching involvement in the following courses/modules:

• BSc/BA Health Foundation Year
• BSc (Hons) Public Health
• BSc (Hons) Mental Health and Wellbeing
• BSc (Hons) Public Health and Lifestyle Science
• BSc (Hons) Public Health and Business Management
• MSc Global Public Health (dissertation supervision)

I am currently module lead for the following courses:

• Level 0: Wider Determinants of Health
• Level 4: Contemporary Health and Lifestyle Issues
• Level 5: Employability and Public Health
• Level 5: Social Prescribing
• Level 6: Relationships and Sex Education

Modules I have previously taught on:

• Level 0: Introduction to Social and Environmental Aspects of Health and Wellbeing (Module Leader)
• Level 4: Communicating Health Information (Module Leader)
• Level 4: Key Concepts in Health and Wellbeing (Module Leader)
• Level 4: Public Health and Team Skills (Module Leader)
• Level 4: Personal Academic Development
• Level 4: Major Health and Lifestyle issues
• Level 6: Mental Health, Culture, and Society

I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Research Outputs Conference Presentations ‘From Stigma to Support: A Public Health Look at Menstrual Health in UK Schools Menstruation’ Research Conference July 2026 (Collaborative project). ‘Creating Equitable Writing Spaces: Co-Working Approaches for Diverse Undergraduate Health Students’ Greenwich University Learning and Teaching Conference June 2026.

‘Using TikTok as an Educational Tool for Health Students in HE’ presented Medway EDI Equity, Inclusion and Wellbeing conference June 2026.

‘Online vs face to face teaching and performance outcomes’ Canterbury Christ Church University Learning and Teaching Conference. February 2026 (Collaborative project).  

‘How to support ex-Jehovah witnesses,’ presented at the Apostasy Conference. October 2025 (Collaborative project).

‘Using TikTok as an Educational Tool for Health Students in HE’ presented at the Foundation Year Network Annual Conference. July 2025.

‘Teaming Up to Publish: Collaborative Journal Writing with Undergrad Health Students’ will be presented at the Medway Learning and Teaching Conference. June 2025 (Collaborative project).

‘The Future: Social Prescribing- reconnecting the disconnected’ European Public Health Association. May 2025 (Collaborative project).

‘In-house journal to support non-traditional academics and students’, presented at the CCCU Learning and Teaching Conference. November 2024 (Collaborative project).

‘Legacies of Trauma, Leaving a High Control Religion,’ presented at the Apostasy Conference. October 2024 (Collaborative project).

‘Co-Working and Writing’: Supporting and creating writing spaces for Undergraduate Health students’ presented at the Foundation Year Network Annual Conference. July 2024.

‘TikTok as an educational Tool’ presented at the Medway Learning and Teaching Conference. June 2024. 

‘Action Research ‘Co-Working and Writing’: Supporting and creating writing spaces for Undergraduate Health students’ Presented at the Medway Learning and Teaching Conference. June 2024. 

‘Shame and Guilt: Exploring How Gender Affects the Experiences of Former Jehovah's Witnesses’ paper presented at the Gender and Religious Exit: Moving Away from Faith Conference. November 2023 (Collaborative project).  

‘Exploring How ex-JWs Construct New Identities and Worldviews After Leaving Religion’ paper presented at the Nonreligion and Secularity Research Network (NSRN) Conference. June 2023 (Collaborative project).

‘A systematised review of the Spiritual but Not Religious (SBNR) Population and Public Health Outcomes’ paper presented at the International Network for the Study of Spirituality (INSS) Conference. May 2023. 

‘Coping with Challenging Life Events: A Qualitative Research Synthesis Exploring Religious and Spiritual Coping’ paper presented at the British Association for the Study of Religions (BASR) conference. August 2022 (Collaborative project). 

‘Promoting Resilience in Occupational Therapy Education, a Scoping Literature Review’ paper presented at the COTEC-ENOTHE Congress. September 2021 (Collaborative project).

‘Spiritual Experiences and Health: Perceived effects of spirituality on the health of those who identify as Spiritual but Not Religious (SBNR) in the UK?’ Religious Experience Research Centre Conference. July 2019. 

‘Craft and Techniques Tips for all Writing Genres’ workshop presented at the MeCCSA PNG conference at Canterbury Christ Church University. July 2018. (Collaborative project).

‘How Spirituality Influences Some People’s Health’ paper presented at the Spirituality and Mental Health Conference at Manchester University. July 2017.

‘God`s Pack: ‘Transcending Conventional Theology and Wellbeing’ paper presented at the Arts and Humanities Conference at Canterbury Christ Church University. June 2017. 

‘Spirituality and Peoples Wellbeing’ paper presented at the Interprofessional Education: Sharing Research and Practice Conference at Canterbury Christ Church University. January 2017. 

‘Wild Places and Healthy Spaces’ paper presented at the British Association for the Study of Religions (BASR) conference. September 2016.

'Creating Gold Standards Animal Rescue Charities.' Presented at The Festival of Community Psychology: Creativity Collaboration and Community. November 2015. 

‘Concept Analysis of Spirituality’ paper presented at ‘Spirituality in the 21st Century’ Conference in Lisbon, Portugal. March 2015.

‘How dog Ownership Impacts People’s Health and Wellbeing.’ Presented at Canterbury Christ Church Health and Wellbeing Conference. May 2014. 

Conference Presentations

Conference Paper “Shame and Guilt: Exploring How Gender Affects the Experiences of Former Jehovah's Witnesses” Gender and Religious Exit: Moving Away from Faith Conference. Collaborative Project. November 2023.

Exploring How ex-JWs Construct New Identities and Worldviews After Leaving Religion’ paper presented at the Non-religion and Secularity Research Network (NSRN) Conference. June 2023 (Collaborative project).

‘A systematised review of the Spiritual but Not Religious (SBNR) Population and Public Health Outcomes’ paper presented at the International Network for the Study of Spirituality (INSS) Conference. May 2023.

‘Coping with Challenging Life Events: A Qualitative Research Synthesis Exploring Religious and Spiritual Coping’ paper presented at the British Association for the Study of Religions (BASR) conference. August 2022. (Collaborative project).

‘Promoting Resilience in Occupational Therapy Education, a Scoping Literature Review’ paper presented at the COTEC-ENOTHE Congress. September 2021. (Collaborative project).

‘Spiritual Experiences and Health: Perceived effects of spirituality on the health of those who identify as Spiritual but Not Religious (SBNR) in the UK?’ Religious Experience Research Centre Conference. July 2019.

Craft and Techniques Tips for all Writing Genres’ workshop presented at the MeCCSA PNG conference at Canterbury Christ Church University. July 2018.‘How Spirituality Influences some People’s Health’ paper presented at the Spirituality and Mental Health Conference at Manchester University. July 2017.

‘God`s Pack: ‘Transcending Conventional Theology and Wellbeing’ paper presented at the Arts and Humanities Conference at Canterbury Christ Church University. June 2017.

‘Spirituality and Peoples Wellbeing’ paper presented at the Interprofessional Education: Sharing Research and Practice Conference at Canterbury Christ Church University. January 2017.

‘Wild Places and Healthy Spaces’ paper presented at the British Association for the Study of Religions (BASR) conference. September 2016.

'Creating Gold Standards Animal Rescue Charities.' Presented at The Festival of Community Psychology: Creativity Collaboration and Community. November 2015.‘Concept Analysis of Spirituality’ paper presented at ‘Spirituality in the 21st Century’ Conference in Lisbon, Portugal. March 2015.

‘How dog Ownership Impacts People’s Health and Wellbeing.’ Presented at Canterbury Christ Church Health and Wellbeing Conference. May 2014.