Rate My Professor Elizabeth Koni

Elizabeth Koni is the Head of College at St Margaret's College, a residential college for students at the University of Otago. Appointed to this role in late 2022, she succeeded Dr. Kay Tustin after serving as principal of Waitaki Girls' High School. Koni brings extensive experience in educational leadership from secondary and tertiary sectors. Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts in English and Education, a Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Secondary), a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Counselling), and a Master of Education.

Koni is a PhD candidate at the University of Otago, supervised by Professor Vivienne Anderson, Dean of the College of Education. Her doctoral research focuses on student resilience. Previously affiliated with the Department of Psychology at the University of Otago, she co-led the conceptualization and writing of the 2019 PLOS ONE publication 'Promoting resilience in adolescents: A new social identity benefits those who need it most.' This study, co-authored with Saleh Moradi, Hitaua Arahanga-Doyle, Tia Neha, Jillian G. Hayhurst, John A. Hunter, Mike Boyes, Tegan Cruwys, and Damian Scarf, examined how forming a new social identity through group activities enhances resilience, particularly for adolescents with initially lower levels. The paper, approved by the University of Otago Human Ethics Committee, has received 91 citations, contributing to understandings of social identity and mental health in developmental psychology. Koni's research interests include social connectedness in adventure education programs and positive youth development for Māori and New Zealand European adolescents.