Linda Theron

Prof. Linda Theron is a full Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and holds the role of Extraordinary Professor at Optentia Research Entity, North-West University. She is a registered Educational Psychologist with the South African Health Professions Council.

Her research focuses on resilience in children and adolescents, especially investigating how situational, cultural, social-ecological and structural factors affect the capacity of young people in disadvantaged South African contexts to adapt and thrive despite adversity. She has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications on child and youth resilience, supervised 50+ postgraduate students in this area, and her work has been recognised by South Africa’s National Research Foundation as internationally acclaimed; she is also a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa.