Athina Thoma is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education in the Department of Primary Education at the University of Crete. She holds a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Ioannina, and an MA and PhD in Mathematics Education from the University of East Anglia, UK.

Before joining the University of Crete, she held teaching and research positions at UK universities. At the University of East Anglia, she taught postgraduate modules, worked on research projects, and was a Learning Enhancement Tutor in Mathematics and Statistics. She subsequently worked on research projects at Imperial College London and, from 2021 to 2026, was based at the University of Southampton, first as Lecturer and later as Senior Lecturer in Mathematics Education.

Her research focuses on the teaching and learning of mathematics in higher education, particularly the transition from mathematics at upper secondary school to university mathematics, mathematical proof, and mathematical writing. A major strand of her work explores the use of Lean, an Interactive Theorem Prover, in the teaching and learning of mathematical proof.

Her teaching experience includes undergraduate and postgraduate modules in research methods, mathematics education, and STEM education, as well as teaching on the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Secondary Mathematics. Her teaching interests also include the use of games in mathematics education, including escape-room activities, and the design and delivery of mathematics outreach activities aimed at making mathematical ideas more accessible and engaging for school students and wider audiences.