Proud to be Surrey

Colleagues from across the University tell us what makes them Proud to be Surrey

The Vice-Chancellor's Awards is a prestigious event that celebrates the very best of Surrey. Teachers, researchers and professional services staff, are recognised in a glittering ceremony hosted by President and Vice-Chancellor, Max Lu.

We spoke to some of the 2022 finalists about what makes them Proud to be Surrey.

Perry Petworth is a Senior Building Surveyor in the Estates and Facilities team at Surrey.

A highly regarded and popular member of the Surrey Community, Perry won the prestigious Colleague of the Year award at the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards.

Perry delivered almost £12 million worth of projects last summer, overseeing major works such as the refurbishment of Block D and the Teaching Block, both on time and budget despite major supply issues.

“Delivering the accommodation refurbishment on time and under budget was rewarding,” says Perry, who joined the University six years ago. “The new stag on the Piazza was another highlight from my time here.

Everything is a team effort – the camaraderie is the best thing about working here. And the recognition – you’re not just a name and a number here – if you do an outstanding job you get recognition for it."

I have got fabulous colleagues and the University really shows recognition and values its staff. I think there’s a real energy around supporting staff. The School of Psychology is brilliant, the students are fantastic and it feels like a very nurturing and innovative place, and I enjoy being a part of it."

Dr Chrissie Jones Associate Professor in Clinical Health Psychology

Dr Manuel Alector Ribeiro is a Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management in Surrey's School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Alector joined Surrey in September 2017.

Why did you join Surrey?
As an early-career researcher, I joined Surrey because it is a great place to start your academic career due to its supportive environment, strong research culture, and commitment to teaching excellence.

What makes you Proud to be Surrey?
I am proud to work alongside a community of talented and dedicated colleagues committed to excellence in teaching and research. The collegiality and supportiveness that exists among staff members is a fundamental aspect of what makes the University of Surrey such a special place. I am constantly inspired by my colleagues' passion for their research and teaching topics and willingness to collaborate and share ideas. Our unique culture of collegiality fosters a collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment, ultimately benefiting our students and the wider academic community.

Manuel Alector Ribeiro, PhD Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management

Professor Emily Farran

Emily Farran is a Professor in Developmental Psychology and an advocate for an open research culture at Surrey. Emily has led many University-wide initiatives, bringing in significant funding and representing Surrey externally. As a result, Surrey has been recognised as a leader in Open Research.

“Surrey is a very friendly place to work,” says Emily. “I have also been given many opportunities to engage with the University community and to develop my leadership skills.

“Surrey makes me feel part of a team with shared goals.”

Thi Bogossian Porto

Thi is a PhD student in the Department of Sociology researching the experiences of Polish pupils attending school in England, focusing on sense of belonging amid the social and political context of Brexit.

"I think Surrey has an amazing, thriving community of academics,” says Thi, who is also a graduate tutor. “We feel valued, we feel respected and there are so many opportunities for us. I did an international research placement in Portugal through a partnership with Surrey. It's fabulous to be able to be involved in so many things while studying at Surrey."

Surrey encourages us to think outside the box.”

Dr Malte Kaeding

Malte Kaeding is a Senior Lecturer in International Politics. Malte was nominated for Innovator of the Year for his research into Hong Kong politics and international relations.

He helped create the first scholarly organisation on Hong Kong studies in Europe and his documentary film was able to speak to a wider audience.

“There is so much support to be innovative," says Malte, who has been at Surrey for more than 10 years. "I feel like I can achieve things here that make a difference."

It makes me proud to be part of a cutting-edge, innovative research community.”

Jess Johnson

Jess is the Research Facilitation Officer in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences. She was nominated for her proactive work making the faculty’s research and innovation processes more inclusive. She joined University as a temp almost 16 years ago and has worked across a number of different faculties and departments ever since.

“We have a lot of great colleagues, but no matter what changes might be going on it is really the people that draw you to the place,” says Jess. "We still have a way to go to regarding EDI but there is a lot of diversity here, and it is the people who have kept me here.

I am proud of everything we achieve in research and innovation, particularly working with the early-career researchers.”

Dr Yunlong Zhao is a Senior Lecturer in Bioelectronics and Energy Storage at the Advanced Technology Institute. Zhao was named Researcher of the Year for his research into new carbon-neutral battery technology as well as wearable medical devices and sensors, such as a smart contact lens that can monitor health conditions by measuring temperature, light intensity and glucose.

“I receive a lot of support within my department, school and the whole University,” says Yunlong, who joined Surrey in 2018. “Surrey recruits a lot of fantastic students so I am very happy that I can deliver my knowledge and experience to help them become leaders of the future.”

Karen Gates won the Vice-Chancellor's Leadership Award for her aptitude in identifying and nurturing the talents of others in her role as Head of Alumni and Supporter Engagement. After a career in the charity sector, Karen joined Surrey in 2018 and her enthusiasm and energy helped lead her team to a record-high score for Surrey in the Alumni Engagement KPI.

“When I heard about the job my son was a student in his second year at Surrey so I had to get permission from my son to follow him here!" says Karen. "I only managed to bump into him twice, which either means I don’t get out of the office enough or our schedules were very different!

"Joining Surrey was the best decision I’ve made. I work with a fantastic team and I’ve really seen that if you invest the time then people can really excel. It is really important to invest time in younger members of the team and make sure all your experience goes to help them develop their careers as well.

What makes me Proud to be Surrey? The impact it has on young people.

"I have witnessed personally how we have young people coming here, immersing themselves in the Surrey experience and then I see it through the alumni network how they go out there and change the world and I think that is a very exciting place to be."

Dr Bahman Amini Horri is a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering.

What attracted you to Surrey?
After my PhD I was working as a lecturer at Monash University (Malaysia). I visited Surrey in 2015 and really loved the University and the surroundings. A few weeks later, I saw an advertisement for a lecturer position. I applied for the job and was successful.

How long have you been at Surrey?
About six years now. I have a balanced background in academia and industry in both Australia and Malaysia, working on hydrogen, fuel cells, electrolysers, and energy materials.

What do you most enjoy about working here?
I like the University’s research and teaching environment. I recently patented a new technology for hydrogen generation and got a lot of support from the Technology Transfer Department for commercialising the technology. We have recently set up a Surrey Spin-out company for this and working with several partners, including Fluor Limited, to help this development.

What makes you Proud to be Surrey?
The University is one of the leading academic institutions in the UK, and the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering is a world-class educational centre with friendly people, a professional working environment and a strong track record of creating innovative technologies. We also offer the oldest continuing Chemical Engineering Programme in the UK (since 1911).

Alice Spencer is Conference and Events Coordinator and has been at Surrey for three-and-a-half years. Alice was shortlisted for the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion award for her pioneering work in helping to launch the Purple Network.

The Purple Network was launched in 2022 to offer a safe space for staff with experiences of disability and chronic illness.

“A lot of disabilities like mine are invisible,” says Alice, but it is about supporting my colleagues in the challenges they face. I know that a lot of people find disability on campus really tough; we are built on a hill but we are doing anything we can to help. It is a collective effort – EDI is about inclusion, it’s never ‘I’; it’s always ‘we’.”

When asked what makes her Proud to be Surrey, Alice replied: “There are so many opportunities to get involved, such as the opportunity for me to be involved in the Purple Network. That is what makes me Proud to be Surrey.”

Dr Charlotte Mathieson is a Senior Lecturer in 19^th Century English Literature. Her research on 19^th and 20^th-century literary and medical cultural history has resulted in a prestigious British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship.

“I’m using archival resources on the history of sun tanning both in terms of the literary and cultural representations of sun tanning,” explains Charlotte, who has been at Surrey for six years. “But also how sun tanning was understood medically, and how it was marketed commercially in the early part of the 20^th Century.”

When asked what attracted her to Surrey, Charlotte replied: “It had a strong portfolio, both in 19^th-Century studies as well as a vibrant wider research culture and it has proven, ever since my first day here, to be a really welcoming team to work among. I have really valued the School of Literature and Languages; it is really stimulating and inspiring environment to be in.

I love working in the strong, collegiate environment that we have both among the SLL team, and across the University."

Kelly McCabe is a Senior Professional Training Officer for our Employability and Careers team and looks after students going out on their Professional Training Year. Kelly has been at the University for 15 years.

“In many ways the University has changed a lot in that time, but in other ways it hasn’t changed at all,” she says. “I’ve seen a change in Vice-Chancellor which was an interesting time for everybody and I’ve personally gone from being faculty-based to working centrally in Employability and Careers as part of the Placements Team. You don’t think change is necessarily going to be enjoyable but it has been a really positive experience and I love the team that I work with.

“We are so student focused. We put their wellbeing and what they want to undertake at the forefront of everything we do. We are constantly looking to improve our processes based on what is best for the students rather than what is best for us. Everybody is so dedicated to making sure students get the best experience and I couldn’t think of a better place to work.”

Professor Emma Mayhew is the Associate Dean (Education) in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

“Surrey has continued to enhance all aspects of the student experience and build on excellence in our teaching. I have been really excited to be a part of this ” says Emma, who joined Surrey in 2020 after 13 years at the University of Reading. “We have been really agile in responding to challenges over the last few years and it has been fantastic to see the impact of our innovative work on our students.

"I’m very lucky to work with wonderful colleagues who care enormously about what we do here. We have a genuinely collegiate and supportive environment. I’m so proud to be a part of this University.”

“I have fantastic colleagues who genuinely make it a pleasure to do my job,” says Dr Anna Cox, Senior Lecturer in Health and Social Care. “I am proud that we focus on inclusion, inspiration, innovation and integrity in our research and teaching at Surrey.”

Anna was shortlisted for Innovator of the Year for her impactful research and development of products which have improved the support provided to expectant parents with learning disabilities. The Together Project supports the delivery of good practice in maternity services for parents with learning disabilities.

“This was sparked by the personal stories of a man with learning disabilities, Scott,” explains Anna, who joined Surrey in 2007. Anna and Scott were invited to be co-authors on a Beyond Words book called Having a Baby which won the British Medical Association award for patient information.

Cat Jones is a Lecturer in the School of Mechanical Engineering Sciences (FEPS). Cat was shortlisted for the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Award for her work establishing a range of activities to promote staff and student welfare. She runs social lunches, seminar series, yoga classes, lunchtime walks, outdoor games and coffee breaks.

“I absolutely love my students,” says Cat, who joined Surrey in July 2021. “I love being able to teach in the Schol and to spend my days supporting my students to learn and grow.

"Since joining Surrey I’ve had various opportunities for personal development such as taking part in the Springboard programme, which is a personal and professional development programme for women. It has had a really positive impact on me in realising what I want to do, what my values are and what I want to achieve while I am here at Surrey.”

PhD Student Jo Herschan was nominated for Postgraduate Researcher of the Year for her research into improving the quality of drinking water in rural environments.

“My research centre is a collaborating centre with the World Health Organisation and that’s the sort of work that I want to get into,” explains Jo, who previously had a career in the water industry, studied her Masters at Surrey part-time before embarking on her PhD in 2019.

In November 2021 she attended COP26 in Glasgow and last year she completed a fellowship on the Environment and Climate Change Committee in the House of Lords looking at behaviour change for climate change.

“There are a lot of opportunities on offer to PGRs, through the University, the department and through my doctoral training programme and I have just grasped them,” says Jo.

Dr Charlotte Mathieson is a Senior Lecturer in 19^th Century English Literature. Her research on 19^th and 20^th-century literary and medical cultural history has resulted in a prestigious British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship.

“I’m using archival resources on the history of sun tanning both in terms of the literary and cultural representations of sun tanning,” explains Charlotte, who has been at Surrey for six years. “But also how sun tanning was understood medically, and how it was marketed commercially in the early part of the 20^th Century.”

When asked what attracted her to Surrey, Charlotte replied: “It had a strong portfolio, both in 19^th-Century studies as well as a vibrant wider research culture and it has proven, ever since my first day here, to be a really welcoming team to work among. I have really valued the School of Literature and Languages; it is really stimulating and inspiring environment to be in.

I love working in the strong, collegiate environment that we have both among the SLL team, and across the University."

Kelly McCabe is a Senior Professional Training Officer for our Employability and Careers team and looks after students going out on their Professional Training Year. Kelly has been at the University for 15 years.

“In many ways the University has changed a lot in that time, but in other ways it hasn’t changed at all,” she says. “I’ve seen a change in Vice-Chancellor which was an interesting time for everybody and I’ve personally gone from being faculty-based to working centrally in the placements office. You don’t think change is necessary going to be enjoyable but it has been a really positive experience and I love the team that I work with.

“We are so student focused. We put their wellbeing and what they want to undertake at the forefront of everything we do. We are constantly looking to improve our processes based on what is best for the students rather than what is best for us. Everybody is so dedicated to making sure students get the best experience and I couldn’t think of a better place to work.”

Professor Emma Mayhew is the Associate Dean (Education) in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

“Surrey has made really significant progress in terms of its student experience provision and the quality of teaching provision and I have been really excited to be a part of that,” says Emma, who joined Surrey in 2020 after 13 years as a Professor of Pedagogy and Politics at the University of Reading. “To see the impact of all the innovation that we have been able to deliver and the real world impact that has had on our students.

“I have never worked in a more collegiate, and genuinely happy, environment. I have always felt supported and voices around me are always heard. There are aspects of Surrey that are unique to this University and I’m really proud to be a part of that.”