I'm a mathematician based in the Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research. It's a cross-disciplinary project. Working in a lab alongside biologists was something I couldn't resist. I love it – it's the best job I could ever hope to have.
In 2012 I joined the University and started teaching evening classes in Italian. In 2013 I was offered the chance to teach an Italian and Spanish course on the undergraduate programme of the Institution-Wide Language Programme (IWLP). This is a programme at Reading that enables students to learn a language as part of their degree or for personal development; it's also open to staff at the University.
I started with a few hours and now, after five years, I work as a teacher and module convenor for Spanish and British Sign Language (BSL). I've always been a teacher and like to pass on my knowledge and passion for languages to my students. I believe that "teaching skills make you skilful".
I have worked at the University of Reading in the Global Academy since 2019. I first came to Reading to teach temporarily on the summer Pre-sessional English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programme. I was living on a houseboat in Oxford at the time, after returning from some time teaching in South East Asia. I fell in love with the beautiful Whiteknights campus and met some very friendly and kind colleagues during that time. I was therefore very pleased to be offered a succession of further work in Global Academy after that summer, which resulted in my husband and I moving to Reading permanently. Shortly after this I secured a permanent lecturer position here.
I’m the Head of the School of the Built Environment My remit is to provide academic leadership and management within the School. I am also the Programme Director for our MSc Design and Management of Sustainable Built Environments course.
I actually came to Reading in two spells. The first time was in 2001 as a master’s student, and a year later I was hired as a Research Assistant before I left to pursue my PhD in 2004. I came back in 2009 as an Academic Fellow, and then in 2011 I became a lecturer.
