Faces of Reading

I speak several languages, so I know exactly what the main problems are with learning a new language and what students find most difficult. I try to encourage them to speak the language and overcome any difficulties on the way.

Everyone here has given me the opportunity to show my potential and challenge myself as a language teacher, but most of all to do what I love.

I'm an audiovisual translator and I study BSL. I believe that deaf and visually impaired people should have access to language learning too. My aim is to work as an interpreter in the future, and I am proud that BSL will be taught here at the University.

I'm a School Champion for Diversity and a member of the LGBTQIA+ staff scheme. I think it's important to promote diversity and inclusion.

At the University of Reading, our students come from all around the world and this makes their learning experience really interesting. I really like to build a relationship with my students, watching them grow as independent learners, helping them with their learning process, and making them feel part of a community.

I give a lot and receive a lot; it's beautiful. This is why I'm still teaching after 12 years.

Read more about the University's LGBT Plus Staff Network.

My research is unusual as I do mathematical modelling of biological systems. I work alongside biologists, trying to use their data in novel ways.

I came to Reading in 2011 and have just done the first year of another three-year postdoctorate, which is funded by the British Heart Foundation.

I took up this change of career in later life. I was in the IT industry for a long time and did a degree with The Open University. I just loved studying mathematics so much, I decided to give up my career to do a PhD.

I live in Derbyshire, which makes life slightly complicated, but I work at home sometimes to alleviate some of the travelling. Mathematics is one of those lovely things you can do anywhere; on a train or at home. When I was offered the job, I mentioned the travel, and the University was really open to trying it and seeing how we got on – they've been great about it.

I would like to go on and get a permanent position, but I'm happy with what I'm doing; it's such a fascinating job.

It's particularly satisfying to make a custom piece of glassware for researchers and get involved in the design process, which can involve multiple iterations to achieve a successful result.

I've got a very friendly working environment. Diversity and inclusion is something the University wholeheartedly embraces, which is great.

I'm asexual and have been involved in visibility work for AVEN (the Asexual Visibility and Education Network), of which I'm a member. This has involved TV and radio appearances, and contributing to newspaper and magazine articles.

When the University was applying to become a Stonewall Diversity Champion, I went to meetings to raise awareness of the asexual community. This resulted in the Staff and RUSU LGBTQIA+ organisations holding an Asexual Awareness Week, to which I was happy to contribute.

Asexual people are thought to make up about 1% of the population, which means there could be somewhere between 30 and 40 asexual people working at the University, even more in the student population.

I think it's important there's visibility for asexual people, and those who think they may be asexual, in particular, to have someone to talk to who is asexual.

DAS provide support to all students across the university, with conditions from dyslexia to depression to assistance dogs. Collaborative working is a necessity in such a busy department providing multi-faceted care to 3,500 students, and we commonly pool our knowledge and expertise when an unusual query arises.

As a Disability Support Co-ordinator, my most important function is working on the ‘front lines’ – particularly on our reception desk in the Carrington Building. I know from my own experience as a student how much difference it makes when staff are friendly and understanding and I do my best to make our reception desk as welcoming as I can.

It had not gone unnoticed to me when I first interviewed on campus that there were rainbow flags wherever I looked. I joined the Disability and LGBTQAI+ networks immediately upon starting work, and formed tight-knit friendship groups with university colleagues I simply never would have encountered otherwise.

Within an outwardly accepting employer, I have found DAS to be even more reflective of that – although I have rarely been shy about my disability, my queerness, or my three-person relationship I have never felt more accepted for who I am as an employee than at the University of Reading.