From alumni to staff
News
From Bath Spa alumni to Bath Spa University staff
Wednesday, 18 October, 2023With a community of 13,000 students and 1,100 staff, Bath Spa University has established itself as a leading University in creativity and culture, welcoming thousands of new students each year.
Famous for its stunning campuses and emphasis on creating a collaborative and inclusive community, students often remark that they chose Bath Spa because it felt like home. So much so that many of its students choose to build their careers at the University after graduation.
We caught up with Bath Spa alumni to find out what inspired them to stay at Bath Spa post-graduation and what they’re doing now.
Equality
Meg Robertson is the Equalities Officer at Bath Spa University. After graduating with a BA (Hons) in Drama and English Literature, she chose to further her studies, initially remaining at the University to pursue an MA in Arts Management.
Nurturing a passion for higher education, Meg was elected Vice President Welfare and Community in the Students’ Union. After a period as a Postgraduate Recruitment Officer at the University of Bath she returned to take up the post of Equalities Officer at Bath Spa and started ‘Be Open’, a podcast exploring race, gender, sexuality and all things equality and diversity.
Meg found her passion for equality and diversity during her MA where she combined theatre with events, honing her expertise in marketing, human resources and management.
“Bath Spa University has always been such an important space for me. I grew up here. I found out I was dyslexic, I figured out my sexuality. I began a journey of supporting my mental health. I grew in confidence because they gave me that space and opportunity and listened to what I had to say.”
When asked what a week in her shoes looks like, Meg said:
“My week often consists of meeting with various people across the university, organising events and supporting staff with adjustments to ensure they can work to the best of their abilities.”
Careers
Pandora Manton graduated from Bath Spa in 2007, with a degree in Creative Writing and Media Communications. She now works as a School Employability Partner in the Careers and Employability Team, supporting Academics to embed employability skills within the curriculum.
Following graduation, Pandora pursued a career in marketing that took her first to Plymouth and then across the globe to Australia. Then after seven years away from Bath Spa, she returned home.
“When I moved back to the area, I had to pass the University regularly on the route to my home. It brought back so many good memories of my time here. I began to look for opportunities that would allow me to go back to the University. I really wanted to become involved in helping to shape the lives of students, in the same way Bath Spa shaped me.”
Design
Georgia Powell graduated from Bath Spa University in 2019 with a BA Hons in Graphic Communication. When she saw an advert for a graphic design internship at the University, she jumped at the opportunity. As a graduate, she brought a unique perspective to the design team and was soon offered a permanent position.
Now, an integral part of the Design Team, Georgia spends her days designing digital assets for campaigns, reacting to requests across the entire University, and ensuring the Bath Spa University brand is upheld.
When asked what advice she would offer someone wanting to follow in her footsteps, Georgia said:
“Gain as much in house experience as you can, shadowing those within your dream career and learning on the job it the best way to gain confidence in your ability, as well as having a CV and portfolio that stands out at an interview.”
Short Courses
Ellis Naylor is an instrumental part of the Short Courses Unit and she studied for both an undergraduate degree and an MA in History at Bath Spa, where she discovered her passion for higher education. She now works as a Short Course Unit Project Coordinator while studying part time for her PhD in History at Bath Spa.
Talking about her degree subject and why she wanted to work at Bath Spa, she said:
“History is the subject of life. Understanding people, the world, and systems around us encourages a strive for change. It made me realise I was passionate about becoming part of the future of higher education.
“The support and vision of the University made me feel encouraged, supported, understood and ultimately at home in the Bath Spa community. I wanted to give something back and become part of its future.”
Education
Shaddai Tembo is a Lecturer in Early Years Education (China) with an undergraduate degree from Bath Spa University. After working directly with children and families, Shaddai decided to return to the University as an academic. He said:
“There was a real sense of coming full circle back to where things began, I've also had the pleasure of attending events here in the past so was aware of the natural beauty of the campus which was a real pull for me.
"It was a difficult choice for me to leave my practice working directly with children and families, but I pursued a career in academia because I felt that I could make meaningful change on a different scale. The ability to produce research and support students to learn about areas that I am passionate about is a real drive for me.”
Sustainability
Emma Jakins graduated from Bath Spa University in 2017 with a BSc in Geography. Alongside meeting friends for life, Emma discovered her passion for sustainability.
After graduation, Emma set off to explore the world. She travelled around Southeast Asia until her trip was cut short by news of the pandemic, so she returned to Bath Spa to pursue an MA in Wildlife Conservation.
Emma now works in the Sustainability Team to ensure the institution is as sustainable as possible. Her work varies from wildlife surveys to delivering project ideas to improving sustainable practices across different departments.
Reflecting on returning to work for the University, Emma said:
“It is hard to imagine when you graduate that you’ll return as part of the staff. When I saw the job opportunity, I knew I had to apply. It felt like it was meant to be! I knew from my time as a student that Newton Park is a beautiful place to work, and I knew they were committed to the environment.”
Communications
Amethyst Biggs graduated from Bath Spa in 2006 with an MA in Creative Writing, having fostered a love for writing since she can remember.
After a year in retail, Amethyst spent the next eight years working for a charity in Bristol. Starting as an Administrative Assistant, she worked her way up the ranks, settling into a career in information and publicity before she began searching for change.
“After I finished my MA, I think I always knew that I wanted to come back someday – I just wasn’t sure what kind of job it would be!”
Nine years after graduation, Amethyst returned to Bath Spa to work for the Alumni Team. Today, she’s a key part of the Communications Team and helps to tell inspiring stories from across the University.
“I think it's what I always wanted to do – it just took me a little while to get here. I think a lot of people feel like if they haven’t landed their dream job soon after they graduate that means they’ve failed. I certainly felt that way when I was younger. But that’s just not true. I was 40 when I started my current role; it took me 13 years to get here.”
Web
Emma Oliver is a Web Content Coordinator and BA (Hons) Publishing with Media Communications graduate.
Just before finishing her degree in 2019, Emma took up a job as a Junior PR Account Executive at a Bath-based PR and content marketing agency. She remained there for four years, progressing to Senior Creative Content Executive.
During her degree, Emma gained experience that made the transition from university to full-time employment seamless.
“I was introduced to industry-standard software such as InDesign and AdobeXD, content management systems like WordPress, and project management tools such as Trello. I’ve used these tools hundreds of times since then.”
Back at Bath Spa, her days entail ensuring that the website is up-to-date, keeping it consistent with brand guidelines, and working on campaign-based projects.
She continued:
“While I was studying here, I knew it was somewhere I could imagine working! I was eager to break outside of the university bubble and work in the ‘real world’ when I graduated – but as it turns out, the two really aren’t that different!”
Videography
Niklas Aarre graduated with a BA in Acting and, just two years later, an MA in Directing. He credits his course for building his skills, saying:
“My degrees taught me how to tell stories. They gave me the confidence to fail and taught me to learn from those failures. They allowed me to embrace my creative choices and trained my instinct to listen to others.”
After working as a freelancer for the University, Nik is now the backbone of the videography team, working as a Digital Content Producer. Reminiscing about when he realised he wanted to work at Bath Spa, he said:
“I have always loved the creativity and the people. When the job of Digital Content Producer became available, I knew I had to apply.”
No week is the same as a Digital Content Producer, from recording a podcast to flying a drone, the variety of Nik’s role is just one of the reasons he works for Bath Spa. He said:
“Every week is different, but what stays consistent is the creativity I get to inhabit in everything I do. That’s why I love my job.”