Latest Alumni Updates
Connections: Karen Martin
"My book, Memorable Loss, is being released on 11 July 2023. I began it whilst writing in Prof Andrew Williams' non-fiction class, and developed it in the Memory Studies unit with Prof Alison Ribeiro de Menezes. Following encouragement from Alison, I was fortunate enough to be mentored by Prof Maureen Freely for a year, whilst I concentrated on crafting my book."
Connections: Nuzu Onoh
"I have been awarded the Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award for my outstanding contribution to horror fiction.
The Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award is the most prestigious recognition in the horror genre. It is presented to individuals who have made significant and sustained contributions to the horror genre throughout their careers. Previous recipients include Stephen King, Christopher Lee, Peter Straub, Koji Suzuki, Robert McCammon, Ray Bradbury, and Anne Rice."
Your memories of Warwick in Venice
For more than half a century, Warwick has forged a deep relationship with the city. The Faculty of Arts has taught generations of our students during their Venice terms. Since 2007, we have had a physical base in the Palazzo Pesaro Papafava.
From May 2023, our undergraduates, postgraduates and staff will have a new base - a wonderful late 17th century building in Palazzo Giustinian Lolin, right on the Grand Canal of Venice. As we get ready to open the building, we would love to share some alumni memories of studying in Venice over the years.
Quickfire questions with PhD Scholarship student, Dr Kimberley Thomas
We caught up with Dr Kimberley Thomas (BA History 2010, MA History 2011, PhD Caribbean Studies, 2020) to talk about her time at Warwick, ahead of her return to deliver a Caribbean seminar series.
How the past informs the present
Features writer and editor for The Boar, Vice President of Warwick HisSoc and Deputy Editor of Warwick Politics Society’s Perspectives, alumna Celia Bergin (BA History and Politics, 2022) certainly made the most of her time at Warwick. Graduating with a first-class degree, she jumped straight into the world of journalism. Now working as a reporter for Bloomberg News, Celia reflects on how these experiences helped her get there.
Playing the long game
Journalist, author, higher education professional, proof-reader, and editor Annette Rubery (PhD English and Comparative Literary Studies, 1999) has spent the 30-plus years since graduating honing her editorial and marketing skillset.
A love worthy of the spotlight
When Jo Walker (BA Theatre and Performance Studies, 2020) first met Vikram Grover (BA English and Theatre Studies, 2021) it was their mutual love of the theatre and performance that built a firm friendship. Working to establish BAME Creatives, a society dedicated to diversifying theatre at Warwick, they found themselves falling in love. Four years later they’ re still together and working in an industry that came to life through their time at Warwick.
Connections: Diana Holbourn
"I look back on my time at university with fondness. As a blind person, I had extra challenges, but I found Warwick to be a friendly and supportive environment. There was a group of volunteers who read course material onto tape for me so it was accessible to me, and extra power points and bookshelves were put in my room, the former for the electronic equipment with synthetic speech I used to write essays on, and the latter for some braille books, which are a lot bigger and bulkier than print books. I'm grateful to the university for organising those things."
Letting language lead the way
Postgraduate, multilingual translator and communications specialist - languages alumnus Dom Johnson has been busy since leaving Warwick in 2019. After almost three years working in Geneva as a translator for Swiss Federal Railways and Swiss Post, Dom (BA Modern Languages, 2018; MA Translation and Cultures, 2019) swapped proofreading for politics, moving back to the UK after securing a role as a Communications Officer for the Green Party of England and Wales.
A world of views
First-class Classics graduate and Senior Policy Advisor, Dillon Patel (BA Ancient History and Classical Archaeology, 2017) shares how Warwick shaped his thinking, the power of soft skills, and how the past isn’t so dissimilar from the present day.
Bank transfer checks out
First class graduate Fay Inverarity (BA German Studies, 2021; MA Translation and Cultures, 2022) is translating her academic passions into a budding career after securing a place on Barclays’ Retail Banking Graduate Scheme.
The power of storytelling
Ruth Ntumba (BA History, 2021) has spent her first 18 months since graduating helping drive engagement and culture at one of the world’s leading media corporations, Warner Brothers Discovery. Ruth shares why you should go at your own pace and trust your gut instinct when searching for your next role.
Behind the screens with Mika Watkins
Superstar screenwriter. Matcha maniac. Intern turned international TV writer. Cat lover. Origin originator. Warwick alumna. These are just some of the phrases that describe English graduate and one of the world’s youngest showrunners, Mika Watkins.
A history worth banking
A veteran of the City of London, Chris Wheeler (MA Modern History, 2021) spent more than 40 years in banking, working, and travelling across the globe. But he swapped investment banking for US antebellum history and Irish diaspora and fulfilled his childhood dream when he began furthering his education journey, first studying History at the University of Oxford before completing an MA in Modern History at Warwick. Chris embarked on his PhD at the University of Edinburgh in September 2022.
Letting creativity lead the way
BA English and Theatre Studies alumna Vinitaraj Aulak may have only graduated in 2021, but she wasted no time chasing her dreams and securing a radio presenter role on BBC Asian Network. Here she shares how her undergraduate degree taught her to break the mould and follow her passions.
Community impact
Thinking studying languages would progress his scientific career, Tim Heenan (BA European Studies, 2015; MA French Studies, 2020) undertook two degrees at Warwick. He didn’t know those lessons would pay dividends for years to come. At 71, Tim’s putting his research skills to good use and supporting his local community – and he’s not planning on slowing down.
Connections: Dana Zaman
"I miss the fun we had when we were students at Warwick- turning up to lectures dripping wet after water fights in the summer.
I remember Rag Week- students being followed by other students dressed as giant gnomes!"
Playing your part and keeping it classic
For Classics alumna Katharine Broderick (BA Classical Civilisation, 2021, MA by Research Classics and Ancient History, 2022), 2022 started and ended on a high. From having successfully produced Bacchae for the Warwick Ancient Drama Festival earlier in January to submitting the final assignment for her Master's degree, Katharine reflects on her time at Warwick and the relevance of Ancient Greek plays in modern society.
Overcoming adversity
From combat to craftsmanship and opera to Oscars, Greg Campbell (BA Theatre Studies, 1987) has spent many years of his life in the creative arts. Since then, he’s completed a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE), two masters’ degrees and is underway with an Education PhD. But it was only when he received his ADHD diagnosis that the world – and his struggles as an undergraduate - began to make more sense.
Quickfire questions with Monita Mohan
Warwick alumna Monita (MA Writing, 2011) is a content magician and pop culture enthusiast who has taken her skills across the world.