Profiles WIHEA Fellows (2023)
Welcome to our latest cohort of staff and student WIHEA Fellows! They will be developing expertise in areas of interest to them, enhancing practice and policy, and informing our strategic and practical thinking on learning and teaching.
Read on to see the perspectives they bring and what they are looking forward to getting involved in.
Dr Mujthaba Ahtamad
Senior Teaching Fellow, Warwick Manufacturing Group
I am excited to be a Fellow while we face many important questions in the sector. Such as, how can we enrich teaching & learning experiences online and face-to-face? And, how do we best manage technologies such as AI? I look forward to taking part in the development opportunities, learning circles/networks and projects that WIHEA offers. As well as to be part of the effort which shapes Teaching and Learning at Warwick.
Bhushan Atote
Computer Science (PhD student), Computer Science
I am a dedicated 2nd-year PhD student in the Department of Computer Science, passionate about the field of explainable AI. With a solid foundation from my prior industry experience and the role of a Graduate Teaching Assistant, I am keen on contributing my expertise to projects that incorporate cutting-edge technology in higher education pedagogy. My research interests lie in exploring ways to enhance the learning experience, making it more enjoyable and engaging for students. By leveraging modern technologies, I aim to bridge the gap between AI research and practical applications to create a positive impact on education and empower learners with a deeper understanding of the AI models that shape our world.
Dr Julia Brettschneider
Associate Professor (Reader), Department of Statistics
As an applied statistician/data scientist I have been working on many joint research projects with scientists, clinical researchers, and engineers, which enabled me to offer a broad range of interdisciplinary Master’s projects. In a first-year module I recently developed I have integrated project group work to sow the seeds for future engagement in research.
As part of my Fellowship, I am hoping to participate in initiatives about related topics such as assessment of group work, project-based tasks, experience-based learning, and the benefits and pitfalls of AI in learning, marking, and assessment.
Dr Juliana Cunha Carneiro Pinto
Teaching Fellow, Department of Economics
I am a Teaching Fellow in Economics. Prior to joining Warwick, I taught at LSE and at University of Birmingham. Pastoral care is especially close to my heart as the new Advisor for Students with Disabilities at the Department of Economics and am looking very much forward to contributing with my genuine willingness to provide better support and guidance to students with disabilities. I hope to contribute to the discussions to enhance teaching and learning outcomes for students and staff, particularly for the disabled and from widening participation background.
Dr Aysu Dincer Hadjianastasis
Assistant Professor (Teaching-Focused), Department of History
I am committed to creating an inclusive learning environment. I would be interested in contributing to projects which aim to enhance the academic engagement of mature students, improving accessibility and inclusivity for learners and enhancing practice and policy within Warwick. I am also interested in improving the learning experiences of neurodivergent students.
Dr Kerry Dobbins
Assistant Professor, Academic Development Centre
As a Senior Academic Developer, my role is to support the enhancement of curriculum and pedagogic practices at an individual and strategic level. I lead Cultivate, which is the ADC’s open access series of events and resources to support individual and collaborative professional development. I am an experienced pedagogic researcher with expertise in the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) and am committed to developing the skills of colleagues to inquire into their pedagogic practices. As a WIHEA fellow I hope to continue nurturing and sharing my interest in areas such as SoTL, inclusive assessment and curriculum design. I also hope to explore opportunities to (re)consider professional learning and how we may support the continued development of colleagues’ pedagogic expertise.
Dr Rosie Doyle
Assistant Professor in Latin American History, Department of History
I am interested in teaching and activities aimed at Widening Participation and embedding practical skills and experience in co-created, research-led teaching. I would also be interested in learning more about good practice in teaching for neurodiversity.
Dr Fiona Farnsworth
Journal and Conferences Coordinator, Institute for Advanced Teaching and Learning (IATL)
I work across IATL’s flagship projects in undergraduate research support – the International Conference of Undergraduate Research (ICUR) and Reinvention: An International Journal of Undergraduate Research – alongside student co-creation teams for each. My interests are best summarised as falling at a critical intersection between research and storytelling: a combination of my previous interdisciplinary research and teaching (in world-literature, matrices of power, and critical and student-as-researcher pedagogies), and my current focus on communication, internationalisation, and inclusivity in undergraduate research. I look forward to collaborating with and learning from colleagues in WIHEA Learning Circles on Interdisciplinarity, Internationalisation, Pedagogies of Public and Community Engagement, and Developing Academic Literacies, in particular.
Dr Atisha Ghosh
Assistant Professor (Teaching-Focused), Department of Economics
As the Academic Careers Coordinator for the Department of Economics, I am interested in linking and embedding employability skills in the structure of modules. I have experience in organising groupwork assessments as well as conducting research in understanding the efficacies and uptake of groupwork among students and lecturers. As a fellow, I would like to actively continue my work on skills development. I am also keen to participate in projects related to designing and assessing groupwork, co-creation and pedagogic research.
Dr Gemma Gray
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology
I am the Deputy Director of Students Experience in the Psychology department, with a focus on supporting disabled students. Working with disabled students has strongly influenced my attitudes towards inclusive practice, and I have also contributed to WIHEA learning circles to increase awareness of the challenges students face. As a WIHEA fellow, I hope to expand into other areas of inclusive practice, to ensure that Warwick is a place where all students feel they belong and can thrive.
Richard Groves
Enterprise Pathway Manager, Warwick Enterprise
My role, as the Enterprise Pathway Manager in the Innovation Group, is to create and build opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship at Warwick and to support our entrepreneurial students and graduates in developing their enterprise skills, entrepreneurial mindset, and the growth of innovative ideas.
As a WIHEA Fellow, I am keen to learn more about the facets of teaching excellence at Warwick, whilst at the same time exploring the development of pedagogical approaches to fulfil the innovation agenda. I am also interested in discussions and projects related to student experience and engagement, interdisciplinarity and co-creation.
Dr Neha Gupta
Assistant Professor, Warwick Business School
I’m an academic passionate for designing technology-focused curriculum that caters evolving demands of the job market in the digital world. My origins in software development and IT practice for 10 years has influenced my interest in active education that empowers students with practical technical skills. I am a Fellow of HEA and have successfully designed and delivered modules both at PG and UG level in business school. I am part of AI taskforce team of academics, engaged in assessing the role of AI and sharing best practices for AI incorporation in HE. Drawing on my expertise in Data Science, AI, and technology education, I am excited to contribute my knowledge to collaborative WIHEA projects that could potentially explore strategies and initiatives to enrich our curriculum, impacting students' practical skills for their future career. Moreover, I am eager to learn from my peers in other departments, fostering a culture of mutual growth and development.
Dr Nicholas Hopcroft
Associate Professor, Warwick Medical School
I am a teaching-focused academic with experience in curriculum design, development, leadership and quality assurance. I am keen to contribute to educational policy and practice in areas such as programme leadership, module and course approval, student transitions and supporting postgraduates who teach.
Robert Horton
Head of Administration, School of Law
I possess significant experience in HE administration that spans different institutions, academic departments in all three faculties, and central administration. I am a firm believer in the benefits of closer cooperation and integration for academic and professional staff, a vital component in facilitating the highest possible standards of academic practice and job satisfaction. I am also a passionate advocate for proactive career progression, always seeking new initiatives and opportunities to engage staff in developing their professional potential.
I am highly active in seeking to address issues of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), most specifically for gender-related areas and those that have gender intersectionality. I have led several departmental Athena Swan applications, am the lead for the Faculty of Social Sciences Athena Swan Network, and an Advance HE Athena Swan Panel Reviewer. This EDI work encompasses the entirety of the University community including the students, academic staff, and professional staff.
Inca Hide-Wright
Community, Engagement and Belonging (MA Student), Liberal Arts
I would like to help improve inclusivity, access to opportunities, and sustainability, in higher education settings, by utilising my knowledge and my experiences of human-centred design. I would like to do my part in bettering the transition to higher education, engagement and belonging as well as, contributing to becoming carbon neutral as a university and as a way of life.
Andrea Klaus
Associate Professor (Teaching), School of Modern Languages and Cultures
Intercultural competence is at the heart of what I do in SMLC, and I would like to investigate how intercultural skills and awareness students acquire on the Year Abroad can be reinvested in their home university and later also in their home economy. I would also welcome the opportunity to explore new ways of making students more resilient for their Year Abroad. Furthermore, I’m particularly interested in innovative ways of teaching and learning languages.
Wayne Kwong
English and Comparative Literary Studies (PhD student), English and Comparative Literary Studies
I am a PhD student at the Department of English and Comparative Literature. Before pursuing a PhD at Warwick, I worked at top universities in Hong Kong on teaching and learning in tertiary education, specializing in the Internationlisation of Curriculum and Programme Review. I look forward to being a part of the WIHEA community and engaging in projects that internationalize the University curricula, highlighting previously unnoticed barriers in teaching and learning for minority students. I also have a keen interest in interdisciplinarity pedagogies and the use of information technology in the classroom.
Percy Lim
English student, English and Comparative Literary Studies
As a student I have faced institutional difficulties due to having late diagnosed neurodivergencies, and being one of the first openly trans students at a single-sex school. During my Fellowship I hope to utilise these experiences in order to ensure that future students do not face the same struggles that I did.
Dr Kerem Öge
Teaching Fellow, Politics and International Studies
As a WIHEA fellow, I would be happy to promote equality and diversity in the curriculum. I am also particularly interested in using artificial intelligence to enhance learning and I would be very interested in working towards this goal.
Dr Simon Peplow
Associate Professor (Teaching-Focused) in 20th-century British history, Department of History
I am active in various teaching and learning roles across my department, faculty, and national organisations such as Education Officer for History UK. As a WIHEA Fellow, I am developing co-created projects - including an interdisciplinary digitisation project, and collaboration across institutions to explore student engagement. I am excited by the opportunities to work with and learn from colleagues across the university.
Dr Thomas Popham
Associate Professor, Director of Studies – Systems and Information Stream, School of Engineering
I’m the Director of Studies for the Systems and Information Stream within the School of Engineering. I’m interested in improving student engagement and learning through active learning approaches where students can develop and apply their creative skills for solving authentic problems using diverse assessments. I’m looking forward to learning from the wider Warwick community and seeing how the same ideas work across different subject areas.
Bhagavathy Ramachandran
Assistant Professor (Teaching-Focused), Warwick Manufacturing Group
The ‘Learner’ is at the heart of all the work I undertake, and I strongly believe that ‘Teaching’ and ‘Learning’ are two sides of the same coin.
As Assistant Professor (Teaching-Focused), I head the Leadership module in WMG, which through its focus on Critical Reflexivity, helps the ‘Learner’ realise their potential by unpacking their assumptions, values, and beliefs.
A trained Yoga teacher, I run ‘Asana and Beyond’ in my capacity as an Athena Swan Champion to advocate wellbeing.
I am excited to learn from my WIHEA peer community and collaborate with them in Interdisciplinarity and Internationalisation projects to which I bring a wide range of transferable skills (Leadership development, Yoga & Wellbeing, Technology Enhanced Learning, Mentoring & Coaching, Creative Assessment, Storytelling, Co-creation, among others).
Tor Riches
Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry student, Department of Chemistry
As a student with a disability, my personal experiences have made me motivated to improve accessibility for all students and staff in higher education. Further to this I am involved in a collaborative neurodiversity and disability training project as a research assistant and content creator. I am also an active member of my departments SSLC and have been throughout my degree, as I find passion in advocating for better student experience for all. I’m excited to accept this WIHEA Fellowship and I look forward to working with likeminded passionate individuals in the future!
Holly Roffe
Vice-President for Education, Students' Union
As VP Education for Warwick Students' Union, I act as a representative for students in an educational context, and in my role, I am specifically interested in ensuring education is fair and accessible for all students here at Warwick. In WIHEA, I hope to use my lived experience as a disabled and neurodivergent student at Warwick to help improve the accessibility and disabled experience here at the university.
Dr Lucy Ryland
Assistant Professor, Warwick Foundation Studies
I am an Assistant Professor on the International Foundation Programme and Assessment Officer for Warwick Foundation Studies. My experience lies in assessment, in particular diverse assessment for authenticity and inclusivity. I also have a keen interest in interdisciplinary pedagogy and assessment and something I would like to explore further is how this intersects with international student experience.
Miriam Schwiening
Assistant Professor of ELT, Department of Applied Linguistics
In addition to teaching on the MA TESOL course, I design and teach on a range of teacher development courses for international teachers for our Short Courses provision in Applied Linguistics. I have worked with teacher educators and teachers in Tanzania through the Warwick in Africa charity and am a firm believer in the importance of context-sensitive teacher development. I have developed my interests in Internationalisation of the curriculum, through AR and, more recently, I have been working on a WIHEA funded research project investigating international students’ study strategies and their role in shaping pedagogy in HE. As a WIHEA fellow, I hope to engage in projects which aim to benefit the academic experiences of home as much as international students.
Dr Sanjay Sharma
Assistant Professor, Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies
My areas of interest include exploring decolonality, anti-racism and critical pedagogy. I have published in these areas for over a decade. I am especially motivated to develop pedagogies and practice that engage with the possibility of encountering ‘otherness’ and difference beyond appropriation, domination and exclusion.
Dr Rochelle Sibley
Associate Professor (Teaching-Focused), English and Comparative Literary Studies
I have over 20 years of teaching experience in Warwick’s English department, with a special interest in academic skills development and digital pedagogies. As an autistic academic, I am very keen to investigate how co-creation and play-based learning could encourage more inclusive pedagogies that better represent neurodivergent perspectives. I am also hoping to use my time at WIHEA to develop a network for neurodivergent staff and PhD students, so that their experiences of teaching and learning in Higher Education can inform institutional policy on inclusive educational practices.
Matt Street
Head of Digital Learning, Education Group – Flexible and Online Learning
I’m looking forward to bringing experience in the following broad strategic areas, digital education, assessment, technology, digital capabilities innovation, online and blended learning into WIHEA and working collaboratively with colleagues from across the university to continue developing a high quality educational experience.
Dr Massimiliano Tamborrino
Associate Professor, Department of Statistics
I am an Associate Professor in Statistics (research and teaching-focused) and Course Director of MORSE (Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics), a large-scale interdisciplinary degree with more than 250 students per year. My teaching practice is shaped around students’ needs and background, with a focus on inclusive approaches that respect and support all learners in large-group classes (more than 250 students), making what I teach understandable, intuitive, interesting, and engaging to everyone. After sharing my experience and expertise within the department, I am looking forward to do that at WIHEA Fellow, contributing to the development of institutionally inclusive education.
Cleo Tilley
Assistant Professor, Warwick Foundation Studies
My areas of interest include reflective practice in teaching and learning through small scale action research, peer observations and dialogue. As an EAP practitioner working mainly with students on the International Foundation Programme, I have a particular interest in student voice and how students can develop self-regulation and peer mentoring skills as part of their successful transition to further studies in the UK. The role of emotions and compassion in teaching and learning is an area I would like to explore further.
Vivek Venkatram
Philosophy, Politics and Economics Student, Department of Philosophy
I strongly believe that engaging in discussion is a great avenue to explore, and consequently refine one’s views. This academic year, I played an active role in shaping discussion forums through my involvement in the Warwick Economics Summit, Warwick VegSoc & an interdisciplinary WIHEA project.
As an incoming Fellow, I want to continue developing discussion-based pedagogies in a way that is conducive to both students and staff members alike – to make learning interdisciplinary, engaging and applicable to the real-world. Specifically, I will share my inputs during the Academy's Learning Circles to enhance Virtual Learning Environments and facilitate institutional alternative protein dialogue.
Dr Matthew Voice
Assistant Professor, Centre for Applied Linguistics
I am an Assistant Professor in Applied Linguistics, where I teach a range of courses in sociolinguistics and academic research skills, and also serve as undergraduate outreach officer. I am particularly interested in understanding and enhancing student learning experience and engagement, and I have been an active member of WIHEA's Diverse Assessment and AI in Assessment working group, as well as co-organising a departmental research project investigating the development of undergraduates' academic writing skills. As a WIHEA Fellow I am keen to lead future interdisciplinary work on this theme, and to learn more in partnership with colleagues across the university.
Yaz Yeahia
Student Voice Manager, Students' Union
I am the Student Voice Manager at Warwick SU. I am an experienced activist with a demonstrated history of working with Student Unions to build and liberate work for marginalized students.
Through WIHEA, I want to help alleviate and influence ways to help support students and best inform relevant practices across the University. Having contributed to previous WIHEA learning circles, I am passionate about collaborating more with like-minded people on supporting co-creation, dismantling hierarchies and inclusivity within HE spaces.
Dr Isleide M Zissimos
Assistant Professor (Teaching-Focused), Department of Economics
With a background in Economics, my expertise lies at the intersection of teaching and learning across disciplines, as well as in the administration of joint programmes. I also have a keen interest in researching the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on student learning and performance.
As a WIHEA fellow I am interested in actively contributing to projects centred around interdisciplinarity and to explore opportunities to evaluate AI-based tools that can enhance student inclusivity and foster widening participation.