PhD student stories
Dr Eleanor Lutman-White
PhD in Social Work
"I have an extremely supportive supervisor at CLL who understands the challenges of studying with two young children. For example, when my children are ill, I get nothing done! Whilst a PhD is a big commitment over a long period of time, the great benefit is that it is flexible enough to fit around my family commitments with support from my family and some paid childcare.
Following my Viva, I secured a post as a Research Fellow at Coventry University working on a research project about health and wellbeing in adult survivors of trauma and abuse. The skills and knowledge I gained from my PhD, which was in a related area, have been invaluable to this role. Overall, my PhD experience was a positive one, but not without its challenges! I studied for my PhD part-time because I have two young children (one of whom was born during my PhD!) which was a juggling act. However, I always felt really supported by my supervisor and CLL as students with caring responsibilities are part of the fabric of CLL. The graduation ceremony was a great opportunity to celebrate my achievement and we were blessed with beautiful weather. I had to wait almost 2 years for this moment because of the pandemic, but it was certainly worth it!"
Dr Nursakinah Md Salleh
PhD in Adult Education and Lifelong Learning
"My first year was a struggle. I especially struggled with the language barrier. However, I had very good support from my supervisor, and colleagues as well as the whole Centre for Lifelong Learning."
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Fatima De Almeida Reszczynski
PhD student in Adult Education and Lifelong Learning
"My supervisors, Barbara and Will, have been incredibly supportive, understanding and very good at keeping me on my toes when I am least motivated. I also have a great support network within CLL where my peers constantly offer me support and encourage me to keep going."
Dr Masauso Chirwa
PhD in Social Policy and Social Work
"I appreciate very much the support from my supervisors and CLL at large. Doing a PhD in CLL has taught me to think critically and look at all sides of an issue."
Dr Nat Clegg
PhD in Adult Education and Lifelong Learning
Nat Clegg is an international coach. With his company The Development AlchemistsLink opens in a new window, he has worked in 74 countries over the last 25 years, for the UN, NGOs and in post conflict zones.
"The essence of my Ph.D. at Warwick was centred on how coaching clients experienced using creativity in their coaching sessions and the effects of this. As a professional international coach this was important, this can give people a way of accessing meaning through non-verbal communication, particularly when using a second language and for all, a way of voicing the unspeakable; that which is difficult to say. Our company (The Development Alchemists) provides training, coaching, training of coaches and facilitation globally. To date, we have worked in 74 countries over the last 25 years, for the UN, NGOs and in post conflict zones. To discover that creativity entwines the conscious and unconscious gives opportunities for people we work with to become more authentic as they move forward. My research adds gravitas to the important work that we do."