The tutors said I should think about going to university, so I applied to Reading and quit my job to do a sociology degree. I was 32, with children, and was surrounded by 18-year-olds. It was probably the hardest thing I did, trying to manage everything, but it was great.

I graduated in 2003, did a master's and went straight into a PhD. I got a scholarship, which meant my feed were paid in exchange for teaching. I got a job as a research assistant and then lecturer. I really didn't have a vision of where I was going, but every step of the way, I met people who encouraged me.

My current role is Associate Professor in the Institute of Education, and I have a number of leadership responsibilities. My research focuses on aspirations, gender and widening participation. I like to do work and research that's empowering.

The University is made up of lots of different people from different backgrounds and situations. If you want to come, you can and you can make a success of yourself.

I am an Admissions Administrator working for the postgraduate admissions team, helping students who are applying for master's degrees and PhDs. I also look after some pre-sessional English courses, which are aimed at students who need to improve their English proficiency.

It's fun, challenging and very busy, but I enjoy it. There's a lot of time management and working to tight deadlines, especially if students have to apply for visas and get their documents in on time. The majority of people I deal with as postgraduates are overseas applicants.

Knowing that everyone believes in the work I’m doing is great. Everyone has just been really welcoming and friendly, I feel like I can be myself.

I've got a little LGBT postcard on my desk, which I got when I started. I didn't want to call attention to myself, but being queer is something I am and feel very close to as a cause. It's something I believe in a lot, and I talk to a lot of people who have similar issues and identities.

Many colleagues have an LGBT postcard or lanyard and seeing everyone showing support is really wonderful.

My research blended my business and real estate backgrounds and, over the last 25 years, there were probably three or four of us around the world who created Corporate Real Estate Management as its own sub-field.

I also had a passion for teaching and learning and, having designed and led programmes, became one of the first Faculty Directors of Teaching and Learning in 2002. This was a start-up role and very wide ranging, and I realised that I loved to fix or recreate something.

The role of Deputy Dean at Henley Business School was another chance to make a real impact. Over the last seven years, we have recreated a truly world-class business school — more than doubling its size and re-establishing its profile.

Being at Reading has given me so many opportunities to do new and different roles and projects - from starting the Henley Women in Leadership Forum to leading the review of Senate.

The Forum was set up to address issues facing women, who make up a significant proportion of our 70,000 alumni across the world. The events we run consider how organisations can develop a more inclusive environment, from tackling unconscious bias to implementing effective flexible working practices.

My advice to anyone is to grab opportunities as they come along — they will enrich your life.

The culture here is extremely student-facing - it's not a cliché, it's true. During a day in the Careers Centre, you never know who's going to walk in the door next. It allows me to engage with a wide variety of students from across the University. I've moved from working two days a week to four, which enables me to balance work with family commitments.

One of the best aspects of working here is the environment - the campus, the trees, being able to walk around the lake every day - it's wonderful. The people also make this a great place to work. The focus on professional development and training is excellent – I’ve taken opportunities to learn skills from negotiation and reflective practice, to technology and app software. I was also awarded Fellow status for the FLAIR scheme for my work in supporting learning.

As I’m visually-impaired, my Guide Dog, Molly, stays with me throughout the day. Her calm, self-contained temperament makes her the ideal match - a more excitable dog would have a hard time coping with all the students! She sleeps happily in my office during the day and runs around at lunchtime. The University gave me a private office, and so this way I don’t disturb my colleagues. Access to Work provides funding for necessary support: this includes JAWS screen reading software, braille capabilities, and sighted assistance for producing work and engaging with students.

I believe that good practice – what works for those with disabilities – is good for everybody.