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Rebecca/Richard Harris, Associate Professor

I remember when I was about 10 I discovered there were places called universities and I automatically assumed that was where the ‘clever kids’ went, so that wasn’t an option for me! Having been the first member of my family to get any academic qualifications I am still pleasantly surprised that I now able to work at a university.

I joined the Institute of Education (based on the original and beautiful university campus on London Road) at Reading in 2011, having previously worked at the University of Southampton for 10 years, and prior to that I spent 16 years teaching history in secondary schools.

Whilst at Reading I have developed in so many different ways. At a professional level when I arrived I was in charge of the secondary history teacher training course, but was soon asked to take responsibility for the MA in Teaching and Learning, and shortly after that I became programme director for the MA in Education programme. More recently I have become School Director of Teaching and Learning (SDTL) – this is a very varied role, but the main focus is on ensuring all of our students have a really positive academic experience with us. I am involved in leading initiatives within the Institute of Education to enhance the quality of our teaching and learning provision, monitoring the quality of our programmes, as well as supporting the implementation of university wide projects. As SDTL I also sit on the senior management group for the Institute of Education and line manage a number of staff. My role therefore involves working with lots of colleagues within Education and across the university. I have been able to pursue my research interests and have been involved with many interesting national and international projects, most notably the Council of Europe’s ‘Pestalozzi’ teacher training programme.

On a personal level I joined Reading at a point where I was coming out as transgendered. My colleagues have been tremendously supportive and I work in an environment where I am accepted and respected for who I am. My colleagues are very used to me presenting whichever way I feel comfortable.

Working at Reading is very much about people – the staff are truly committed to their students and the university is committed to developing and supporting both staff and students.

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Calvin Smith, Lecturer

I joined the University in 2008 in a teaching intensive role in mathematics. Since this time I have held a number of roles in teaching and learning including Admissions Tutor, School Senior Tutor, Internal Examiner and Programme Director.These days I am most frequently found sharing my love of mathematics with students in lecture theatres and seminar rooms across the campus.

When not up to my elbows in sums I am involved in various projects to make the experience of studying and working at Reading as inclusive as it can be. As a visible “out” gay man I endeavour to provide an authentic voice for inclusion and diversity for my colleagues and our students.

Reading prides itself on being a research intensive university and rightly so but this certainly does not mean it does not value teaching or its teaching intensive staff. I have been able to benefit from extensive development opportunities at Reading, led by our wonderful CQSD team, which has enabled me to contribute to enhancing teaching and learning in my School, as well as more broadly across the University and externally.

One of the things I value most about Reading is the ability to work with and learn from a diverse range of individuals (both staff and students)! I’m regularly able to escape my School bubble to collaborate with colleagues in Study Advice, Counselling & Wellbeing and the Disability Advisory Service. I value this enormously and have learned so much as a result.

I am proud to be involved in various diversity and inclusion initiatives at Reading including participating in University and School level Athena SWAN submissions. I’ve also been involved in supporting the University’s continued commitment to LGBT+ inclusion having previously co-chaired the LGBT Plus staff network and contributed to the University’s ongoing submissions to the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index. It’s fantastic to be able to work at an institution which values inclusion for all and to be able to actively contribute to this! I’m extremely proud to have been part of taking the University to Pride for the first time, starting the annual Wolfenden lecture series (named for the former Reading VC who authored the report which paved the way for partial decriminalisation of homosexuality) and generally queering the campus through the production of rainbow lanyards and postcards.

In 2014 I became a father to two amazing little scamps through adoption. The University has been fantastically supportive throughout this. When I first told my Head of Department that we were planning an adoption the response was overwhelmingly supportive – and included lots of conversations about leave, and how my workload could be adjusted to enable me to retain some responsibilities while lightening my load in other areas. Our adoption was also celebrated in the same way as other new family arrivals in the Department.

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Rae Maxwell-Kavanagh, Admissions Administrator

I've lived in Reading all my life and always thought the University would be a really interesting place to work, with so many different people and lots of interesting societies I could join.

I’ve been here since August 2016, and it's probably the best place I’ve ever worked. In the past I've had quite a lot of negative experiences – I have difficulties with mental health and other health conditions.

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.

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Ugo Marsili standing in a University corridor

Ugo Marsili, IWLP Course Tutor

In 2012 I joined the University and started teaching evening classes in Italian. In 2013 I was offered the chance to teach an Italian and Spanish course on the undergraduate programme of the Institution-Wide Language Programme (IWLP). This is a programme at Reading that enables students to learn a language as part of their degree or for personal development; it's also open to staff at the University.

I started with a few hours and now, after five years, I work as a teacher and module convenor for Spanish and British Sign Language (BSL). I've always been a teacher and like to pass on my knowledge and passion for languages to my students. I believe that "teaching skills make you skilful".

I speak several languages, so I know exactly what the main problems are with learning a new language and what students find most difficult. I try to encourage them to speak the language and overcome any difficulties on the way.

Everyone here has given me the opportunity to show my potential and challenge myself as a language teacher, but most of all to do what I love.

I'm an audiovisual translator and I study BSL. I believe that deaf and visually impaired people should have access to language learning too. My aim is to work as an interpreter in the future, and I am proud that BSL will be taught here at the University.

I'm a School Champion for Diversity and a member of the LGBT Plus staff scheme. I think it's important to promote diversity and inclusion.

At the University of Reading, our students come from all around the world and this makes their learning experience really interesting. I really like to build a relationship with my students, watching them grow as independent learners, helping them with their learning process, and making them feel part of a community.

I give a lot and receive a lot; it's beautiful. This is why I'm still teaching after 12 years.

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king wong, it business partner

Whether you’re at home or at work, relationships are undeniably important. As an IT Business Partner, my focus is on business relationship management so I can ensure IT delivers the service that the University’s departments and schools are expecting.

I enjoy my career and my work, but I also have a bigger role – I’m a father to my children and a husband to my wife. That’s why I was grateful for the opportunity to take Shared Parental Leave (SPL) following the birth of my son, Luke.

The HR team was really helpful in going through my options with me, and my manager helped to make sure my responsibilities were split between the other Business Partners while I was on leave. Because of this, I was able to help my wife, Khrystyna, but I also had the opportunity to get to know my son.

What I found is that going to work is the easy part. At home, you have to dress and feed your child, bathe them and read to them, make sure they sleep and take part in activities. And just being there for them is integral. That time is very hard to achieve when you’re working: you come home, de-stress, and do all the basic necessities, but just spending time with your child is when you really bond with them and see what type of person they’re becoming. Thanks to the University’s flexibility, I got that time with Luke.

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James Church outside the University reception

James Church, Assistant Research Development Manager

I started as an Assistant Research Development Manager in January 2016. We work with researchers who wish to apply for research funding and support them with their applications. I was a student here before and graduated in 2003. I studied politics and international relations, so it's nice to come back.

I'd been working for various NHS trusts for about six years and felt that I wanted a change from NHS research into university research. We're lucky because we get to see lots of fresh research that is coming through in the very early stages.

I work full time, but I work from home on Fridays. Managers are pretty good at giving us that flexibility.

I have Becker Muscular Dystrophy, and people have been very supportive without being patronising. Part of the reason for working from home is to help manage my fatigue. I live in Reading, I came here when I was 18 as a student and have more or less stayed here ever since. I had been commuting to Oxford - I was at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust before - which was getting a bit too tiring. It's better now I'm working a lot closer to home.

The team from Estates and Facilities also came in and created a kind of frame by my desk so I can get up easily, which has been really helpful. Everyone in the office will help out if I need anything too; it's been a positive experience.

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Subjects A-B

Subjects C-E

Subjects F-G

Subjects H-M

Subjects N-T

Subjects U-Z

Subjects A-C

Subjects D-G

Subjects H-P

Subjects Q-Z

Rebecca/Richard Harris, Associate Professor

Calvin Smith, Lecturer

Rae Maxwell-Kavanagh, Admissions Administrator

Ugo Marsili, IWLP Course Tutor

king wong, it business partner

James Church, Assistant Research Development Manager

Rebecca/Richard Harris, Associate Professor

Calvin Smith, Lecturer

Rae Maxwell-Kavanagh, Admissions Administrator

Ugo Marsili, IWLP Course Tutor

king wong, it business partner

James Church, Assistant Research Development Manager

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