Meet the People behind the Global Study Lounge
The Global Study Lounge is made possible through the expertise, enthusiasm, and collaboration of colleagues from across the University. Together, they support activities that help students build global perspectives, intercultural understanding and international connections.
Meet the people who contribute to the Global Study Lounge and discover the different ways they support our global community. Together, these colleagues represent academic schools and departments, professional services, the Students' Union and organisations from across the University, reflecting the Global Study Lounge's role as a collaborative hub for global engagement.
| Global Study Lounge & International Student Experience | ||
| Daniel Devane | d.devane@reading.ac.uk | Daniel is the Director of the Global Study Lounge and a Lecturer in English for Academic Purposes. He established and directs the Global Study Lounge, bringing together colleagues from across the University to showcase and create opportunities that help students develop global perspectives, intercultural understanding, and a sense of belonging. He coordinates the Lounge's activities, partnerships, communications and strategic development, and co-leads the multi-award-winning English Conversation Cafes. He enjoys discovering the customs and traditions of different cultures and creating spaces where students from all backgrounds can connect.
|
| Corinne Brookes | c.brookes@reading.ac.uk | Corinne is Reading’s International Student Experience Manager. She runs many inclusive, supportive, and welfare sessions within the Global Study Lounge. Notably, she co-leads the English Conversation Cafes, runs biweekly social Get-togethers, and works closely with the Community Engagement Team on larger cultural events and celebrations, which feed into the Lounge’s aims. |
| Global Academy | ||
| Global Academy Administration Team | GlobalAcademy@reading.ac.uk | The Global Study Lounge is supported by the Global Academy's Administration Team. This team of 7 process all bookings of any of the Global Study Lounge's spaces and manage email enquiries. Emails to the Global Academy address can be responded to by any member of the team: Clara, Emma, Agatha, Monoswita, Sameena, Chris, or Judith. You're welcome to visit the Global Academy reception, Edith Morley 224, to speak with any member of the team. |
| Dr Chris Cookson | c.cookson@reading.ac.uk | Chris is a Lecturer in English for Academic Purposes, primarily working within Transnational Education. He is a member of the Global Study Lounge Volunteer Group and regularly contributes to the English Conversation Cafes. Having lived in 5 countries on 4 continents, he is keenly interested in other cultures, languages, and perspectives. |
| Dr Hirantha Seekkuwa Wasam | h.seekkuwawasam@reading.ac.uk | Hirantha is a Lecturer in Foundation Business, Economics, and Mathematics. He is a member of the Global Study Lounge Volunteer Group and regularly participates in its in-person activities. He enjoys cycling, capturing nature and wildlife through photography, and connecting with people from around the world. |
| Joseph Nnodim | j.nnodim@reading.ac.uk | Joseph is a Lecturer in Foundation Mathematics, Statistics, and Data Science. He is a member of the Global Study Lounge Volunteer Group and assists with the running of its activities. He enjoys meeting people from diverse cultural backgrounds and learning new things. As a digital skills enthusiast, he also enjoys supporting students with digital upskilling. |
| Dr Aaron Ahali | a.y.ahali@reading.ac.uk | Aaron is a Lecturer in Foundation Business. He is a member of the Global Study Lounge Volunteer Group and assists with the running of its activities. He values cultural diversity and greatly enjoys connecting with individuals from different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Aaron is particularly committed to helping students harness AI in meaningful, ethical, and academically enriching ways. |
| Professor Liz Wilding | e.a.wilding@reading.ac.uk | Liz is a Professor of English for Academic Purposes, specialising in Transnational Education. She is a member of the Global Study Lounge Volunteer Group and primarily supports the Global Study Lounge by promoting online and blended opportunities to students at Reading’s joint institutes and transnational partners. Liz also contributes to the RED Award: Global Engagement seminars, many of which are also held in the Lounge. |
| Ron Chan | ron.chan@reading.ac.uk | Ron is a Lecturer in Foundation Mathematics and Statistics. He is a member of the Global Study Lounge Volunteer Group and takes part in the online English Conversation Cafés. |
| Takeshi Adachi | t.adachi@reading.ac.uk | Takeshi is the Global Academy’s Language Learning Technologist. As part of the Global Study Lounge Volunteer Group, he provides technical consultation and support for the equipment and digital facilities within the Global Study Lounge. |
| Dr James Appleby | j.f.appleby@reading.ac.uk | James is a Lecturer in Foundation Mathematics and Statistics, and the Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Lead for the Global Academy. They collaborate with Dr Rehana Bari to run the Foundation Maths Cafes in the Global Study Lounge to support foundation students with any aspect of maths as part of their transition to university study. They also lead module drop-in surgeries in the space for several foundation modules as well as the Global Academy Coding Club during semester 1. |
| Academic English | ||
| Sarah Mattin | s.mattin@reading.ac.uk | Sarah is an Associate Professor in English for Academic Purposes and the Programme Director for the Academic English Programme. ‘Ask the Academic English Team’ drop-in support sessions take place daily within the Lounge as well as other aspects of Academic English’s provision, such as writing retreats. Sarah is part of the team that run these sessions. She is also a member of the Global Study Lounge Volunteer Group. |
| Dr Karin Whiteside | k.whiteside@reading.ac.uk | Karin is an Associate Professor and Head of English for Academic Purposes. Within the Lounge, she leads Academic English workshops and training for the Doctoral and Researcher College, Global Academy scholarship sessions, and hosts Language, Teaching, and Research Forum (LTRF) research and practice dissemination. |
| Global Graduates Programme | ||
| Dr Lucy Watson | l.a.watson@reading.ac.uk | Lucy is a Lecturer in English for Academic Purposes and Global Citizenship and Director of the institution wide Global Graduates Programme. She teaches the Intercultural Competence and Communication module, which is delivered in the Global Study Lounge. She also convenes and teaches on other Global Graduates modules and the International Summer School, which feed into the aims of the Lounge. |
| Professor Daniela Standen | d.standen@reading.ac.uk | Daniela is a Professor of International and Transnational Education and the Academic Director (T&L) NUIST-Reading Academy. She convenes and teaches the Intercultural Competence and Communication module, which is delivered in the Global Study Lounge. Daniela also contributes to the RED Award: Global Engagement seminars, many of which are also held in the Lounge. |
| Global Partnerships | ||
| Nisa Unis | unis.nisa@reading.ac.uk | Nisa is the Global Partnerships Manager (Humanitarian and Global Civic) within the Global Partnerships team, developing partnerships that advance the university’s humanitarian, sanctuary, and global civic commitments. She collaborates with the Global Study Lounge to shape activity across these themes including events, storytelling, and creative displays, helping to amplify and connect sanctuary and refugee-related activity across campuses. |
| Study Abroad | ||
| Study Abroad Team | studyabroad@reading.ac.uk | The Study Abroad team consists of Marcus, Chris (incoming students), Henry (outgoing students), and Helen. The teams’ activities feed directly into the Global Study Lounge’s aims by regularly hosting events in the Lounge to support student transition and socialisation, as well as encouraging global engagement and intercultural communication opportunities. Incoming and outgoing students are supported by the Lounge via activities such as the English Conversation Cafes, Life Tools sessions, and inclusion on Global Graduate modules, which help integrate students into Reading’s global community. The Lounge is also used for their Leavers’ Celebrations, where students are recognised with the RED Global Engagement Award. You can contact the team via their email address. |
| Life Tools Programme | ||
| Dr Alicia Pena Bizama | m.a.penabizama@reading.ac.uk | Alicia is Reading’s Life Tools programme manager. She delivers the Life Tools talks, in hybrid format, from the Global Study Lounge to support all students with their transition to UK Higher Education and throughout their studies, enhancing their wellbeing, and developing skills for academic and personal success. |
| Study Advice | ||
| Dr Sonia Hood | s.hood@reading.ac.uk | Sonia is Reading’s Study Advice Manager. Supporting students with their academic skills development, Sonia and the Study Advice team regularly run sessions and writing retreats in the Global Study Lounge. The Study Advice team work collaboratively with Academic English to provide support for both home and international students. |
| Department of Languages and Cultures (DLC) & Languages for All | ||
| Dr Sophie Payne | s.l.payne@reading.ac.uk | Sophie is a Lecturer in German. She organises and promotes Languages for All activities and events, notably the Languages for All taster sessions, many of which are either held in the Lounge or feed into the aims of the Lounge. She loves understanding the grammar of languages and was even a student of German and Italian here at Reading some years ago. |
| Dott. Enza Siciliano Verruccio | e.sicilianoverruccio@reading.ac.uk | Enza is an Associate Professor in Second Language Education and is the Languages for All Programme Director. She coordinates co- and extra-curricular Languages for All activities and events. These are either held in the Lounge or advertised via the Global Study Lounge, showcased on its website, and link to the Lounge’s aims. |
| Dr Sophie Heywood | s.l.heywood@reading.ac.uk | Sophie is an Associate Professor in French and departmental Director for Postgraduate Studies. She is also a co-director of the Centre for Book Cultures and Publishing (CBCP). She leads modern languages outreach sessions in the Lounge and uses it as a venue for CBCP symposiums, conferences, and research dissemination. |
| Ugo Marsili | u.marsili@reading.ac.uk | Ugo is an Associate Professor in Multilingual Education and Inclusive Pedagogy. He contributes to teaching on the Global Graduates programme. As the Inclusion, Development, and Innovation lead for his department, he established the student-led British Sign Language Club and runs related activities in the Lounge. |
| Institute of Education | ||
| Dr Caroline Foulkes | c.s.foulkes@reading.ac.uk | Caroline is a Lecturer in Education STEM and Co-Subject Leader for PGCE Secondary Science. She leads the Institute of Education’s (English) Conversation Cafes for Teacher Training cohorts, contributing to the Institute’s Centre of Excellence for Overseas Teachers. |
| Careers & Employability | ||
| Dr Danielle Park | d.e.a.park@reading.ac.uk | Danielle is the Business and Employability Manager (Green Careers) at Reading and a member of the Careers Team. She works with the Global Study Lounge to provide opportunities for students to use towards their RED awards, specifically the Sustainable Action award. Careers and Employability sessions are advertised via the Global Study Lounge, showcased on its website and link to the Lounge’s aims. She is also one of our rotating expert facilitators for the English Conversation Cafes. |
| Mertila Myftari | m.myftari@reading.ac.uk | Mertila is a member of the Careers Team at Reading. She is the Project Manager for the RED Awards and Thrive Mentoring. Mertila works with the Global Study Lounge to provide opportunities for students to use towards their RED awards. Mertila is maternity leave cover for Bethan Bourne until Feb 2027. |
| Erin Tsang | t.tsang@reading.ac.uk | Erin is a member of the Careers Team at Reading. They are the Projects Assistant for the RED Awards and Thrive Mentoring. Erin works with the Lounge to facilitate opportunities for students to use towards their RED awards. They are a regular English Conversation Café participant and contributor. |
| Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) | ||
| Phillippa Heath | p.heath2@reading.ac.uk | Phillippa leads the learning and community engagement team at The MERL, developing events and activities inspired by the museum collections and spaces. This varied programme is advertised via the Global Study Lounge, showcased on its website, and link to the Lounge’s aims. Phillippa manages the (community) Chatty Cafes and is also one of the English Conversation Cafes’ rotating expert facilitators. She loves meeting people and learning about diverse cultures, heritage, and traditions. |
| Student Communications & Engagement | ||
| Julia Topazio-Smalley | j.h.topazio-smalley@reading.ac.uk | Julia is Reading’s Student Communications Manager. She and her team help share information about the Global Study Lounge to students and manages information about the facility across the suite of Essentials webpages. Julia is maternity leave cover for Phoebe Homer until October 2026. |
| Student Communications Team | studentcomms@reading.ac.uk | The student communications team at Reading work with the Lounge to manage and coordinate the sharing of Global Study Lounge related content via multiple student communication platforms and channels. The Lounge primarily works with Alanna, student communications officer, and Aaliya, student communications coordinator. The team can be contacted via their shared email address. |
| Student Success & Engagement | ||
| Rachel Alipour | r.j.alipour@reading.ac.uk | Rachel is Reading’s Student Engagement Officer (Transitions and Belonging). She works closely with student communications to help share information about student events, including Global Study Lounge activity, as part of the Student Life events calendar. As part of the Transition and Retention team, she helps plan and deliver Welcome and Enrolment, where the Lounge features as part of the ‘Welcome Guide’ and University Life and Community Fair. |
| Community Engagement | ||
| Molli Cleaver | m.cleaver@reading.ac.uk | Molli is the University’s Community Engagement Manager. Molli and her team work closely with the International Student Experience Manager to run cultural events and celebrations across campus. These are advertised via the Global Study Lounge, showcased on its website and link to the Lounge’s aims. She is also one of our rotating expert facilitators for the English Conversation Cafes. |
| Ho-Kit Lam | h.lam3@reading.ac.uk | Ho-Kit is the University’s Community Engagement Officer. Ho-Kit and his team work closely with the International Student Experience Manager to run cultural events and celebrations across campus. These are advertised via the Global Study Lounge, showcased on its website, and link to the Lounge’s aims. Ho-Kit also contributes to Get-Together events throughout the year. |
| Reading Students' Union (RSU) | ||
| Kayleigh Fryer | k.fryer@reading.ac.uk | Kayleigh is the Events and Belonging Coordinator at Reading Students’ Union. She acts as a liaison between the Global Study Lounge and Students’ Union to facilitate Reading Students’ Union societies’ use of the Global Study Lounge during semester time. |
In addition to the colleagues and teams listed above, the Global Study Lounge works closely throughout the year with colleagues from University Estates, Cleaning Services, Campus Cards, Timetabling, and Central Room Bookings. The Lounge also works with Reading Students' Union (RSU) elected officers and committee members from RSU student societies and clubs.
If any information above requires editing, please contact the Director of the Global Study Lounge, Daniel Devane, using the listed contact details.
Interested in Getting Involved?
If you're a member of staff, student, or Students' Union society interested in contributing to the Global Study Lounge, we'd love to hear from you.