Where are they now? Alumni class notes

This is your place to find out about the movers and shakers among your alumni community. Share your personal and professional updates with us and we'll post them to this page throughout the year.

It could be a birth or marriage, a reunion or a career achievement, such as an award or book publication.

Whatever you would like to share with your peers, let us know!

November

Dr Alexandra Hay (Social and Cultural Studies, 2004), has been awarded the prestigious National Teaching Fellowship by Advance HE in recognition of her work transforming student outcomes on the degree programme she leads at Manchester Metropolitan University. It is highly unusual for someone to win this award not only on their first attempt, but also having had a relatively short career in higher education.

If you're a big cricket fan, then keep an eye out for our very own Alison Mitchell (Geography, 2001) on the TV and radio commentary during the course of The Ashes, which got underway this month.

Koichi Hasegawa (Art History, 2010, MA 2011), one of just 220 alumni in Japan, contacted us about his article on the exhibition “Van Gogh: The Family Who Shaped the Artist’s Dream”, which was published in one of Japan’s largest-circulation national newspapers. The piece explores the pivotal roles of Jo van Gogh-Bonger and Theo van Gogh in sustaining Vincent’s artistic legacy - a theme of continuing importance in art historical studies.

Since graduating from Nottingham Koichi has built his art history portfolio in Tokyo; delivering introductory Western art history courses at a cultural community centre in Edogawa City and running an independently organised “Art History Salon,” designed to foster community engagement with European art - all alongside his day job!

October

Dr Jane Ansah (Law, 2003) was sworn in as the newly-installed Vice President of the Republic of Malawi.

For reality TV fans, Zelah Glasson (International Relations, 2022) has been taking part in the current series of Big Brother, which kicked off on ITV at the end of September. After 34 days in the house, he was evicted on 31 October.

Three architectural achievements; Tom Bull (Architectural Environmental Engineering, 2023) being recognised in the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) 30 under 30 for 2025 and Ben Hopkins (Architecture, 2007) included in the Building Magazine 40 under 40 2025 list of the "brightest and best of construction’s next generation". Finally, 2025 graduate Ritika Maladkar (Architectural Environmental Engineering, 2025) was recognised again by CIBSE as its Undergraduate of the Year.

A truly special story courtesy of Dr Mirabelle D. D'Cruz (Production Engineering and Operations Management, 1993), who relayed a tale about one of her former lecturers, Dr Phillip Willey, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday and how it prompted memories of the university and a special tree on campus.

"It originated via a university technician's wife, Jo, who is Phil's carer. He was talking to her about Nottingham and wanted to see his tree. She agreed to take him into the university and asked her husband Lee Hickling if it would be possible. Lee came to ask his boss Paul Antcliff (Head of Infrastructure and Technical Services) and I sit opposite Paul. I recognised the name and said that I would be delighted to make it happen. Paul A also got some of his team to show Phil the labs. It was so lovely!"

Phil's oak tree was grown by his children from an acorn collected at the Major Oak and planted outside his office all the way back in 1981. It became something of a treasure hunt on realising the ESLC building now stood where his tree once was. But with the help of the university's Estates team, after a week of searching, the tree and accompanying plaque were found near the Coates Building!

September

Haz Parsonage (Metallurgy, 1977) and fellow Wortley hallmates have kept in touch for over 50 years and celebrated the 70th birthday of Alan Bird in August.

(l-r below:) Ted Carroll (Civil Engineering, 1976), Claire Carroll (Samson), Haz Parsonage, Sue Harris, Gordon Harris (Mining Engineering, 1976), Cora Davies, Alan Bird (Geography, 1976 - kneeling), Rob Davies (Psychology, 1976), Jane Saunders (Sociology, 1975) and Michael Saunders (Mining Engineering, 1976).

Yasmin Ali (Chemical Engineering, 2010) has been recognised in the 2025 WeAreTechWomen #TechWomen100 list, showcasing remarkable women within the technology sector.

Frequently asked questions

Jen Tucker (English, 2023) took to the Edinburgh Fringe with her play Bog Body, shortlisted from thousands of productions for the prestigious Popcorn Writers Award - a one-woman show about desire, love, decay and death.

For one Nottingham graduate, a belated summer holiday is well overdue. Meg Pragnell (Medicine 2019, Clinical Medicine 2021) has spent July and August completing 15 half-ironman triathlons (2km swim, 90km cycle and a half marathon run) in 15 days, which would be a new world record for the most completed in consecutive days, to raise £15,000 for charity.

July

The Formula 1 British Grand Prix in early July was a notable highlight for James Key (Mechanical Engineering, 1996), the Technical Director for the Kick Sauber team. Driver Nico Hülkeberg claimed a podium position for the first time in his career - in his 239th race!

Martyn Bone (American Studies, 1997 and PhD, 2001) published a new book titled The Writings of Jesmyn Ward: Matters of Black Southern Life and Death, with the University of Iowa Press.

Mark deMeza (French and German, 1986), whose novel The Thirteenth Child - inspired by the discovery of his family's Holocaust history - was nominated for the 2024 Hemingway 20^th century wartime novel awards, has published the second book in the trilogy, The Heroine of Auschwitz.

June

Bisi Osundeko (Environmental Science, 2007) has been appointed as the Deputy Mayor of St Helens Council - the first person of African descent ever appointed to the role in the history of the mayoralty of St Helens Metropolitan Borough, dating back to the 1800s.

A new collection of poetry and prose titled Stay Wonderful has been published by Steve O'Keefe (Manufacturing, Engineering and Operations Management, 1994). Steve has since worked in Asia and lived in Australia, America and Hong Kong. He currently lives between England and Croatia.

May

David Hanks (Archaelogy, 2015) has been appointed the National Collections Manager for English Heritage.

Andrew Burton (Mathematics, 1987) has become a Lifetime Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accounts in England and Wales, completed a BA in Photography with Falmouth University and been awarded an ARPS by the Royal Photographic Society. He has also become a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts.

April

Have you ever played a root vegetable for a member of the royal family? Patrick Johns (Music, 1999) is a member of the London Vegetable Orchestra, who were guests at a reception at Windsor Castle - where King Charles played a carrot recorder. Patrick's veg of choice is a swede. (This is not an April Fool)

March

Bryony Lear (Film and Television Studies with American & Canadian Studies, 2021), took home a BAFTA Award as sound editor in the production team behind Rock Paper, Scissors, which won the award for British Short Film.

Singer-songwriter phenomenon Myles Smith (Sociology & Social Policy, 2019) picked up his Rising Star award at this year's BRIT Awards ceremony in London.

February

The debut novel by Sasha Butler (English, 2016) was announced for publication in October this year. The Marriage Contract tells the story of life in the Elizabethan era, and explores a woman’s fight to follow her desires and find her autonomy.

Four Nottingham graduates returned to campus in late February after Bernie Woollard (Economics/Agricultural Economics, 1978) contacted the alumni team looking for advice on where to visit!

Bernie, David Talbot (Mining Engineering, 1978), Mike Kershaw (Civil Engineering, 1978) and Peter Taylor (Chemistry/Zoology, 1978) spent 48 hours in and around campus, visiting their old halls, what was to them The Buttery (now Mooch), the T2 building and many more.

Find out more about organising a reunion.