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Queen Mary Alumni

Blog

Montage of alumni voices on our blog. Featured are the Singing Dentist, aka Dr Milad Shadrooh, Dilani Selvanathan, Siti Kasim and Matt Kay.

Our graduates have gone on to do a variety of interesting and exciting things throughout their careers and beyond.

Our blog shines a spotlight on the voices of our alumni and friends and on the transformative effect gifts of time and donations from alumni have had on our students and the wider University.

Headshot of alumna, Olivia Herlihy Alumni profile - Olivia Herlihy
8 February 2022

(English with Russian BA, 2003)

I joined the London Ambulance Service in 2007 after assisting with a medical emergency outside my home. I realised that a paramedic’s job and a broadcast journalist’s job had many similarities. Both professions had to be skilled at questioning people to find out exactly what happened, they were both fast paced jobs that involved highly emotional scenarios, and both involved being constantly out talking to people. I was good at looking after people and dealing with emergencies, which I hadn’t realised was a skill not all people have.

 

Headshot of alumnus, Kamran Khan Alumni profile - Kamran Khan
10 February 2022

(French and Geography BA, 2008)

When the role I am in now came up, it felt like a sign - firstly because it was within the sector that I had my heart in but had yet to pursue, and secondly, because I was much more secure in my queer identity and I felt that being able to work at an organisation that affirms, supports, and advocates for LGBTQ+ people, was something I had to focus on.

 

Forensic Mental Health Alumna - Makayla Ross Alumni profile - Makayla Ross
14 February 2022

(Forensic Mental Health MSc, 2020)

Originally a film production graduate from Southern California, Makayla shares her experience of finding an academic interest in forensic psychology and her present career in NHS psychological services.


Headshot of alumna Arielle Nylander Alumni profile - Arielle Nylander
16 February 2022

(Health Systems and Global Policy MSc, 2016)

We need to show more people of colour, trans folks, people with disabilities and people in non-traditional relationships. Queer culture is very rich and full of nuance because we have to actively chart our own paths, and we should be proudly showing that face to the world.

 

Headshot of alumna Judy Kingaby Alumni profile - Judy Kingaby
18 February 2022

(Biology BSc, 2019; Corporate Finance MSc, 2020)

During my first degree I started an internship with an international investment group that focused on renewable energy investments. As I was exposed to the importance of funding for these green projects, I became enamoured with the financial side of our work. I knew that the School of Economics and Finance at Queen Mary was held in high esteem and would be able to support my academic growth in Corporate Finance.

 

A head and shoulders photo of alumna, Melissa Mahmud. She is wearing a grey long-sleeved top and is sat in front of an indoor brick wall and is smiling at the camera. Alumni profile - Melissa Mahmud
22 February 2022

(German and Linguistics BA, 2020)

People always ask me why I decided to study German, and being a South-Asian woman, there is a misconception that we tend to study science or business-related subjects. However, I want to demonstrate how this language can interest anyone, regardless of their background.

 

 

Alumni profile - Vidette Adjorlolo
1 March 2022

(Law and European Law LLB, 2017)

As an entrepreneur starting my business, this is probably the brokest I've ever been, but it feels like I've exchanged the money I was earning for a very different quality of life where I have more freedom of my time and I have ownership of what I'm building. I create things that I enjoy creating and I get to work with people I really like. 

 

Headshot of alumnus Dr Nick Prior. Alumni profile - Dr Nick Prior
2 March 2022

(Medicine MBBS, 2017)

I’m no stranger to battling mental illness myself, and one of the big reasons for creating Minderful is that I don’t want others to go through some of the experiences that I’ve had.

 

Photo of alumna, Cathy Hayward, holding her debut novel, The Girl in the Maze, with two hands. The book is obscuring the bottom half of her face and she is standing in front of a dark green background which compliments the book cover. Alumni profile - Cathy Hayward
3 March 2022

(English and History BA, 1997)

I’ve always loved writing. Whether it was essays at university, the features when I was a journalist, or copywriting for PR, writing has always been the most enjoyable part of any work.

 

 

Headshot of alumna Surraya Chowdhury Alumni profile - Surraya Chowdhury
4 March 2022

(Neuroscience BSc, 2020)

I work within the UK Vaccine Network in the International Directorate of the Department of Health and Social Care. I love my job and the real-world impact it has. Our programme funded the MERS vaccine technology which was repurposed with funding from others to develop the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. 

 

 

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