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Where are they now?
See if you can find one of your Birkbeck classmates in our growing list below and let us know what you have been up to since graduating from Birkbeck. Have you got a new job, got married, had children?
1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s
2000s
Elfan Jones
BA History, 2009
“Studying for a degree was just a personal challenge. I am self employed and just fitted college work as best as I could around my job. I have no great wish to travel having spent forty years selling around the world, so it was a peculiar feeling not knowing what to do next after studying. I did not think I was clever enough to do a Masters, and the commitment for another two years was not there. So, after a year of indecision, I enrolled back in Birkbeck and am doing a creative writing course. It is great fun with no exams, no revision and I’m thoroughly enjoying myself.” Submitted 30/09/2010.
Valeria Milanesio
BA French and Spanish, 2009
“Graduating from Birkbeck in 2009 was quite significant for me as that year I turned my life around. Soon after finishing college I was made redundant. It was actually good to have time off from work and studies for the first time in years. I started another job in promotional merchandise import but I always wanted a job where I could utilise my language skills. Two months ago I received a call from a recruiter and I now have a job as an International Manager in the funeral service business. It's a very interesting job where I can use my languages in a very human environment. I would like to study for a Masters degree one day and I will definitely go back to Birkbeck as I really miss it sometimes!” Submitted 30/09/2010.
Albertha Omar
Certificate of HE in Higher Education Introductory Studies, 2009
“My name is Albertha Omar and I previously completed Higher Education training at Birkbeck University. I am currently doing my second year training as an Adult Nursing at the City University. Thanks to the Birkbeck team for their support.” Submitted 14/01/2011.
Pinellopi Nicolaou
BA Classical Studies, 2009
“Since graduating in Classical Studies in 2009, I have pursued my passion which was to work within the Greek Language sector. I have been a Teaching Assistant at a school in north London which I have been fulfilling on a part time basis. In addition, I have recently completed a 3 month course in Modern Greek Language at City Lit College. In the summer of 2010 I had the privilege to attend some Greek seminars in Cyprus, organised by the Greek Ministry of Education. This was a two week course which helped to enrich my knowledge of Cypriot history and also aided in providing valuable teaching methods for the classroom.” Submitted 18/01/2011.
Terence Comer
BA Film and Media, 2008
“Having gained an MA in Feature Film Screenwriting at Royal Holloway, I am now studying for a PhD at University of East Anglia. My subject is Location as Character in British Crime Drama. I have also written three full length screenplays and has a short film in pre-production.” Submitted 30/09/2010.
Maria Kordowicz
MRes Public Policy and Management, 2008
“I am now working freelance as a Healthcare Management Consultant across a wide range of healthcare settings. My work includes business and project planning, staff training and development and change management for the healthcare sector. I am also in my second year of a PhD in Health Services Research at King's College London. The Birkbeck qualification gave me the confidence and expertise to create my own consultancy business and to pursue a doctoral qualification.” Submitted 04/10/2010.
Rupert Potier
MSc Conflict Resolution and Mediation Studies, 2008
“My mediation experience predates my MSc and started when I trained with CEDR (the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution). Intensively studying the different theories and methods of conflict resolution, in order to hone my personal style, has definitely added to what I bring to my mediation sessions. Since graduating, I have been involved in successful mediations in both the public and private sectors. I have worked predominantly as a family mediator, helping families who have been affected by drug and alcohol addiction, using skills and training that I had previously used as an addictions specialist. The MSc definitely broadened my knowledge considerably and, as a result, gave me increased confidence in my chosen field.” www.rupertpotier.com Submitted 13/01/2011.
Clare Mulley
MA Social and Cultural History, 2006
“My book The Woman Who Saved the Children: A Biography of Eglantyne Jebb, Founder of Save the Children was published in 2009, winning the Daily Mail Biographer's Club prize, and was praised by the former Prime Minister Gordon Brown as 'a truly brilliant book'. I am now working on a WW2 biography, and volunteer as a 'Campaigns Ambassador' for Save the Children. I currently live in Essex with my family.” www.claremulley.com Submitted 30/09/2010.
Paul Stanton
Msc Geographical Information, 2004
“Since graduating in 2004 I've spent 6 years in consultancy, at Junior Director level, leading on a variety of projects including multi-million pound enhancements to Transport for London's primary transport model and managing one of the regional DaSTS projects for the Department for Transport. I also picked up charterships in IT and Science along the way and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. At present I am studying for a research Masters at Cambridge with a view to beginning a PhD later this year.” Submitted 13/01/2011.
Tom M.J.Wingate
MA Victorian Studies, 2002
“I completed my MA in Victorian Studies over 5 years ago now, yet memories of it remain fresh. Having left the superb City of London School for family reasons, my wife and I returned to Mexico City, her home town. My current teaching and college counselling here was at a well-established I.B international school, actually known to me since 1986 and where I began teaching soon after the big earthquake. Happily, I now have begun lecturing at three universities, mostly in M. Ed programmes exploring international education issues. Like everyone else in Europe, we hear a lot about the terrible drug-related killings over here, but you can pass your whole life in our vast and bustling metropolis without seeing so much as a pea-shooter in action. While here I have managed to get some articles on Charles Dickens published in the UK, and now and then I lecture on him. Living within the quite distinct culture of Latin America, he can feel like a particular faithful British friend!” Submitted 14/01/2011.
1990s
Nicholas Romano
BA English Literature and Language, 1996
“In the wake of my BA English Degree, I pursued my literary studies and finally came up with Bo Peep, my recently published adaptation of the poetical works of AH Clough, a few years after my English rendition of a book on the Women of Africa (now at the SOAS library). Also, a number of my short stories and critical pieces have appeared in more than one small press British and Irish magazine. My heartfelt thanks to the tutors who enabled me to realise my heart's desire.” Submitted 16/01/2011.
Simon Head
MSc Economics, 1995
“I am currently responsible for Fixed Income and Foreign Exchange. Before entering executive search, I worked at Citibank and JP Morgan. I joined Correlate Search (then known as Alexander Mann Financial Markets) in 1998 in order to build the firm's operations practice. In 2002, I established the firm's FX practice and had an extensive track record of placements in G10 and local currency trading, FX and EM structuring, Institutional & Corporate FX sales, EM Product Sales, and FX and EM Strategy. I was also responsible, in 2004, for project-managing the build-out of Correlate's EMEA research product.” Submitted 13/01/2011.
Diana Schomberg
BA History of Art, 1991
“I joined Birkbeck as a (very) mature student in 1987 and graduated in 1991. After graduation I had terrible withdrawal symptoms, then, inspired by the amazing slide presentations at Birkbeck during those 4 magical years and with financial support from M&S, I founded an educational charity to do for schoolchildren what Birkbeck had done for me. That was 16 years ago and since then Magic Lantern has given 700 slide presentations a year throughout London, the North East, Leicester and, shortly, in the Andover area. Each year 20,000 children, prison inmates and groups of disadvantaged adults visit great works of art in their classroom/centre thanks to Birkbeck.” Submitted 13/01/2011.
1980s
Geoffrey Brown
BA (Hons) English, 1982
“I’ve always wanted to come back to Birkbeck, but life and work got in the way. I took early retirement in 2003 and returned straightaway, to the French School. I have just submitted my dissertation for an MA in Modern and Contemporary (English) Literature. Fingers crossed!” Submitted 01/10/2010.
1970s
Sheila Cameron
M.Phil Occupational Psychology, 1974
“I am currently living in Oxford and working for the Open University, with a split role as Regional Manager for the MBA programme and Chair of the MSc HRM. In my spare time I have written Business Research Methods (CIPD) and The MBA Handbook (Pearson FT), and work as a life-coach. I retire in September 2011 so all may change!” Submitted 30/09/2010.
1960s
Gerry Gregory
BA English, 1969
“It would be hard to exaggerate the importance of my Birkbeck experience to my development. I have worked in Higher Education since 1971, and continue to do so. I have also acted as external examiner at six universities. I feel it is not immodest to say I know a superb course and institution when I see one. Birkbeck’s English Department (with which, via Dickens Day, I am still in touch) is one such institution." Submitted 30/09/2010.
Margaret Dain
BA (Hons) English Literature and Language, 1961
“I left Birkbeck in 1961 and had my son a few months afterwards. Three years later, I became an English teacher which I could not have done without my degree. This stint lasted for over twenty years, first in a private college and then, being somewhat disillusioned with conditions there, I moved to Kingsway College of FE, for many years the Mecca of its kind in this country and, I believe, internationally. So, from Birkbeck I have progressed for fifty-two years along very much broader lines than those my more stolid background might have implied – for which thank God and Birkbeck!" Submitted 30/09/2010.
