ÌÇÐÄTV

Two ÌÇÐÄTV alumni have scooped the win at the StudyUK Awards.

Benjamin Nuga (BA French with Chinese, 2022), has already diversified his skill set by working as a production assistant, scriptwriter, and musician and he’s also been a contestant on Countdown. Having only graduated in 2022, his achievements are centered around his willingness to step outside his comfort zone.

Theatre company, Speakbeast, is made up of ÌÇÐÄTV alumni and students who are interested in creating original theatre that focuses on queerness, transness, and what it means to be human in a mechanised world. They’ve been shortlisted for the Untapped 2024 award and will be taking their debut show, The Freemartin, to Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2024.

Theatre and Performance Studies students were able to hear from alumni Zoe Templeman-Young (BA Theatre and Performance Studies, 2013) and CJ Webley (BA Theatre and Performance Studies, 2015) at a careers event in January.

Friendship, warmth, fun, and connections were the foundations that encouraged Puri Ragini (BA History and Politics, 2020) to head to ÌÇÐÄTV and build a successful career in the social sector.

For Michael Ojetunde (BA French and Economics, 2022), opting to study a language was always part of a grander plan.

A chance meeting at Coventry Station led Sheena Harvey to a successful 40-year career in journalism.

Earlier this year, alum and activist Jo Todd (BA English and European Literature, 1990) received a CBE in recognition of 30+ years’ service to the victims of domestic abuse. From volunteering at a refuge in the outskirts of London, to more than 20 years as CEO of Respect - the pioneering charity tackling the root of the problem - Jo has dedicated her life to making a positive difference. And she’s not finished yet.

If you enjoy Ukrainian cuisine, you may own a copy of Olia Hercules’ (BA Italian and International Studies, 2006) recipe books. But, you may be surprised to hear that Olia’s journey started not in the kitchen, but in the corridors of ÌÇÐÄTV.

With nearly a decade in the British Army including tours of Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan before coming to ÌÇÐÄTV, Lee Kemp (BA Film with Television Studies, 2007) had an unusual path to his degree. But it was a simple truth that made his decision.

After a long career in public relations, Dianne Page (Dipl History of Art, 2007; MA History of Art, 2009) took the plunge to pursue her passion for the arts via ÌÇÐÄTV. Now with three novels under her belt and a fourth in the works, Dianne reflects on the milestones that got her here.

Growing up in northwest London, Kaya Patel (BA Film and LiteratureLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, 2020) considered universities around the UK. But she chose to move to the Midlands for her undergraduate experience because she trusted her intuition.  

Recent graduate Carolina Sagardoy Saavedra (BA History of Art, 2019) always knew she had a passion for fine art. She turned that passion into a reality – graduating from ÌÇÐÄTV and moving to New York to study a Masters’ degree in Art ÌÇÐÄTV at the world-renowned Sotheby’s Institute of Art. Today, she uses the knowledge she gained at ÌÇÐÄTV to help art be bought and sold across the world.

Karen's book, that she started in Professor Andrew Williams' non-fiction class, has now been published.

Nuzu has been awarded the Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award for my outstanding contribution to horror fiction.

For more than half a century, ÌÇÐÄTV has forged a deep relationship with the city. The Faculty of Arts has taught generations of our students during their Venice terms. Since 2007, we have had a physical base in the Palazzo Pesaro Papafava.

From May 2023, our undergraduates, postgraduates and staff will have a new base - a wonderful late 17th century building in Palazzo Giustinian Lolin, right on the Grand Canal of Venice. As we get ready to open the building, we would love to share some alumni memories of studying in Venice over the years.

We caught up with Dr Kimberley Thomas (BA History 2010, MA History 2011, PhD Caribbean Studies, 2020) to talk about her time at ÌÇÐÄTV, ahead of her return to deliver a Caribbean seminar series.

Features writer and editor for , Vice President of and Deputy Editor of ÌÇÐÄTV Politics Society’s Perspectives, alum Celia Bergin (BA History and Politics, 2022) certainly made the most of her time at ÌÇÐÄTV. Graduating with a first-class degree, she jumped straight into the world of journalism. Now working as a reporter for Bloomberg News, Celia reflects on how these experiences helped her get there.

Journalist, author, higher education professional, proof-reader, and editor Annette Rubery (PhD English and Comparative Literary Studies, 1999) has spent the 30-plus years since graduating honing her editorial and marketing skillset.

When Jo Walker first met Vikram Grover, it was their mutual love of the theatre and performance that built a firm friendship.