The UEA University of Sanctuary initiative is run by a university-wide steering group, consisting of over 40 members of staff and students. The initiative is led by Sophie North, Lecturer in Health Sciences, and supported by Madi Dutton, the Sanctuary Liaison Officer.
The steering group focuses on the following:
- To co-ordinate and promote existing work and good practice in relation to providing sanctuary across UEA.
- To contribute to the material, intellectual and cultural environment at UEA to establish a genuinely welcoming and inclusive atmosphere on campus.
- To foster initiatives for greater intercultural dialogue among staff and students, and with the wider community.
- To promote university-wide and city-wide activities that contribute to the development of intercultural understanding and greater awareness of the sanctuary issue.
- To collaborate with wider sanctuary-providing universities, networks and organisations, for example STAR, AURORA and CARA.
Meet the steering group members
Simon Allen (Faculty Professional Services)
Karen Blackney (Admissions, Recruitment & Marketing) Karen represents the initiative at senior management level, ensuring the work of the steering group is visible at relevant central committees and events.
Lauren Bouttell (School of Education & Lifelong Learning)
Jessica Blythe (Student Support Service)
Richard Bowater (School of Biological Sciences) Richard is the Associate Dean for Employability in the Faculty of Sciences and can offer advice and support for sanctuary seekers that are keen to engage with science subjects.
Peter Courridge (Finance, Planning and Governance) Peter is the University of Sanctuary Finance Lead, as part of his role, Peter manages the Sanctuary Scholarships and the UoS budget.
Claire Cuminatto (School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication) Claire is the Associate Dean for Employability in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and can offer advice and support for sanctuary seekers that are keen to engage with Humanities subjects.
Rob Drury (Human Resources Division)
Joanna Drugan (School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication) Joanna is responsible for programming and managing the University of Sanctuary public lecture series.
Madi Dutton (School of International Development) Madi is the University of Sanctuary Liaison Officer. Madi’s role is to support the work undertaken by the University of Sanctuary steering group.
Anwulika Emessiri (Student Support Service)
Theresa Frey (School of Education & Lifelong Learning)
Liz Ferguson (Admissions, Recruitment & Marketing) Liz takes the lead on managing the outreach work of the initiative, which includes promoting the Sanctuary Scholarships, running events and organising campus tours for potential sanctuary students.
Paul Hartzler (Student Support Services)
Lauren Henery (Local NGO, English +) Lauren works at local NGO, English+, she represents the work of our City of Sanctuary partners at the University of Sanctuary steering group meetings. Lauren also is a member of the University of Sanctuary Admissions working group.
Lindsay Howard (INTO and School of Education & Lifelong Learning) Lindsay is the University of Sanctuary English Language Support Lead. Lindsay also represents the work of the initiative at the Norwich Integration Partnership meetings.
Paul Hullock (INTO) Paul represents the work of INTO at the University of Sanctuary Steering Group meetings.
Catherine Jere (School of International Development) Catherine is a member of Decolonise UEA, representing their work at the University of Sanctuary steering group meetings.
Martin Mahony (School of Environmental Sciences) Martin represents the work of the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Sanctuary Steering Group meetings.
Deirdre Medler (School of Education & Lifelong Learning) Collaborative work to date has supported the development of ‘Norfolk Welcomes’ – a day of action to support education related to forced migration and progress towards developing a culture of welcome for those seeking sanctuary in the county’s schools.
Sophie North (School of Health Sciences) Sophie is the University of Sanctuary Academic Lead. Sophie is also the Council for At Risk Academics (CARA) Lead.
Sean Pasque (Physical Education & Sport) Sean represents the Norwich Sportspark at the University of Sanctuary Steering Group meetings.
Fiona Poland (School of Health Sciences) Fiona represents the School of Health Sciences at the University of Sanctuary Steering Group meetings.
Rebecca Price (Finance, Planning and Governance)
Esther Priyadharshini (School of Education & Lifelong Learning) Esther is the University of Sanctuary representative on the UEA Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committee.
Nitya Rao (School of International Development) Nitya is one of the Principal Investigator for the UEA’s UoS concept-proofing project on international researchers coming to the UK.
Anna Robinson-Pant (School of Education & Lifelong Learning) Anna was the University of Sanctuary Academic Lead from June 2020-May 2021. Anna continues to play a key role in the development of the initiative.
Emma Skeet (Faculty of Science) Emma, through her non-profit making community interest company-The Friend Ship, works with students to raise awareness of current campaigns relating to sanctuary seekers..
Surya Simon (School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing) Surya represents the work of Decolonise UEA at the University of Sanctuary steering group meetings.
Becky Taylor (School of History).
Ulrike Theuerkauf (School of International Development) Ulrike is the University of Sanctuary Equality and Diversity Liaison. Ulrike was the Academic Lead for the initiative from 2018-July 2020 and continues to be a core member.
Safiya Waley (Research and Innovation Services)
Helen Warner (School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication)
Steve Waters (School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing)
Tara Welsh (Admissions, Recruitment & Marketing) is the University of Sanctuary Admissions Support Lead and manages the new UoS Admissions working group.