Xiaohongshu
On Wednesday 10 June, staff members were awarded recognition for their outstanding commitment to education by students at UCL Education Awards. Here, students shared their appreciation and celebrated staff at UCL who have gone above and beyond.
The Students’ Union UCL received a total of 818 nominations for 479 individual members of staff, from 97 academic and professional services departments. Our latest report shares what students value most across across nine award categories, highlighting the exceptional learning experience at UCL. Read the report here.
Congratulations to everyone shortlisted. Check out the full list of winners below.
Active Student Partnership
The award for Active Student Partnership recognises staff who are committed to listening to and working with students and their representatives to improve and change education in their module, programme, or department.
Winner: Sarah Matthews
“Prof. Sarah Matthews is the Head of Education and the face of our MSc pathways. She is incredibly responsive to student needs and was the first person many of us saw on video calls months before the course even started to answer our questions. She manages the massive task of knowing all 40 plus students across the space science and space technology pathways by name, which shows how much she listens and cares.
Sarah is constantly working with us to improve our education. She proactively makes changes to the programme every year based on student feedback to make sure the modules work for us. One huge solution she provides is manually managing the schedule of optional elective modules to ensure our assignments and coursework deadlines do not clash. This is a massive logistical job that she does specifically to reduce student stress.
She proactively involves us in the life of the department, like when she championed me to volunteer for the postgraduate open evening to chat with prospective students. She even secured a departmental budget for my custom hardware project when most students do pre-written ones. Her flexibility is legendary; she personally drove me over an hour each way to MSSL for my testing and listened to me talk the whole time. Sarah also joined us at the ActInSpace hackathons and helped our MSc course teams with the Airbus space competition where we won. She is a phenomenal partner in our education and definitely deserves this award!”
Amazing Support Staff
The award for Amazing Support Staff thanks staff who are not in teaching roles but still make a huge difference to students’ learning at UCL by going the extra mile.
Winner: Judy Medrington
“If you mention Judy’s name to any IoA [Institute of Archaeology] alumni in the last 50 years you’ll be met with a smile and a burst of excitement. Judy is a staple of the archaeology department and I believe that given her retirement in May after half a century at UCL (1/4th of the time UCL has existed!) she greatly deserves this recognition. I have sent hundreds of emails to Judy for aid with personal, academic, and departmental issues and every single time I’ve been met with a prompt and caring response. My first day at UCL Judy personally introduced herself to me as I’d emailed prior regarding concerns with accommodations for mental health. She assured me she would help me get a SoRA in place, and she did. I feared my UCL transcript wouldn’t come in time to apply for my master's course, so she wrote me a personalised letter that I could submit instead to make sure I could apply. She investigates every student query. If there’s a question about anything in the IoA, you email Judy. I’ve emailed with technical issues, late feedback returns, module swaps, SoRA queries, extensions, questions about UCL accommodation, and every time she has helped me find a solution. Every person I have spoken to (IoA staff, students, the director of the institute) has expressed how deep of a loss to UCL Judy’s retirement is- she’s just that brilliant! I cannot express how deeply Judy’s help has improved and positively impacted my time at UCL. Please give her this award, she deserves it!”
Brilliant Research-Based Education
The award for Brilliant Research-Based Education is for staff who educate students about the latest, cutting-edge knowledge, or who enable taught students to create knowledge by conducting their own research.
Winner: Stefano Miraglia
"Dr Stefano Miraglia deserves the Brilliant Research-Based Education award because he has created a space where PhD students do not just learn about cutting-edge research but actively participate in producing it.
Stefano initiated and manages the Project Hub Paper Development Workshop, a monthly forum where PhD students bring their working papers for discussion and feedback. What makes this workshop truly special is that it is not a top-down teaching exercise. It is a genuinely egalitarian space where PhD students sit alongside senior lecturers and engage as equals. My voice as a PhD student carries the same weight as anyone else in the room, and my contributions are heard, listened to, and taken seriously. That kind of environment is rare in academia, and Stefano has built it with great intention. The workshop covers a rich and diverse range of topics at the frontiers of research, from the responsible use of AI in academic inquiry, to research philosophy and paradigm selection, to cutting-edge debates in project management scholarship. These are not abstract seminars. They are practical, applied discussions that directly inform and strengthen the research we are conducting as students.
What I value most is the culture Stefano has cultivated within the forum. Multiple points of view are welcomed and contested in a healthy, constructive manner. The discussions create a space for genuine synthesis of new ideas, where constructive criticism is delivered with academic rigour and mutual respect. This has had a direct and tangible impact on my own research. Through the workshop, I have learned how to mobilise diverse perspectives, choose the right research philosophy and paradigm for my work, and responsibly use emerging tools like AI to conduct worldclass research. Stefano actively invites participants to submit their full paper drafts and specify which areas they would like feedback on, ensuring that every session is tailored to help researchers develop and improve their work. This level of care and personalisation demonstrates his deep commitment to enabling students to produce exciting and innovative research.
The Project Hub Paper Development Workshop is a brilliant example of research-based education in action, and Stefano is the driving force behind it. He truly deserves this recognition."
Diverse & Inclusive Education
The award for Diverse & Inclusive Education highlights staff members who work to ensure their curriculum or research recognises marginalised scholars and shines a light on diverse perspectives.
Winner: Ayeshah Émon
"The most difficult part of writing this nomination was deciding which category to nominate Dr. Ayeshah Émon for. If it were possible, I would nominate her for several. Sheis an exceptional educator who truly embodies what inclusive and globally minded teaching should look like. Dr. Émon taught more of my courses during my degree than any other professor in the programme, yet she was always incredibly present and engaged with her students. Despite her significant teaching responsibilities, she consistently made time to support us, offer guidance, and encourage thoughtful discussion in and outside the classroom.
What makes her teaching especially impactful is the way she actively centres diverse and marginalised perspectives within the curriculum. Drawing on her interdisciplinary background in medical anthropology, global health, and gender studies, she brings forward scholarship that challenges dominant narratives in public health and highlights voices that are often underrepresented in academic spaces. She encourages students to critically reflect on whose knowledge is recognised in research and policy, and to engage with perspectives that cross cultural, geographic, and disciplinary boundaries. Our cohort includes students from across the world, and Dr. Émon creates an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their perspectives and lived experiences. She fosters respectful conversations around complex and sometimes sensitive topics, ensuring students feel supported while engaging deeply with these issues. As a student from Canada conducting Indigenous-focused research, this approach was incredibly meaningful and made me feel that my work and perspective were genuinely valued within the programme. Dr. Émon is not only an inspiring teacher but also someone who deeply cares about her students and their growth. She uplifts people, recognises their potential, and creates a learning environment where students feel encouraged to contribute, question, and learn from one another. Her commitment to inclusive education has had a lasting impact on my learning and on many students in the programme.”
Excellent Personal Tutoring
The Excellent Personal Tutoring award recognises members of staff who are always there to provide students with pastoral support and academic guidance.
Winner: Angela Cooper
“Angela Cooper has exceeded her role as a tutor. She goes above and beyond with every single student she has. I was in her LNAT preparation class, which was online during the summer of 2025. Not only did she constantly send us extra resources, but she checked up on us, and our mental health always. When the cohort arrived in October for our first class, since all of us were new to London, and were international students she always started lessons with pieces of advice, places to visit, and reminders that we should not stress the small stuff, and told us words of encouragement which were personalised to each of our struggles/weaknesses. Every class, she came with cookies as she knew most of us skipped breakfast because class was so early. Specifically, I remember opening up to her about my anxiety and getting accommodations for coursework and exams, she was the first one I told in UCL. This was because I felt she cared about me, outside of class and as a person. With this, she helped regarding the next steps and how I can get these accommodations. During the LNAT class too, she invited old students from her previous classes to advise us on the LNAT, university choices, and general advice. It goes to say how connected she is even to her past students, and how much her previous students loved her class and presence as well. Even after our LNAT class finished in December, she checked up on us consistently, and asked us about how our coursework is, and whether we heard back from any universities yet, celebrating our achievements big or small. She even made effort to try and go to my play, and see my acting debut in London. Angela is an amazing tutor that truly deserves this recognition, it’s the least UCL can do to thank her for the incredible job she has been doing fostering growth for international students.”
Exceptional Feedback
The award for Exceptional Feedback is aimed at staff who provide constructive and useful feedback on students’ assessment and learning., helping students to progress and succeed.
Winner: Jackie Thomas
“Jackie runs the Academic Legal Writing course for LAWS. This course has singlehandedly changed my life and my grades at UCL. I struggled to understand the right format for essays and problem questions at UCL and thought that it was just because I wasn't studying hard enough. However, after taking this class, I realised it was just the way I was explaining arguments, not my ideas themselves that prevented me from getting higher grades. After following Jackie's method, I not only improved my grades, but even won an essay competition at UCL - something I wouldn't have been able to do beforehand.
Jackie's dedication to her students and the course is unparalleled. She encourages students to do writing within her classes and provides detailed, tailored, oral and written feedback for each student on the work they've written. She takes the time to check on each student during the sessions to make sure they understand the constructive feedback and feel confident and empowered. Jackie also allows students to submit their essay plans before writing the full length essay in class so she can provide additional tailored feedback and guidance. She really goes above and beyond to make sure students know how to improve - and provides tangible and clear guidance rather than vague or generic statements. She is always available for questions so that students actually know how they can improve. Jackie also provides helpful essay examples and shows what a descriptive vs engaging essay looks like which gives depth and tangible meaning to her always constructive feedback. She teaches with such consideration and encourages a growth mindset to achieve excellence. Jackie also provides this feedback remarkably quickly - with feedback on in class work always being given the following week. The special attention and personalised feedback Jackie gives is special and a testament to her dedication. Jackie is an exemplary teacher and a huge asset to the UCL Laws department. We are lucky to have her. "
Inspiring Teaching Delivery
The award for Inspiring Teaching Delivery recognises staff members who deliver exceptional teaching using innovative and engaging methods to hold students’ interest and help them learn regardless of the circumstances.
Winner: Rachel Rees
“Everyone in my cohort loves Rachel and her lectures. Rachel is so energetic and passionate about what she does, and this energy is often infectious. Her enthusiasm for what she teaches magnifies our interest in the topics tenfold, and inspires us to work hard to become better speech and language therapists in the future. She uses creative methods and materials to pique our interest and maintain our engagement and alertness levels; for example, she includes lots of interactive activities, workshops and videos. Moreover, her candid insight on developments in the field really help us to learn how to critically evaluate new ideas. On top of that, her humour is fantastic! It says a lot that
even close to assignment deadlines when a lot of people miss out on lectures to work in the library, some people still wouldn't miss a lecture by Rachel.”
Outstanding Research Supervision
The award for Outstanding Research Supervision recognises staff who help postgraduate research students to succeed, balancing providing support and fostering independence.
Winner: Vincent Muczynski
“Vincent is an extraordinary translational scientist who has consistently gone above and beyond his duties to support me throughout my PhD journey. Despite not being part of my official supervisory team, he stepped in from very early on in my PhD and became one of the most influential mentors in my training.
His supervision has been truly outstanding. He taught me new techniques in the lab, particularly in immunofluorescence and advanced microscopy, fields in which he has exceptional expertise. He sacrificed his own time to spend countless hours with me at the confocal microscope, ensuring not only that experiments worked, but that I became fully independent and confident in applying these techniques to drive my project forward.
However, his support extends far beyond practical teaching. Vincent is an inspiring leader who conveys genuine passion and drive for science. He has a rare ability to ignite curiosity and critical thinking in those around him, while at the same time making you feel seen and heard - that your ideas matter. Over the past three years, he has been instrumental in shaping my scientific thinking and building my confidence as a future leader in academia. I have also observed him mentoring and supervising other students in the lab, and I have witnessed the same unwavering dedication and enthusiasm. Whenever challenges arose from data or experiments, he provided thoughtful, constructive feedback and equipped us with the tools to overcome obstacles independently, while ensuring we felt fully supported throughout the process. He also consistently prepares me for my PhD viva, something he often refers to when we go through data together. Rather than simply discussing results at face value, he challenges me to think critically, anticipate questions, and justify my interpretations as if I were already defending my thesis. This has not only strengthened the rigour of my work but has also built my confidence in articulating and defending my science. He offered invaluable career advice at a pivotal moment when I was considering leaving my clinical training to focus solely on research. He approached that conversation with genuine care for my long-term path, helping me think clearly through a highly emotional and conflicting period. Thanks to his guidance, I was able to make the right decisions and navigate that challenging time in my career with clarity. Even during personally challenging times, Vincent has remained selfless, generous, and compassionate in his supervision. He is truly one of a kind and deserves recognition for the extraordinary impact he has on students every single day.”
Sustainable Education
The award for Sustainable Education recognises staff who are leading the way in embedding sustainability into the curriculum and shaping our future climate leaders.
Winner: Andrea Gauthier and Mina Vasalou
“Andrea Gauthier and Mina Vasalou have been instrumental in weaving sustainability into the fabric of our curriculum and UCL life. They consistently demonstrate how core subject concepts connect to the climate crisis…What truly sets Andrea and Mina apart is their genuine care for each student’s growth as a sustainability advocate. They offer personalized guidance on how to turn their passions into impactful projects. When students have raised concerns about the footprint of our course materials, they worked swiftly to transition to digital resources and source recycled supplies, showing they listen closely to our voices.
They also established and fostered a supportive community centered on shared climate action goals…Crucially, they provide abundant opportunities for students to engage with real-world issues. They even help students secure internships and funding for their sustainability-focused research, ensuring they have the resources to make a tangible
difference. Through mentorship and hands-on workshops, they potentially empowers students to turn their learning into actionable solutions, truly shaping the next generation.”