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Kirsty Teague - Senior Lecturer in Criminology

NTU has provided fantastic opportunities for Kirsty to develop as an academic. Beginning her journey here as an MA student, she now works alongside the staff who taught and motivated her to pursue an academic career at the university.

I have benefitted from working with a supportive team who have supported my doctoral studies and have since provided me with opportunities to develop as an academic.

I started off at NTU as a full-time MA Criminology student from 2014-2015 and thrived during my time as a student. Wanting to put into practice the skills and knowledge I had developed/acquired whilst on the course, I decided to apply to work here. The supportive nature of the staff who taught me on the MA motivated me to want to work alongside them and develop an academic career.

I am now a Senior Lecturer at NTU, where my responsibilities are incredibly diverse, which keeps the role interesting (and challenging!). As a full-time academic, my time is divided between a variety of activities. As a senior lecturer, I lead the Level 5 Penology module and teach on the Level 5 Criminology in the Real World and Level 6 Sexual and Violent Crime modules. My teaching links closely to my research, which is focused on preventing re-offending by exploring what role social connection plays for men with sexual convictions post-prison. Beyond teaching and research, I can be found around the Chaucer building offering pastoral support to students across all three years of the BA, and supervising dissertations.

I began my journey at NTU as a Research Associate (working with Drinkaware) and Hourly Paid Lecturer in 2016, working in the then Department of Sociology. Since 2017, I have been a Lecturer in Criminology, before becoming a Senior Lecturer in Summer 2021.

I have also completed the Advance HE Aurora Women’s Leadership programme, this was a transformative experience for me both personally and professionally, as it sharpened my core and adaptive leadership skills. Going forward, I’d like to use my experience of the programme and work towards gaining a leadership focussed role in the department or the school.

I have benefitted from working with a supportive team who have supported my doctoral studies and have provided me with opportunities to develop as an academic. My team are passionate and dedicated to promoting positive change through their research and practice. This energises the department and typifies who we are as a team.

NTU played a large part in my personal and professional development and so it’ll always be special to me.

Interdisciplinary working is integral here and thus I’m often found collaborating with colleagues across the School of Social Sciences. I partake in many practice-based activities and since joining the CCJ department have engaged in partnership working; leading on the Learning Together programme at HMP Whatton, but also, supporting partnership development with colleagues in the Social Sciences to design and deliver prison education programmes at local prisons.

Throughout my time at NTU, management have ensured I have the time and resources I need to do my job effectively. I’ve found the CCJ management team to be approachable and always willing to offer support.

Owing to the community spirit of NTU, there is always someone there to offer guidance or a supportive ear. Whilst informal support is readily available in our various teams, NTU has formal support for those who need it. This has been a lifeline to many during the pandemic, and it’s good to know that should it ever be needed it’s there for all to access.

My favourite thing about working for NTU are that the values of the institution are in tune with my personal and professional values.  For me, it’s important to work for an organisation I’m proud of. I proudly support the strategic aims of the university, which drive our and shape much of what we do individually and collectively. In both respects, I feel that NTU is encouraging of personal and professional growth and development.

What makes NTU special? It’s commitment to working with, and having impact in, local communities. Whilst I was at secondary school (in Nottingham), NTU was working to inspire the next generation. As a result of this work, I knew I wanted to be part of the NTU community. NTU played a large part in my personal and professional development and so it’ll always be special to me.