Supporting Under Represented Groups Through Academic Practice

Facilitator

Professor Caitlin Buck She/Her

Caitlin is a Professor in the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Sheffield. Her expertise is developing and implementing statistical models and methods for use by archaeologists and palaeoenvironmental scientists. She was the co-founder of the Women Professor's Network at the University of Sheffield, which she continues to co-lead, and also chaired the Women's Staff Network (known as Women@TUoS) in 2014-15. She is a passionate champion for diversity and inclusion in academia, with considerable personal experience of the benefits of a range of so-called disadvantages, including gender and disability.

Panelists

Professor Amaka Offiah She/Her

Professor Offiah has a range of experience that informs her roles as Chair of the Black, Asian and other Minority Ethnic (BAME) Staff Network and Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for the Department of Oncology and Metabolism. Having completed her undergraduate degree in Nigeria, obtained her MRCP in Essex, and her PhD at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Professor Offiah has contributed a great deal to The University of Sheffield as an advocate for diversity and inclusion, not least her role as co-chair of the Race Equality Charter Self-Assessment Team and Co-PI of Generation Delta.

Dr Hope Thackray She/They

Dr Hope Thackray is a Maths Advisor at the Mathematics and Statistics Help (MASH) centre at 301 Glossop Road, which offers support and guidance in mathematics and statistics for all types of students across all disciplines in the University. Early 2020, Dr Thackray completed their PhD at Sheffield Uni, experiencing what it's like to be both an Early Career researcher and support PhD students through their work at MASH. With the focus of MASH being support rather than teaching, a lot of energy is put into building confidence in students, and being separate from the academic departments means that more anxious or vulnerable students feel we provide a safe space for them to ask for help, free of judgement.