For International Women’s Day, we asked some of the inspiring women who work and study at the college, who inspires them!
(L-R) Helen Bloomer - Head of Physics, Theresa Dougall – Head of Chemistry, Carla Mansfield – Head of Biology, Louisa Wilson – Director of STEM
Our Science Department is headed by an all-female team and our Director of STEM is a woman too! In a field that historically has been dominated by men, they are showing the way forward. They choose a selection of #WomenInSTEM; Astronomer Henrietta Swan Leavitt, who made a significant contribution with Leavitt’s Law used to measure distant galleries; Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer; Rosalind Franklin, who contributed to the discovery of DNA Structures and Dr. Hayat Sindi, who made major contributions to Point-of-Care medical testing and biotechnology.
Ellie Williams – Teacher of Sociology
Sociology Teacher chose female activist Malala Yousafzai, who stood up for the education of women, confronting the Taliban who had banned girls for attending school and shot by a masked gunman for deifying them. Malala’s courage to stand by what she believed in is inspiring.
Nicola Fitzpatrick-Nash – Teacher of Mathematics
Michelle Obama is more than just the wife of Barack, she is a successful writer, lawyer and a campaigner for poverty awareness, education, health, LGBTQ+ rights and gender and racial equality. It’s her refusal to stand in her husband’s shadow that stands her out from other First Lady’s.
Rebecca Harris – Student
“For me, my inspirational woman is my mum! My mum is my inspiration and someone I look up to because she has always been there for me through hard times and always puts me first! She never lets people get her down and faces challenges head on!”
Megi Cara – Student
“My mum is my inspiration, my everything. Growing up, she had to overcome many obstacles and break the taboos of communist Albania. Her dream has always been to bring justice to people and help those in need. She was successful in becoming one of the very first female police officers in Albania and her achievements are recognised not only in Albania, but internationally too! She is my inspiration because her hard work, ambitions and devotion to family is proof that women are very strong and can make their dreams come true”
Amy Potts - Business and Marketing Apprentice
“Kathleen Kenyon was a leading British Archaeologist who excavated Jericho, and thanks to her work, influenced our understanding of the region dramatically. In WW2 she served as Divisional Commander of the Red Cross. She was later appointed as the Principal of St Hugh's College (Oxford) because of her work in the Middle East as an archaeologist.”
Nicky Rogerson – Teacher of Business Studies
Dame Ellen MacArthur is a successful solo long-distance yachtswoman, who held the world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe. Throughout her career, she showed extreme resilience, determination and strength completely independently. Her mental strength and ability to keep going is what Nicky finds inspiring.
Laura Shelton – Marketing & Business Service Assistant
“Rebecca Adlington won two gold medals for 400m freestyle and 800m freestyle in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She is proof that with hard work and determination anything is possible”
Courtney Guy – Graphic Designer
Courtney chose British politician and former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas. Inspired by her persistent and determined nature to do what’s right, to stand by her beliefs and committed work as a campaigner, with organisations such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) and Oxfam.