Mrs Catherine Reynolds

National Teaching Fellow 2006 Institution at the time of award: University of Sussex Catherine Reynolds is a PhD/postdoctoral Career Consultant at the London School of Economics. At the time of her award in 2006, she was a Career Development Adviser in the Career Development and Employment Centre (CDEC) at the University of Sussex. She is well respected as a careers educator within the University and the higher education careers profession nationally. She has been teaching since 1986 in a number of settings including adult education and secondary schools. Whilst at the University of Sussex, Catherine led career development programmes for postgraduate students. A personal and professional development course for DPhil students, encouraging reflection and recording of experience, was recently shortlisted for a THES Award. Postgraduate researchers find this a useful introduction to managing their own careers. Other courses and workshops support career development learning in a range of activities. At the University of Reading, Catherine works with the CETL in Career Management Skills where she has responsibilities for the research and development of postgraduate careers resources. She is also working on careers education for international students and adapting teaching and learning to suit this group. Catherine had a number of roles at the University of Sussex and works closely with academic departments to embed careers education in the formal curriculum and in the wider student experience. She developed and managed CDEC's Student Development Fund, which fosters students' independent learning, creativity and skills. She developed the Student Tutoring and Mentoring Programme, which takes students off campus to learn independently. Catherine's work was recognised in 2005 with two national awards, one from the Institute of Careers Guidance and one from the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS). Through AGCAS she is a national trainer of HE careers staff and is a member of the Postgraduate Task Group. She is a member of the HEA and Association of National Teaching Fellows. She says: "I feel passionately that my work supports the life of the University and our students by equipping individuals with skills and resources to reflect on their experience and to make well considered decisions about their progression."