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I joined the OU as a Lecturer in Applied Mathematics in 2014, and I’m currently the chair of MST326 Mathematical methods and Fluid Mechanics, and a member of the presentation team of MS327 Deterministic and Stochastic dynamics.
My research interests are in the areas of Dynamical systems and Fluid mechanics. Most recently I have been conducting research on understanding the stability and predictability of chaotic systems, and the motion of droplets on solid surfaces.
Marcia Goddard is a Senior Quality and Development manager has a background in careers advice, her role focuses on the development of the Careers and Employability services.
Margaret is an Associate Lecturer in science foundation S112 at the OU, and is one of our main presenters at Student Hub Live. Her hobbies are baking, rowing and lego. She loves working for the OU as it is very fulfilling and gives her time to train hard for her rowing competitions, build lots of lego and walk her dog in the local Lancashire hills. If she walks far enough, and rows well enough, then she bakes scones to refuel.
She worked for the OU for 18 years, and then left to look after her family. She has also been an OU student and did 4 undergraduate modules and her Masters in Education with the OU. Her initial degree was at Durham university in physics and chemistry, and then she was a senior lecturer in chemistry at Teesside and Hudderfield Universities. She also ran her own business for 16 years teaching adults speed reading, how to improve their memory and creative problem solving.
Dr María Fernández-Toro is the Director of Languages and a Senior Lecturer in Spanish at the School of Languages and Applied Linguistics. She joined the Open University in April 2007 and has worked on the development of several OU Spanish courses. She was also in charge of the production team for the core introductory module L161 Exploring languages and cultures, and is the author of the Hairy Bikers’ OpenLearn resource on Intercultural Communication, produced in collaboration with the Open Media Unit and the BBC. Her research and teaching are both driven by a passion for language and cultural diversity.
María was born in Spain, brought up in France, and has been teaching in the UK for 27 years. She is also a singer and runs community workshops to teach people to sing in as many different languages as possible.
Maria Leedham is a senior lecturer in Applied Linguistics and English Language from the School of Languages and Applied Linguistics. She is currently researching writing in social work practice (see project website: www.writinginsocialwork.com). Maria chairs E304 Exploring English grammar and also works on the MA Education (applied linguistics).
In a previous life, Maria taught English to foreign students and began her career by teaching Japanese secondary school students in Iwate, northern Japan. She has been a distance learner herself, studying for an MA while teaching and raising children.
Maria is a Lecturer in Management and Assistant Head of Student Experience (Apprenticeships) in the Faculty of Business and Law. Her teaching interests include leadership, career development and executive coaching.
Before she joined the OU Maria worked in Cranfield School of Management as Head of Coaching and Development. Earlier in her career she worked as an occupational psychologist for the Cabinet Office and the BBC, and held a leadership development role at BT. She has also launched and managed her own retail business and has considerable experience as an independent consultant.
Maria is a Chartered Psychologist, a registered Occupational Psychologist and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society.
Having taken a career break from primary school teaching to bring up her three children, Marianne decided to return to language study in 2018. She had completed a degree in German in her twenties, so chose to build on this by studying French and Spanish. The Open University was the obvious choice as distance learning offered the flexibility to work around her other commitments.
Marie Thompson is a Lecturer in Popular Music at the OU. She is interested in the relationship between gender, music and sound technologies, and has recently been working on a research project about tinnitus and the arts. She is the lead author of the Music short course Dolly Parton: Music, Identity and Culture.
Marion Bowman is senior lecturer in Religious Studies. Her research interests include vernacular religion, contemporary spirituality and pilgrimage, and she has conducted a long term study of the town of Glastonbury.
Mark Fenton-O’Creevy is Professor of Organisational Behaviour and Associate Dean, External Engagement in the Open University Faculty of Business and Law.
Mark has a long standing interest in comparative cross-national management practice and has carried out research and consulting internationally in this field over two decades. His most recent study on firm and country level factors in adoption of performance related pay practices is published in the Journal of Management. He has also carried out substantial research on the role of emotion in decision-making, including recent work on emotion and strategic decision-making in conditions of radical uncertainty.
Mark Hughes is the Information Security Engagement Manager at the Open University. His role involves being the central point of contact for any queries, advice, or concerns relating to cyber security at the OU, while planning and creating awareness campaigns to empower staff and students to feel secure in their personal and professional lives.
Mark is enthusiastic about lifelong learning and is completing two courses this year relating to Information Security and Project Management to ensure he is better placed to support the whole OU community in his role.
He wants students to feel that they are well supported by the Information Security Team, and will use this session to help ensure students feel more comfortable about staying secure in their studies.
In his spare time, he enjoys being a local councillor, exploring the countryside, visiting National Trust properties, and enjoying gaming and pub quizzes with friends.
Mark came to the Open University from a career break. Previously, he worked at the University of London (Goldsmiths). He is currently interested in global transformations in ocean governance, particularly through the lens of maritime cultural heritage. At the Open University, he's worked on research projects funded by the ESRC (Cultural rights and Kenya's new constitution) and the Wellcome Trust (The medicalization of male circumcision in Kenya).
Mark started working for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Student Support Team as a Senior Adviser in November 2021. Prior to that Mark has done many different roles within an information, advice and guidance setting. Mark loves supporting students and giving them the information and advice towards completing their student journey with us at the Open University.
Dr Mark Nichols was born and bred in New Zealand. In 2001, he completed a Master of Arts in Open and Distance Education through the Open University as a distance student, helped by the 12-hour time difference that gave him a series of consistent extensions. He graduated in his pyjamas in a virtual graduation ceremony at 3am New Zealand time.
Mark spends much of his spare time touring the UK and Europe with his wife, as when they moved to the UK last year they effectively ‘left home’, although their adult sons remain in New Zealand. Mark is a firm believer in the status and practice of distance and online education.
Martha Tengenesha is a Project Coordinator in the International Development Office at The Open University, supporting the management and implementation of education programmes in Zimbabwe and Ghana. She coordinates the Improving Gender Transition and Education (IGATE) programme, which is working in consortium with World Vision and Care International to improve inclusive education and teacher practice in Zimbabwe. Additionally, Martha works on the Supporting Adolescent Girls’ Education (SAGE) programme which, working in partnership with Plan International, is supporting out-of-school girls to improve learning and return into formal school, training or employment. Martha joined the International Development Office in February 2018. She has a diverse background, with experience in the legal sector, equality and diversity, and international development.
Martin Bootman is a Reader in Biomedicine and Director of Research in the School of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences. Since his undergraduate days Martin has been interested in the mechanisms underlying cellular signalling, and in particular how cells use calcium as a messenger. Martin’s lab studies how diverse cell types use calcium to coordinate activities such as gene expression, contraction and cell death. Martin is, or has, worked on modules including SK277, SXHL288, S377 and S317. In addition, Martin is a tutor for SK299 students, which is a role he really enjoys because of the varied and rewarding interactions with students as they progress.
Dr Martin Higginson is currently Director of Student Support for the School of Social Science and Global Studies. His current role has a responsibility to ensure the academic aspects of tuition delivery and wider student support is delivered to meet the needs of our students. He works closely with Staff Tutor colleagues who manage Associate Lecturers, Director of Teaching, Associate Deans and the Head of School to help link the different sides of what goes into supporting our students. Martin is an academic in the Economics department and before his current secondment was involved in producing various economics modules and has a particular interest in health inequalities.
Martin Robb is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Languages and chair of K802 Critical Practice with Children and Young People, a core module in the MA in Childhood and Youth.
Martin used to work on education projects with young offenders and is currently doing research on young fathers and masculinity.
Martin Weller is Professor of Educational Technology, in the Institute of Educational Technology (IET) at the Open University, and holds an honorary Chair in Open Education from the Commonwealth of Learning. He is currently the Chair of the Open Programme, the Open University’s flexible, multi-disciplinary degree, and the Assistant Director of Curriculum in IET where he has been leading on the development of microcredentials. He developed the OU’s first fully online course in 1999, which attracted over 15,000 students annually. He was the OU’s first VLE Director, and is the Director of the OER Hub team, who undertake research into aspects of open education. He is the author of The Battle For Open, The Digital Scholar, and 25 Years of Ed Tech and maintains a popular blog at blog.edtechie.net.
Mary Beard is Professor of Classics at the University of Cambridge, and a Fellow of Newnham College, where she has researched and taught since 1984; she is also Classics editor of the Times Literary Supplement.
She has published widely on many things ancient, from books on The Parthenon, The Colosseum and Pompeii (which won the Wolfson History Prize) to a study of Laughter in Ancient Rome, and (with John Henderson) a general introduction to Classical Art: From Greece to Rome. Her most recent books are SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome (Profile, 2015) and Women & Power (Profile, 2017). Her Civilisations (based on her two episodes of the series) will appear in March 2018 (Profile).
Mary Kellett is Professor of Childhood and Youth and Executive Dean of the Faculties of Education & Language Studies and Health & Social Care. She spent two periods in professional practice in social work and primary teaching before embarking on an academic career. She joined the OU in 2001. Mary is passionate about social justice and equality. Her research has been primarily focused on the empowerment of children and young people.
Mary keys is the Senior Manager for Open who manages the Open degree. Mary has worked for the University for twenty years most of those 20 years where in the Faculty of STEM, she joined the Open team in January of this year, and this is her first Student Hub Live session!
Mary is a Senior Lecturer in Health and Social care at The Open University. Her extensive teaching experience and her own personal experiences of caring led to her interest in carer research. She has led many research projects, undertaken consultancies and published widely. She is a member of professional, government and public bodies and consequently has extensive networks within the carers field. She is often invited to give presentations about her work.
Mary is the Employer Engagement Manager for STEM, and her role focusses on connecting employers with OU students and graduates, through vacancy promotion and through running events such as online careers fairs and insight days. Mary has worked in Careers and Employability Services at the Open University for 4 years, and is based in the Nottingham office.
I was born in the Netherlands, but grew up in rural New Zealand, which means I like cheese and can drive a tractor. I joined the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies at the Open University in August 2015. After originally training as an occupational therapist, I have worked clinically in mental health services in both England and New Zealand for a number of years. Immediately prior to starting work at the Open University I was a lecturer and research fellow at the Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland. I’m passionate about the mental health of children and young people, and in particular about the mental wellbeing of sex, sexuality and gender diverse youth. I’m the co-chair (production) for K314 Approaches to mental health, which is in its first year in presentation. I completed a PGDipHSc as a part-time distance-based student whilst working full-time, so have had some experience of juggling work commitments and study demands.
Matt Balme is a senior lecturer in the School of Physical Sciences. He has studied the surfaces of planets for nearly 20 years, and for more than 15 years has focused on Mars. Matt is currently the head of the Planetary and Space Science research discipline in the School, and also leads the Planetary Environments Research Group. He is a member of the ExoMars PanCam (a multispectral stereo camera) team, and works with the European Space Agency to help determine how the ExoMars Rover will operate on the surface. In Matt’s opinion, Mars is easily the ‘best planet’ outside of the Earth, and he hopes to see it from the surface one day! Matt has two daughters – a 7-year-old and a 9-year-old – who also think that Mars is the best planet ever.
Matt began his personal journey with the Open University in 2015 with a presentation of S104. He believes that the OU has the power to change people’s lives and people from all walks of life are welcomed. There is an overwhelming sense of community between OU students, staff, and alumni. He joined the OU as a Senior Advisor in May 2021 utilising his employability skills gained through his study experiences to help support OU students.
Matt Staples joined The Open University as a project manager in 1995, after two years in the Department of Continuing Education and Politics Department at the University of Hull. He became a part-time tutor in 1998. He’s been with the Faculty of Social Sciences since 2001, firstly as a curriculum manager, then becoming a part-time assistant staff tutor in the Cambridge regional office in 2006 and as a full-time staff tutor in the London regional office in 2007.
Matthew is an Online Project Producer for OpenLearn, the OU's free learning website. He publishes articles, free courses, games, videos and podcasts to accompany the brilliant TV and radio programmes that the OU co-produces with the BBC and other broadcasters.
Matthew started working for the Open University in Ireland in November 2018 after moving to Northern Ireland earlier that year, and he hasn’t looked back since.
Matt is the Director of the Open University’s International Development Office – a team that is focused on using open and distance learning to support people living and working in some of the most challenging parts of the world. He oversees a number of projects involving academics in the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies, working with partners to provide high quality training to teachers, health workers and humanitarian workers at a large scale. Matt joined The Open University in 2015 after spending more than a decade at international development charity Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) where he worked in a variety of roles, from supporting volunteers working in Cambodia to the Director of Strategy overseeing VSO’s work in over 22 countries. In his spare time he enjoys being a dad (except the home schooling part), playing sport and supporting Liverpool FC!
Melanie Rimmer, an Open University student and Associate Lecturer, began her journey with the OU in 1997, earning a BSc in Psychology and later an MSc in Psychological Research Methods. Since 2005, she has served as an Associate Lecturer, primarily teaching social science modules, and contributing to module materials for E232 Exploring Childhood and Youth. In 2019, Melanie returned to the OU as a part-time PhD student in Social Psychology.
Menna began her professional career as a teacher of physics and maths, before having her own three children. She became fascinated with the way that they were learning and developing and, having discovered the excitement of working with very young children, she became a childminder, later opening a set up and pack down playgroup for children aged 2-4 years old with three colleagues. Eight years ago, they moved the playgroup to their own building, and she continues to work with children on a daily basis. Alongside this, she delivers training to adults working within the Early Years Foundation Stage.
I’m a second year PhD student studying astronomy at the OU. My interests include variable stars, the operation of telescope hardware and developing astronomical software.
I am one of the primary science users of the Open University’s PIRATE and COAST telescopes located in Tenerife, and I also help to run and maintain the telescopes, including acting as night duty astronomer for some of the OU astronomy courses.
My research at the OU focuses on writing software for the automated reduction of scientific data obtained by PIRATE, and the long-term follow up of transient variable stars identified and published by the Gaia Alerts team.
Michael Bower is the External Strategy and Innovation Manager for The Open University in Ireland. Michael is developing a number of key projects in Ireland including the development of higher-level apprenticeship pilots within the healthcare sector, a work placement scheme for Open University students and a bespoke programme to help meet the skills needs of Irish small and medium-sized businesses. Michael is responsible for developing relationships with employer bodies and development agencies in Ireland and increasing awareness of how The Open University can meet Irish skills needs. Michael also works closely with civil servants in the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that The Open University is both influencing the local policy agenda while also being responsive to Executive priorities. Previously Michael was the Special Adviser to the Minister for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland and a Councillor on North Down Borough Council.
<p>Hi, I’m Michael Flack, I’m 49, with roots in Milton Keynes and I’ve worked at the OU since 1994. Currently I work in Research and Academic Strategy, but I’ve previously worked in two other faculties in Academic Services roles and on institutional projects in learning and teaching. My present role involves overseeing project management for the new Academic Strategy, which is intended to ensure that the University aligns its overall planning to its strengths in teaching, research, and engagement with wider society. I enjoy the opportunity to interact with and understand a wide range of areas of this complex and life-enhancing organisation.</p>
<p>I’ve completed an OU degree and, a few years ago, an OU Masters in Philosophy. I like explaining academic perspectives to professional managers and encouraging academics to be pragmatic!</p>
Michael Flack is an OU graduate who has worked in faculties and Academic Services and is now Director of the Group Tuition Policy implementation project, based in Learning and Teaching Innovation.
Dr Michael Ngoasong is a lecturer in management at Open University Business School. He has just completed a term of office as the Teaching Director for Postgraduate Business Programmes, which included MBA, MSc Finance and MSc Human Resources Managament. Michael has also Chaired the production and presentation of the Level 3 module B327 Creating Futures: Sustainable Enterprise and Innovation as well as being a module member of the Level 2 module B205 Exploring Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He is currently a module member of the MBA capstone module B875 Leaders for Change. Michael’s research, which has received funding from British Academy, Unitated Nations Women, Royal Academy of Engineering and British Council has a particular focus on linkages between entrepreneurship and development.
Michael works as a Laboratory Manager for the OpenScience Laboratory on campus.
His first degree was in Environmental Science at the University of Kent. He then went on to earn a Masters in Analytical Chemistry at the University of London (Chelsea College) and then a PhD in the subject at King’s College London.
Michael started work as an Analytical Chemist for an over-the-counter pharmaceutical company, then as an Applications Chemist, and then onto the role of Senior Analytical Chemist for a food company.
He then decided on a change in career, becoming a Lecturer (later Senior Lecturer) at the University of Bedfordshire. In 2001 Michael chose to join The Open University as the Chemical Safety Advisor, moving on to a Residential School Tutor, a role that continued until he took on his current position.
His research interests are in remote chemistry experiments, which he is currently working on.
Mike Richards is a senior lecturer in the School of Computing, part of the STEM Faculty. He originally joined the OU to help deliver the very first modules over the Internet and has contributed to many modules at all levels of study. He has developed materials in technology law; the ethical implications of computer technologies; human rights and the Internet; the role of social media in shaping our society; computer security; smart cities and ‘the Internet of Things’; as well as robotics and learning through play. Right now, he is looking at how artificial intelligence is changing education – both for good and for bad. Recently, Mike has been speaking to audiences about cyberwarfare and cybercrime as well as the importance of behaving ethically when developing complex systems such as modern airliners.
Mimi lectures at The Open University on Developmental Psychology and Childhood Studies. She is interested in understanding children’s lives and their experiences – from their point of view – and in helping adults to create better worlds for children to live their lives in. She does research on children and school, mental health, self-concept, digital media, and food.
Before retraining in psychology Mimi was a food writer and she still loves to cook, write recipes, and find great food markets, where she enjoys not only looking for delicious ingredients but also getting to know the people who make and grow them.
Dr. Mirjam Hauck is Associate Head for Internationalisation, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the School of Languages and Applied Linguistics at the Open University/UK and a Senior Fellow of the UK’s Higher Education Academy. She has written numerous articles and book chapters on the use of technologies for the learning and teaching of languages and cultures, in virtual exchange contexts in particular. Her work covers aspects such as learner and teacher autonomy, intercultural communicative competence, and critical digital literacy. She presents regularly at conferences, seminars, and workshops worldwide. She is the President of the European Association for Computer Assisted Language Learning (EUROCALL), serves as Associate Editor of the CALL Journal and is a member of the editorial board of the ReCALL and LLT journals.
Mychelle is the Academic Lead for Access, Participation and Success in the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies. With more than twenty years’ experience in higher education, Mychelle’s work has focused on enabling students to achieve to the best of their abilities and student empowerment. Prior to joining the OU, Mychelle worked as an Assistant Director at the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education specialising in teaching excellence, student engagement and quality assurance and enhancement methods. Her areas of scholarship interest are student success, student mental health, and scholarly co-creation. A perpetual student, Mychelle has an MA in Slavic Linguistics, an MA in Social Science Research Methods and an MSc in Mental Health Science. In October, Mychelle started her PhD in Psychology, researching success for students with mental health conditions.
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