海角直播

Ellen makes a First-Class return to learning

Ellen Mulholland left St. Peter鈥檚 RC Secondary School in South Bank, Middlesbrough, with hardly any qualifications and limited career opportunities. Now, 30 years later, Ellen will graduate from the University of 海角直播 with a First Class BSc (Hons) degree in Psychology and receive the Steve Baldwin Memorial Prize for one of the best dissertations in the subject.

Professor Steve Baldwin lectured in Psychology at the University from 1998 to February 2001, when he was killed in the Selby train crash. The memorial prize is awarded annually to students who were at the University during Professor Baldwin鈥檚 time there. Ellen is not the first in her family to graduate from the University. Last year her brother, internationally famous folk musician Vin Garbutt, received an Honorary Master of Arts degree from 海角直播. Ellen, 46, from Eston, Middlesbrough, said: 鈥淰in is so pleased for me, although I think he鈥檚 touring so can鈥檛 come to my graduation. Our mother Tess will definitely be in the audience at Middlesbrough Town Hall, along with my daughter Mary. I was proud of myself, getting a First, but the Prize was the cream topping. I remember Steve Baldwin clearly; he gave one of my first lectures. He was an absolutely marvellous, really dynamic lecturer who made the classes so interesting. His death was such a tragedy.鈥�

Ellen came to the University after a diverse career in nursing. After qualifying in York, Ellen worked in a range of locations, including a children鈥檚 home in South Bank, in Saudi Arabia and Accident & Emergency in Middlesbrough General Hospital. Her final post was at the Genito Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinic at the University Hospital of Hartlepool, where Ellen worked in a counselling/patient education role. She has continued to work part-time at the GUM clinic. Ellen鈥檚 prize-winning dissertation examined the health seeking behaviours of ten patients from the clinic. The findings of the dissertation are currently being prepared for publication.

鈥淲hen I first left school we didn鈥檛 get much career advice as girls, it was either teaching or nursing. But I鈥檇 always been interested in Psychology, looking at people鈥檚 behaviour, what makes them think and act the way they do? There were so many interesting options within the degree and opportunities for individual, original research. The University鈥檚 facilities are excellent and the lecturers supportive, given the limitations on my time. I鈥檝e learned so much about myself and feel much more confident in my work as a result of the knowledge and skills gained during the degree鈥�, said Ellen.

Following her first degree, Ellen is now studying for a part-time Masters degree in Health Psychology at 海角直播 and lectures to first year Psychology undergraduates. She is also hoping to work towards a PhD if she can secure funding.

Ellen added: 鈥淚鈥檇 encourage anyone who is thinking about returning to study to give it a go. I鈥檓 a single parent who left school with no academic qualifications, and here I am on my second degree.鈥�

---