Ms Sarah Wolfenden
Reader - Academic Development (Education)

Summary

I am a Reader in Academic Development, an ILM qualified performance coach; a Senior Fellow of Advance HE; mentor;  and a chartered member of CILIP.  I lead the Advance HE accredited APEX Open and Academic Professional Programme to help university staff reflect on and develop their practice,  and co-lead the university's Mentor Support Network. My research interests are in coaching, compassionate pedagogy, universities as caring organisations, academic identity, and wellbeing at work.

In addition to this full-time role, I am a part-time doctoral researcher in Brunel Business School investigating coaching, compassion and wellbeing in UK universities.  I am also a primary school wellbeing governor, a Brunel Wellbeing Champion and a Mental Health First Aider Champion.

Qualifications

• SFHEA 
• ILM L5 Coaching and Mentoring
• FHEA
• Chartership CILIP
• PTTLS (Preparing to teach in the lifelong learning sector)
• MA (LOND) Library and Information Studies UCL
• ILM L3 Leadership and Management
• BA (Hons) English University of Hull

Responsibility

I lead on the Academic Professional Programme for new academic staff and am lead for the experiential APEX Open route to accreditation for aspiring Associate, Fellows and Senior Fellows of Advance HE. These roles include designing, teaching, coaching, as well as training mentors. I also provide writing retreats and reflective practice support.

As part of my Wellbeing Champion and Mental Health First Aid Champion roles, I provide regular yoga and yoga nidra workshops for the Wellbeing team. 

Additionally, as part of the coaching community I am responsible for coaching members of staff to achieve their personal and professional goals.