A Reader in the School of English with “an infectious enthusiasm for learning” and a genuine concern for the wellbeing of her students is in the running for a major education award.

Dr Melanie Green, a Reader in Linguistics and English Language at the University of Sussex, has been shortlisted for her outstanding research supervision in the 2019 Times Higher Education Awards. 

She was nominated by three PhD students, Barzan Ali, Adam Stewart and Sarah FitzGerald, who described her as a ‘wonderful supervisor’.

Under the guidance of Dr Green, Sarah is researching the origins and typology of Cameroon Pidgin English, while Adam is looking into grammar perspectives on syntax and discourse within second language acquisition. Barzan graduated this Summer, with a thesis titled ‘Grammatical Aspects of Codeswitching in Farsi-English Bilingual Speech: A case study of Iranian immigrants in the UK’.

They said: "Melanie challenges her students to do the best work they can and her genuine enthusiasm for learning is infectious.

“Working with her on a PhD means gaining access to a support network of linguists, both PhD students and faculty, that she has been active in building. She genuinely cares about the wellbeing of each of her students and has gone above and beyond to support all three of us, professionally and personally.

“Nominating her felt like a small way in which we could demonstrate how grateful we are to her.”

The shortlist for 23 different award categories was announced today, with nearly 80 institutions across the UK represented.

The winners will be announced at an awards dinner and ceremony on Thursday 28^th November at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

Dr Green said: “It is very exciting to be shortlisted for this award, but more than that, I am delighted to have been nominated by my PhD students, who make a huge contribution to my working life and to our community of staff and students in English Language and Linguistics.”

This year will be the 15^th annual THE awards, widely referred to as the ‘Oscars of Higher Education’, and the first to feature a range of categories covering all university activity under one banner, with excellence recognised both in academia and across the professional services.

THE editor John Gill said: "The THE Awards hold a place in the hearts of many in UK higher education and have now been a fixture in the its calendar for well over a decade.

“With 23 categories this year, we’re showcasing more exceptional stories than ever before, and it’s a real honour for us to shine a spotlight on all those who have made it as far as these shortlists – their stories deserve much wider circulation."

To see the full shortlist, visit https://www.the-awards.co.uk/2019/en/page/shortlist. Help share the news on Twitter using #THEAwards