"Since leaving Sussex University in 2011, I embarked on a Masters degree in Sociology, at City University London. My experience of studying Sociology at Sussex was brilliant, and even though I had graduated, the lecturers in the sociology department, stayed in contact to encourage and support me in my decision to continue my sociological studies.
Outside of my studies, I am a private tutor to two GCSE mathematics students, who are currently preparing for their examinations. I am also a junior member of the Jamaican’s association for UK Trust, whereby my role is to research and encourage Jamaican descendants in the UK, to join the association. My main aim is to ensure that Jamaican cultural norms and traditions are passed onto subsequent generations.
In light of my academic achievement at Sussex University, and the extra curriculum activities that I partake in, I was nominated as one of Powerful Media Limited’s top 100 Black future Leaders 2012-2013. Upon the successful completion of an application, interview and panel selection stage, I was elected as a member.
My election as a future leader has afforded me brilliant opportunities, such as that to research in conjunction with the Amos Bursary; a bursary that helps males in the British education system, realise their full potential. Sussex University allowed me to gain extensive research knowledge, particularly through their links with outside agencies, which afforded me the opportunity to research in conjunction with Crawley Borough Council. The research with the Amos Bursary will allow me to build on this knowledge, while hopefully making a difference in the lives of disadvantaged groups. The need to ‘make a difference’ was something that was instilled within me at Sussex, as all the lecturers are very passionate about their research, and research understudied areas to shed light on pressing issues. They also have a vested interest in their job, and go beyond the call of duty for both existing and past students."
Jasmin Hinds
BA in Sociology
"After completing my BA in Sociology at Sussex, I knew I wanted to continue with academic study. My tutors encouraged and guided me in applying for funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which I was successful in securing for my MA in Social and Political Thought and then DPhil in Sociology, which I was awarded in 2009 when I had nine-month-old twins. I was able to gain valuable experience in teaching undergraduate lectures and seminars while I completed my doctorate, and received an award for excellence in teaching in 2004. I continued to becoming a full-time lecturer, and am now a full-time Research Fellow on a three-year project funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
‘I have spent my entire academic career to date within the School of Law, Politics and Sociology, from arriving at Sussex as an eighteen year old undergraduate student and single parent. Pursuing an academic career has so far been challenging and rewarding in equal measures, and being a researcher means you never stop learning. I didn’t think I was the kind of person who could become an academic, but the independence and flexibility of the work have made it achievable while raising a family, and it opens a wide range of career avenues beyond and within academia. Presenting research at conferences abroad has given me opportunities to travel to new places and seeing my first chapter published in a book felt like a real achievement."
Dr Tamsin Hinton-Smith
Research Fellow
Department of Sociology
School of Law, Politics and Sociology
"I studied my bachelor’s degree in Journalism and English, during which I took several Gender Studies courses. I became fascinated with the topic and I thought combining my experience and love for Journalism with Gender Studies would be a great combination, so I pursued the MA in Gender and Media studies at the University of Sussex.
I like how welcoming it is for international students and my experience at Sussex was very positive because I had a great deal of support from my course mates, my professors, and university staff.
I realised I wanted to teach public secondary school in the United States when I saw how important positive role models are for our young men and women. After receiving my MA in gender and media studies from Sussex, I decided to transfer my knowledge of gender equality to the classroom.
My favourite memory of studying at Sussex is all of the interesting people I met from around the world studying gender studies, international relations, and other interesting subjects and I was able to gain a wider perspective of the world from interacting with them. It enabled me to critically think of gender studies from an international perspective and I have been able to transfer this to my job to show my students gender issues that are still present in today’s society. By reading about important world issues and events in our journalism classes, my students can discuss gender issues, like female oppression in the Middle East, for example, and gain new perspectives on the world."
Megan Read
High school journalism teacher