Staff and students celebrated at the 2025 Faculty Partnership Awards

The Partnership Awards recognise staff and student successes across teaching and student education, research and innovation, equality and inclusion, wellbeing, and community engagement.

On 4 April 2025, colleagues and students from the Faculty of Social Sciences were celebrated at the 2025 Faculty Partnership Awards.

The awards, which are part of the Leeds Partnership Awards, allow the University’s students and colleagues to nominate their fellow staff and students for awards that recognise the hard work and dedication of the Faculty’s staff and students.

This year, the Faculty had 500 nominations, with 30 accolades – both winners and highly commended in their categories – given at the ceremony.

Some of the School of Education's winners and highly commended nominees.

The Overall Faculty Partnership Award was won by Dr Winnie Bedigen, who is a Lecturer in International Development in the School of Politics and International Studies.

Speaking of Winnie’s Overall Award, the awarding panel explained that she received the most individual nominations in the school, predominantly in the ‘Teacher or Supervisor of the Year’ category, and also in the ‘Mentorship Award’ category:

The panel noted very strong and often heartfelt nominations from students who highlighted how Winnie’s mentorship and support helped them on their personal journey.

Some key themes shining through Winnie’s pool of nominations are her compassion, kindness, patience and boundless energy and genuine passion for teaching her module.

The full list of award categories, their winners and highly commended nominees are detailed below:

Academic Personal Tutor of the Year Award

Won by Dr Clare Mawson (School of Sociology and Social Policy)

Highly commended nominee: Dr Lisa Thorley (School of Politics and International Studies)

Contribution to Student Experience Award winner

Won by Professor Lydia Bleasdale (School of Law)

Highly commended nominee: Dr Adegbola Ojo (School of Sociology and Social Policy)

Equality and Inclusion Award

Won by Dr James Greenwood-Reeves (School of Law), and School of Sociology and Social Policy Ethnic Minority Network: Issac Davidson, Levii-Diaz Mathis, Patricia Fowewe, Ava James, Michael Daniel, Xavia Johnson-Vigne, Malyka Choudry, Amal Abdulahi.

Feedback and Assessment Award

Won by Adam Baker (School of Law)

Highly commended nominees: School of Law Assessment Team: Lindsey Joynson, Angelica Cavalli-Warby, Caitlin Cullen, Rebecca Feary , Amy Magrath, Gayathry Balraj, Joel Stockton, Annie Wang.

The School of Sociology and Social Policy Ethnic Minority Network with their awards.

Global Impact Award

Won by Dr Roxana Barbulescu (School of Sociology and Social Policy)

Highly commended nominee: Dr Papiya Mazumdar (School of Politics and International Studies)

Innovation Award

Won by Loren Sandoval Arteaga (School of Law)

Highly commended nominees: Faculty Digital Education Team: Sarah Briggs, Damian McDonald, Richard Skowron, Danielle Millea.

Mentorship Award

Won by School of Sociology and Social Policy Head of School Team: Professor Karen Throsby, Professor Mark Davis and Dr Hannah Morgan.

Highly commended nominee: Matthew Bate (School of Law)

Postgraduate Researcher of the Year

Won by Elizabeth Bourgeois (School of Law)

Highly commended nominee: Maral Nosratzadeh (School of Law)

Professional Services Staff Member or Team of the Year

Won by Cin Kong (School of Law) and School of Sociology and Social Policy Operations Team: Jodie Dyson, Marie Johnson, Grace Idle, Sarah House, Kate Hall, Dena Hart, Gaby Weyer.

Highly commended nominee: Amanda Hemingway (School of Law)

Student Academic Rep of the Year

Won by Freya Cheale (School of Sociology and Social Policy)

Highly commended nominees: Qian Zhu (School of Politics and International Studies) and Mallika Khathuria (School of Law)

Student of the Year

Won by Anam Ilyas (School of Education)

Highly commended nominees: Francesca Pala (School of Politics and International Studies), Ismail Uddin (School of Politics and International Studies) and Gerri Resula Nyegenye (School of Law)

Student-Staff Partnership award

Won by School of Sociology and Social Policy Community and Partnership Group: Dr Clare Mawson, Freya Cheale, Maddie Clifford, Neeve Pullford, Millie Davis, Elliot Chambers, Rosie Hamer-Young, Scarlett Lewis, Tyler Davidson, Daisy Sore, Tiana Thompson Taitt, Jodie Dyson, Grace Idle, Maria Brys, Dr Bethany Robertson.

Highly commended nominee: Sarah Shackleton (Faculty Employability Manager)

Teacher or Supervisor of the Year

Won by Dr Winnie Bedigen (School of Politics and International Studies)

Highly commended nominees: Dr Louise Pears (School of Politics and International Studies) and Dr Kisby Dickinson (School of Law)

Wellbeing Award

Won by Dr Jessica Martin (School of Sociology and Social Policy)

Highly commended nominees: Dr Kerri Woods (School of Politics and International Studies) and Dr Rosie Fox (School of Law)

Community Engagement Award

Won by Amy McKay and Emily Tennant (School of Education)

Overall Partnership Award