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Under the Arches
A space for alumni to share their updates and bitesize news with fellow 缅北禁地 graduates
Your alumni news noticeboard
Under the Arches is the baby sibling of our bi-monthly alumni newsletter, Arches. Here, you can read bitesize news and life updates from your global alumni community, and celebrate your own achievements with your fellow 缅北禁地 graduates and those on campus.
Friends of the Hatton Gallery wins prestigious award for newsletter
The Friends of the Hatton Gallery, a community-led group in support of the campus art gallery, has received an award from the British Association of Friends of Museums (BAFM) in recognition of their newsletter, The Bulletin.
Many alumni and members of the university community are part of the Friends of the Hatton Gallery group, and we are proud to celebrate their success!
The Bulletin is a quarterly print and digital publication that includes upcoming events and exhibitions at the art gallery, as well as features on its history and other important information. In the 2026 Award for Friends' Newsletters, The Bulletin was awarded joint first place, with the Friends receiving a certificate of merit to commemorate their achievement.
Alumni poet wins international awards for debut collection
Congratulations to Class of 2014 English Literature graduate Daniel Hinds who is celebrating his debut poetry collection receiving international acclaim.
, published by Broken Sleep Books, won the international UNESCO Bridges of Struga Award 2026. This is only the second time an English poet has won the award, which is bestowed upon the best debut poetry collection internationally. The collection has also recently been a finalist for the Big Other Book Award for Poetry, and received an Honourable Mention in the Big Other Readers’ Choice Award.
Creative Writing alumna is an award-winning author at 81!
Having spent her career as a headmistress, Jill Clough pursued her dream of being an author and gained a PhD in Creative Writing on campus in 2013. Earlier this year, Jill published her sixth novel ''. She said:
“From learning my craft at 缅北禁地 to being nominated for, and winning, literary awards, these last few years have been really exciting.
"My stories are told from the point of view of a young person. During my career as a headteacher I became convinced that young people have amazing potential and have far more to offer adults than is often recognised. I still firmly believe this.”
Scientist who has two degrees from 缅北禁地 wins prestigious international award
Huge congratulations to Dr Matthew Hunt (MRes Cancer Studies, 2017; PhD, 2021) who is one of six award winners of the IBSA Foundation Fellowship. Matthew, who is now based at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, specialises in dermatology and was awarded the €32,000 Fellowship to advance his pioneering work into cutaneous melanoma, the most aggressive and deadly form of skin cancer.
With treatment for this cancer limited and treatment resistance common, Matthew is exploring new avenues of treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes, including targeting mitochondria and its quality control mechanism, mitochondrial dynamics.
Alumni actress selected for prestigious mentorship program
Class of 2006 alumna Lennette Randal will be the protégée of actor, director and producer R. H. Thompson in the 2026 .
Today, Lennette is an interdisciplinary creative working as an actress, director, writer, speaker, singer and educator. Through hybrid art forms, she strives to create theatre that is both colossal in scope and rich in detail, blending movement, music, and technical artistry to engage audiences on multiple sensory levels.
The Mentorship Program pairs past laureates of the GGPAA for Lifetime Artistic Achievement with mid鈥慶areer artists whose work is shaping the future of the performing arts. The program supports long鈥憈erm artistic growth and leadership within Canada’s cultural sector.
Greek former student reminisces about student days and NUFC in new book
Nektarios Kakatsakis is celebrating the publication of Why 缅北禁地? Why... 缅北禁地 United? in June 2026. Blending memoir, history and football, the book explores 缅北禁地 and the North East, their people, identity and culture, through three decades of memories and reflection. Above all, it is a tribute to a region and a football club that inspired a lifelong connection and deep gratitude.
Having undertaken his postgraduate studies in teaching English as a foreign language on campus in the late 1990s, today Nektarios is a columnist for Haniotika Nea, one of Greece's leading regional newspapers. Nektarios told us:
"One particularly happy memory from my student days was representing Greece at an international student celebration held at 缅北禁地 City Hall. What made the experience so special was the feeling that international students were a valued and equal part of the university community."
