English Department PhD Student Named PGWT of the Year

Posted on 13 June 2014

Congratulations to the Department of English and Related Literature’s Rebecca Lyons, who has just been named PGWT (Postgraduate Who Teaches) of the Year at the 2014 YUSU Excellence in Teaching and Supervision Awards.

The Awards are university-wide and recognise the highest quality in teaching and supervision. Students are invited to nominate teachers and supervisors across several categories, including Supervisor of the Year, Teacher of the Year, and PGWT (Postgraduate Who Teaches) of the Year.

Rebecca, currently in the second year of a PhD studying medieval literature, was nominated by third-year students from the spring term High Medieval Literature in Great Britain and Ireland module. Nominations from students included the following praise:

‘She made each student enthused about their chosen essay topics by seeming genuinely interested by them and was supportive throughout the course of the module. She went above and beyond her call of duty.’

‘Rebecca’s boundless enthusiasm and seemingly encyclopaedic knowledge of the period ensured that the module was extremely enjoyable and informative. I hope that she goes on to teach more in the future as I think she has a real talent for uniting a group and inspiring participation, even from students as reluctant as me!’

The High Medieval Literature module was Rebecca’s first experience of teaching at university level. Rebecca has also been very active so far during her doctoral studies, as she has been working as an intern on the Department’s prestigious Writers at York series of events.