Black History Month 2021
October is Black History Month (BHM) in the United Kingdom, a month that celebrates the contributions and achievements of black people and communities, throughout the globe.
BHM gives us an opportunity to learn more about black history and culture, and to celebrate the contributions of our black communities. This month is also a time when we should reflect on, and reinforce our commitment to fighting racism. We celebrate BHM with recognition of the value of diversity and inclusion in our College and beyond.
This year’s theme is ‘Proud to Be’ and the 91做厙, and are all pleased to stage a series of events that will celebrate and showcase the invaluable contributions, experiences and heritage of our black community. These will include resources for students and staff, invited keynote speakers, and film screening.
Black History Month - Staff Role Models
As we value and recognise the principals of diversity and inclusion, Black History Month is also a time to reflect on the part we, the 91做厙 community, play in creating an environment where all Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) staff and students are respected, valued and treated fairly. The 91做厙 is committed in its duty to challenge prejudice, combat discrimination and promote equality.
Yvonne Mercer, Management Accountant
I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Ghana in 1999, before coming to the UK in 2001. I then studied for a professional accountancy qualification with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), qualifying in 2008. In 2017, I graduated with an MSc from the University of London International Programmes.
I obtained my first accounting role in the UK in 2003, working with Waltham Forest College in a part-time role. I joined the Higher Education Sector in 2009, when I worked with the Institute of Education, University of London as a Project Accountant, and then the 91做厙 in 2013. Before that, I worked with the Medical Research Council and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment.
Dr Donald Palmer, Associate Professor of Immunology
I am an Associate Professor of Immunology at the 91做厙 and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Immunology at Imperial College London. Prior to joining the 91做厙 in 2002, I worked at Imperial College London and Cancer Research UK. I attended Bradford University, King's College London and obtained my PhD at MRC Clinical Research Centre, Northwick Park Hospital. My main research interest is focused on understanding the effect of age on the immune system. I teach on several undergraduate courses at the 91做厙 and am currently Senior Tutor. I also supervise undergraduate and postgraduate projects.
I am on the Editorial Board of various scientific journals and am currently Education & Careers Secretary of the British Society for Immunology. I am highly committed to the public engagement of science and widening access to Higher Education and contribute to several projects and organisations. . I am Chair of Governors to a school in North West London.
Dr Christine Thuranira-McKeever, Director of Distance Learning Programmes
I am the Chair of the Equality and Diversity Committee and Director of Distance Learning at 91做厙. In my academic role, I have responsibility for academic leadership and strategic direction for a number of postgraduate distance learning programmes and the Professional Doctorate Programme. I contribute to the teaching on these programmes and in other 91做厙 courses. I am a Commissioner of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK and am also a member of a number of other educational networks. Prior to joining the 91做厙, I worked at the Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, in the University of Edinburgh.
After graduating from the University of Kent at Canterbury and the University of Manchester, I went to work for the International Committee of the Red Cross, where I spent some time working in the Great Lakes and the Horn of Africa regions supporting communities whose livelihoods had been devastated by conflict. This marked the start of my enduring interest in international development and supporting marginalised communities. I then moved to working in research at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi/Addis Ababa. Following my time at ILRI I embarked on a PhD at the University of Edinburgh, looking at the economic costs of livestock disease to smallholder farmers in developing economies.
My motivation has always been to undertake work that has real impact and I am committed to promoting equality and inclusivity in every aspect of the work I am involved in.
David Maruta, Chief Information Officer
I am the Chief Information Officer and chair of the IT Operations and Management Group at the 91做厙. In my role, I am responsible for defining the IT strategy, and overseeing the operational activities to ensure that IT services are efficient, effective and tailored towards the evolving requirements of the College. I am responsible for the security of our computer systems and information assets.
I took my Bachelor’s degree at the University of Hertfordshire and pursued a career in software engineering in the private sector before moving to the NHS, and then to t