Staff Prizes
Staff Prizes and Awards
Congratulations to our staff on their achievements.
The STAAR awards are open to all teaching or professional services staff members, including lecturers, tutors, technicians, cleaners, library staff, and many more.
They are also a chance to recognise and thank student volunteers who run SU societies for their incredible work over the year, within the Union, University, and in our community.
The staff winners for 2025 are:
- Advancement of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Dr Caroline Nielson
- Faculty Lecturer of the Year (Business and Law): Deborah Gardner
- Faculty Lecturer of the Year (Health, Education and Society): Samantha Weeks
- Faculty Lecturer of the Year (Arts, Science and Technology): Dr Ahmed Basil
- Outstanding Lecturer of the Year: Anne Hagues
- Personal Academic Tutor of the Year: Candiece Spencer
- Professional Services Staff Member of the Year: Anne-Marie Langford
- Staff Innovation in Research: Dr Ed Johnston
- Inclusive Impact Award: Sarah Johnston
Three academics had the title of Professor – the highest in academia – conferred in recognition of their reputation in their professional area, discipline or subject:
- Claire Paterson-Young, Professor of Social Justice
- Simon Sneddon, Professor of Learning and Teaching
- Tony Baross, Professor of Cardiovascular Physiology
Eleven academic were awarded with the title of Associate Professor to recognise their significant contributions and future commitments to developing, enhancing, and leading in learning and teaching, professional practice, and enterprise and research:
- Dr Jordan Nunan, Associate Professor of HUMINT
- Dr Tanya Richardson, Associate Professor of Early Childhood
- Dr Mahmoud Moradi, Associate Professor in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering
- Dr Tereza Aidonopoulou-Read, Associate Professor in Inclusive Education,
- Dr Chijioke Uba, Associate Professor of Environmental Psychology and Responsible Business
- Dr Rachel Moss, Associate Professor in History
- Dr Al-Amin Dabo, Associate Professor of Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- Dr Funmi Obembe, Associate Professor in Learning and Teaching
- Dr Emmanuel Vanger, Associate Professor in Project Management
- Dr Stacie Gray, Associate Professor in Learning and Teaching
- Dr Oluwaseyi Omoloso, Associate Professor of Sustainable Business
Associate Professor Declan Ryan
Associate Professor in Physical Activity and Health, Declan Ryan who has been honoured with a prestigious Rose of Northamptonshire for delivering outstanding commitment to the local community in his role as Chairman of Old Cricket Club in West Northamptonshire.
Rebecca Steers
NLive Radio Station Manager Rebecca Steers also received a Rose of Northamptonshire award for developing NLive Radio into a successful and passionately local station, broadcasting entirely locally produced radio with only volunteer presenters.
UON’s Learning Development team
The Learning Development team at University of Northampton (UON) won a 2025 Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) award by Advance HE, recognising their collaborative work as having a demonstrable impact on teaching and learning and highlighting the key role of teamwork in UK higher education.
Dr Rachel Moss
Associate Professor in History, Dr Rachel Moss has been awarded a prestigious joint research grant from the British Academy and the Leverhulme Trust to investigate how far-right groups in Britain have historically misused medieval imagery and narratives to promote extremist ideologies.
Chris Rockall
In the Education Estates People’s Awards, Chris Rockall – Head of Commercial and Soft Services (UON Estates and Campus Services) – has been shortlisted in the Estates Professional of the Year category.
Dr Doaa Aljamal
Senior Lecturer in Financial Accounting, Dr Doaa Aljamal has won the UK and Ireland prize for innovation at the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) Accounting Educator Awards 2025 for developing a new reporting framework which bridged the gap betwen academia and industry.