"I am committed to helping all young people get the best possible education and I bring this to my work with the Alumni Network Group."
Melody Dougan (BA History, 1958)
Retired from career in state education- teaching; education administration; education consultancy; school governance
Born and brought up in Devon, though my whole career has taken me away from the area, including a period teaching in the USA, I also have a strong commitment to the South West Region and the benefits which the University of Exeter brings to it. My undergraduate experience at the University of Exeter was an exceptionally happy period, and so I like to support it and its students in any way I can. I feel a strong commitment to ensuring access to quality education for all students. I bring this commitment to my work with the University through my participation in the Alumni Network Group. I joined the Alumni Network Group on its inception in 2008, initially with a remit for Convocation (the University’s former statutory alumni group).
I was a member of the University’s Convocation Standing Committee from 1993, becoming Chair of Convocation in 2005. I was a trustee and Chair of the committee which organised the Paddon Award until 2011. I have been involved in the Convocation and University’s alumni reunions for many years, and until 2012 I was a member of the University’s Council Nominations Committee. This has been a great privilege, in giving me an insight into the continued development and expansion of the University.
It has also given me great satisfaction to support the Convocation Sports Scholarship and other fundraising over the years.
As a first year undergraduate, I was present at the first visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to the University in 1956, and recently attended the opening of the Forum by Her Majesty. It has been remarkable to see how the University has changed, grown and flourished over the past 50 years, and I look forward to continuing to support Exeter’s ambitions to be one of the top Universities in the UK and internationally.
Until this year, I represented Convocation on the Alumni Network Group. My active membership of Convocation over long years has been because I strongly believe in the benefits which the University and its students can gain from close liaison with its alumni and their varied experience. I believe that it is also very important that there should continue to be a voice for alumni to the University. I see this very important work being carried forward and constantly renewed, by the Alumni Network Group.
