Class of 2021: Graduate reflects on a lifetime in education

Retired headteacher Lynda Dalkin puts the success of her Professional Doctorate down to the support she’s received from academics at Sunderland.  

 The 70-year-old was among hundreds of other students graduating during our recent Winter Ceremonies at the Stadium of Light.  

 Lynda, who spent most of her senior leadership years in Newcastle then took up a headteacher’s role in Cumbria, before retiring and embarking on a Professional Doctorate, says her tutors have supported throughout her university experience.  

“It has taken me far too many years to attain this higher degree.” says Lynda, from Felton, Northumberland.  

“Without the chance meeting between Professor Catherine Hayes and an associate I may not have attended Sunderland. Dr John Fulton read my draft and encouraged me to join in with the course and transfer credits from my previous university. Without these two good people my Doctorate may never have been completed.  

“I am also outstandingly grateful to my tutor Kim Gilligan for her belief in me and giving me back my story.”  

She added: “I am a very lucky person to be able to say ‘I have always loved my work’ and I have thoroughly enjoyed continuing in my education. I cannot praise the University of Sunderland more. I have had tremendous support and encouragement.”  

The Professional Doctorate is the same level of academic qualification as a PhD and is designed for experienced professionals who wish to undertake a programme that is of practical value to their career.  

Lynda’s Doctorate: "Living with a Knot - A Critical Reflection on my Professional Identity and my Journey to Educational Leadership", looks back on her career in education.  

As a result of her positive degree experience at Sunderland, Lynda says: “Due to the fantastic atmosphere and people at Sunderland I am now engaging in part-time work with the University and loving every minute.”  

Kim Gilligan, Team Leader of the Professional Development Team in the School of Education, said: “Lynda came to us through a chance meeting with one of our academic staff. That chance meeting gave us the opportunity to support Lynda in what was a very personal and autobiographical journey. Supervising anyone is a reciprocal relationship where both parties benefit hugely from the partnership, and this was no exception. 

“I am hugely proud of Lynda for her tenacity and her humility as a student, despite being an experienced educator herself. She has recently joined the staff of the School of Education and our students can only benefit from her extensive experience and her continuing capacity to learn.  

 “Way to go Lynda a remarkable and well-deserved achievement.” 

 Asked if she has any advice for students beginning their own university journey, Lynda says: “Don't ever give up - ask for help and believe you can!”