Spotlight on... Therese Johns

What is your role and what does it involve?

I am Communications Manager at the Faculty of Brain Sciences but I’ve recently started a secondment as Communications and Marketing Manager at the Bartlett School of Architecture. Given our current circumstances, it’s a fascinating, challenging time to be starting a new role and I’m excited to get started.

On top of my day job, I am also a co-leader of the UCL Digital Community of Practice (DCOP), which I really love doing. 

How long have you been at UCL and what was your previous role?

I’ve been at UCL for 8.5 years, if you include my stint as an undergraduate (BA History with French). After finishing my degree, I stayed at UCL as a trainee on a higher education graduate scheme called Ambitious Futures.

I joined the Faculty of Brain Sciences in June 2016 for my final placement on the scheme and stayed on as Communications Officer, becoming Communications Manager in 2018. I was also seconded part-time to UCL Engineering from 2017 to 2018.  

What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?

Completing the graduate scheme and finding my way to a career in communications and marketing. It was a challenging time for many reasons and I really doubted my ability to complete the training. I’m so glad I persisted! 

Tell us about a project you are working on now which is top of your to-do list?

I’ve been working with my co-leads, Monika Harms and Chris Neil, to create a new DCOP Sharepoint site. It’s actually not just for DCOP members – it’s for everyone at UCL who has an interest in digital communications and wants to access to useful information, resources and training. There’s a skillshare section where you can register your areas of expertise and/or search for colleagues who might be able to help you with a task. We also will provide updates from the DCOP project leads. 

If you have a question to ask, you can then join the DCOP as a wider member and chat to everyone on Teams. Our main task now is to promote the site widely and invite a lot of useful feedback to make it even better! We'd love to hear what you think.

Visit the site here. 

What is your favourite album, film and novel?

Album: Neon Bible by Arcade Fire. 
Film: 10 Things I Hate About You (truly a perfect film).  
Novel: Villette by Charlotte Brontë. 

What is your favourite joke (pre-watershed)?

What did the buffalo say to his son when he went to university?
Bison. 

Who would be your dream dinner guests?

Alan Cumming, Zadie Smith, Taika Waititi, Riz Ahmed, Cate Blanchett. Although I would be very star-struck! And I would ask Nigel Slater to cook. 

What advice would you give your younger self?

You’re doing fine. 

What would it surprise people to know about you?

I’m a French citizen (dual nationality) – but I don’t like red wine or cheese! 

What is your favourite place?

I had an amazing time travelling around Japan in autumn 2018. On my last day I went to Jojakko-ji Temple near Arashiyama Forest in Kyoto. It’s very tranquil and has a beautiful view of the city. It made me feel very serene.