ALUMNI PROFILES
MSc Social Development and Communication. Class of 2001. DIRECTOR AT J - FLAG, LGBT ACT IVIST. JAEVION NELSON
You completed your undergraduate degree in Management Studies in Jamaica. What brought you to Swansea? I wanted to do a master’s in Social Development and Communication. Unlike most people, I typically start my search with the programme of interest rather than looking at what a specific university offers. So, I did a Google search and found Swansea. I did some research on the University, including reviewing the league tables and decided it would be perfect. I was successful in copping the Chevening Scholarship which made it possible for me to be there. I have lots of fond memories at Swansea, both at the University and around town – from drinking and partying, to protesting with other students for one of our courses to not be discontinued. I quite often reminisce about the restaurants, pubs and clubs in town and on campus, and just how friendly and kind everyone was, as well as driving around the city late at night. Lastly, though not at the University, I spent a lovely time in West Wales with an elderly couple and was introduced to lovely Welsh and English foods. What did you do after you completed your MSc in Social Development and Communication? Immediately after completing my programme, I returned to Jamaica to work at J-FLAG as the Programme and Advocacy Manager and used some of the findings from my research to bolster the organisation’s work.
How did you end up as the Executive Director of J-FLAG in Jamaica? Prior to starting the programme at Swansea, I volunteered with J-FLAG for two weeks as I had already made up my mind about what I would be conducting my dissertation research on. It was an opportunity to learn about the LGBT community and connect with some of the main community organizers well in advance of the commencement of the dissertation. Luckily, a month or so before the programme ended, there was an opening. I applied and was successful. What has been your biggest achievement since joining J-FLAG? It’s difficult to point to one thing but there a quite a lot of things that I am proud of and consider to be major achievements since joining the organisation. I was able to expand the organisation’s advocacy and programmes to focus on a broader range of issues affecting LGBT people in Jamaica, including on development and how LGBT people are affected, based on my dissertation. As part of this, I conceptualized and coordinated a successful five-year programme called ‘Fight the Hate’ to build the capacity of and sensitize stakeholders, including parliamentarians, policymakers, LGBT persons and the public about the rights of LGBT people. I am also really proud of an initiative I developed to provide LGBT people with opportunities to advocate directly to Ministers, Members of Parliament and other policy and decision-makers and influencers so they can hear first-hand from those who are affected by homophobia and transphobia and learn about the actions they can take to address the ongoing challenges.
GEMMA COX MSc Public Health and Health Promotion. Class of 2011. PUBL IC HEALTH PROTECTOR. CRANIOSYNOSTOSIS CAMPAIGNER. PROF M.WYNN THOMAS BA English. Class of 1965. CULTURAL HISTORIAN. GORSEDD OF THE BARDS.
PAUL DOLAN BSc Economics. Class of 1989. BEHAVIOURAL SCIENT IST. HAPPINESS EXPERT.
CHRIS CORCORAN BA Politics and History. Class of 1993. BROADCASTER. WRI TER. FUNNYMAN. PROF AMY BROWN PhD Psychology. Class of 2003. BREAST MI LK ADVOCATE. INFANT WEANING AUTHORI TY. CHI LD PUBL IC HEALTH CHAMPION.
GEORGE “TAFFY” BOWEN
BSc and MSc Physics. Class of 1930. RADAR PIONEER. OPPORTUNI TY TAKER. RADIO ASTRONOMER.
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