Kay Bridger

Kay, a 1994 graduate in Communication and Image Studies from Kent, is currently a Lecturer in Trauma, Social Isolation, and Mental Health at Nottingham Trent University’s Psychology Department. Her diverse career path includes roles in TEFL, academic publishing, and working with care leavers before pursuing an MSc and PhD in Trauma Psychology.

A passionate advocate for higher education, Kay emphasizes the value of persistence, especially for those from underrepresented backgrounds. Her future goals include advancing trauma psychology research and securing grants, all while navigating the challenges of early-career research.

Tell us about your career path since graduation.

TEFL teacher; Voluntary Service Overseas; Academic Publishing (SAGE); Widening Participation Officer; National Network for the Education of Care Leavers; MSc Psychology Conversion then PhD in Trauma psychology.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

Lecturing in trauma psychology, supervising undergraduate student projects, research activities, overseeing placement student support.

Can you share a professional highlight from your career so far?

I graduated with a PhD at the age 50. I was first generation HE (my big brother beat me to the first in family title) and spent my whole under graduate degree at Kent thinking "people like me don't go to university". I've been an advocate for the power of higher education for three decades.

How did your time at Kent help you achieve your current career?

The opportunity to take "wild" courses was amazing for me. It gave me the chance to take a social science course called Modernity which was a huge education on the unfairness in the world. Probably directed my hunger to be an agent of social justice.

What advice would you give to our current/prospective students who are looking to get into the same line of work?

If you love research, find a way to do your PhD. I didn't come from family money and it took decades for me to feel financially secure enough to return to education. But working outside of Higher Education is good for you too: take every lesson. Everything you hate about any job gets you closer to knowing what's right for you.

Did you get involved in any extracurricular activities as a student?

Drama; lighting gigs (back when there was no Student Union and we had to build the set for each gig); and a founder member of Vampire Soc. I was Rutherford Women's Officer for a while.
Part of the protest that occupied the Registry in 1991 demanding the Uni build us a Students Union building.

Do you have a favourite memory from your time at Kent?

Walking in the bluebell woods on campus; winning the Darwin scavenger hunt (for charity) by 'acquiring' a high scoring Franciscan monk.

Is there anything you would do differently if you could repeat your time at Kent?

No regrets baby, but I wish Now me could go back and tell Then me that it would all be OK in the end, and what other people thought of me was a Them problem.

Are you still in touch with other Kent alumni or academics?

Only one or two.

What are your future ambitions?

To survive being an early career researcher in perimenopause and get lots of research grants for trauma psychology projects