Dr Hazel Wright, who graduated from Anglia Ruskin University with a Sociology PhD in 2010, has recently had a monograph based on her doctoral research published by leading educational publisher Trentham Books. Women Studying Childcare: Integrating lives through adult education (2011) is a unique study drawing on a wealth of data about 150 students enrolled over ten years on a diploma course in a Further Education college. Wright uses the women's biographical narratives to capture new theoretical perspectives on educational and life-choices showing how her students engage with activities that connect aspects of their family, workplace and college experience, and thus construct a sense of personal identity through these linkages.

Hazel, who now works as a Senior Lecturer in Education at Anglia Ruskin commented:
"The doctoral research process was fascinating from start to finish. My supervision was truly Vygotskian - carefully scaffolded in the early stages but with increasing freedom to develop my own ideas and offer these for rigorous and critical debate. An academically stimulating experience due to an excellent supervisory team."

Dr David Skinner, Hazel's former Director of Studies, commented:
"This was a challenging but very rewarding PhD to supervise as Hazel's approach spanned sociology, politics, economics and psychology. We are very proud of her achievement, not least because she has gone on to publish a book and is now building a career in higher education."

For more information, or to purchase a copy of the book, please visit the Trentham Books website.

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