From left: Dr Jenny Green, Dr Jack Scanlan and Dr Emily Jones.
Senior lecturer Dr Jenny Green completed her Doctor of Philosophy over eight years of part-time study while working at Massey. Her research flipped the current focus within learning environments in higher education.
"Often it's about teachers creating content for learners and learners consuming it but I looked at a scenario where the learners are creating new knowledge and how teachers can support them to create that new knowledge."
Dr Green says graduating with her students made the day worth waiting for.
"I've been hoping that I would finish in time to cross the stage alongside my students and it was such a lovely experience to be able to do that and to be congratulating them at the same time."
Dr Jenny Green.
Senior professional clinician and speech language therapist Dr Emily Jones also graduated with her Doctor of Philosophy after six years of part-time study. Her research examined infant feeding during the transition from milk to solid foods, drawing on data from more than 600 infant and mother pairs in New Zealand to advance understanding of early feeding development.
Dr Jones celebrated with colleagues, friends and her family who travelled from Sydney.
"It was a really special day being able to cross the stage with my students and also with Jenny, we've done our PhD journey together. That was really special."
Dr Emily Jones.
Lecturer Dr Jack Scanlan became the first Pacific graduate of the Doctor of Social Work programme at Massey.
His research examined how Samoan youth offending is approached through a western perspective in Aotearoa New Zealand and asked whether solutions could come from former at-risk Samoan youth who became social work practitioners in South Auckland. In his research he developed the Ululaau framework, named after his late mother, which promotes racial inclusion in social work through three principles: past, practice and positionality.
"I’m really proud to be the first Pacific graduate of the Doctor of Social Work programme at Massey University. I want to honour my family for everything they do to support me. This is a proud daddy moment!"
Dr Scanlan hopes his achievement opens the door for others.
"I don't want to be the first and last Pacific Doctor of Social Work. I want others to follow. I want our people in positions of influence, changing policies and shaping the future."
Dr Jack Scanlan.
Our graduation celebrations in Auckland this week saw a total of 1,751 graduates receiving their qualifications across eight ceremonies including 23 doctorates.
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