Forty-four members of staff who have collectively spent more than 1,000 years working at the University of Sussex were recognised and celebrated for their commitment last week.
At the annual long-service lunch, held in Bramber House, Vice-Chancellor Professor Sasha Roseneil announced that 29 members of staff were celebrating 20 years, 12 had notched up 30 years, and three - Liz Davis, Simon Davis and Anthea Clark - have each worked at Sussex for an incredible 40 years.
She went on to thank the staff members for their support of the University through the highs and lows of the past few decades, for keeping up with an ever-changing tide of acronyms, and for helping to shape the University’s values.
“I have come to understand what is so special about Sussex, and a big part of that is its sense of community,” she said. “You have helped to create that.”
She also reminded them of key events on campus that marked the start of each of their decades, such as the installation of an automated phone system in 1985, the first iteration of the University’s website in 1995, and the introduction of foundation degrees in 2005.
Among those enjoying the lunch was Marc Williams, Head of Faculty Operations for the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine (FoSEM), who was celebrating 20 years of service.
He said: “I have stayed because I love the mission of the University, the fact that it exists to increase the sum of knowledge in the world... and because we are supporting people.”
Marc’s first role was in what was then “a very small maths department”. But he noted that, over the years, his role and the University has gone through multiple changes. “Whenever I thought it was time for a personal change, the University changed, and I didn’t need to leave to find a new challenge.”
A particular highlight, he said, was a sunny day during Freshers’ Fair in 2021. “I realised the world was normalising again after Covid. Campus had been deserted, but on that beautiful day, it was alive and buzzing again.”
Alsoreflecting on two decades at Sussex was Professor Mika Peck, who believes thedirection of his research in ecology has been strongly influenced by Sussex’s trademark characteristic ofinterdisciplinarity.
“I was hanging out with those in Global Studies and IDS (Institute of Development Studies),and getting an understanding of their approach to issues. What we are working on now is how we implement the Rights of Nature. That involvestraining communities to gather big data. It’s an ecological thing, but it’s also a sociological thing.”
Mika, who is shortly leaving Sussex to focus on his organisation, Eco Forensics, added: “The highlight for me at Sussex has been in bringing together all these disciplines and creating something new. Fundamentally, it’s an amazing organisation with some creative people and that’s the bedrock of the place.”
Julie Applin was among three members of the University’s Library staff at the lunch celebrating 30 years’ service this year.
Julie began working for the MassObservation Archive on a short-term contract and went on to become a permanent member of staff, moving through the library in a variety of roles.
“Every job I took on was a newly created role – I wasn’t replacing anyone. And for me that was brilliant,” she says. “There was always something new to develop.”
Julie is also soon to leave the university through the Voluntary Leavers’ Scheme. “I feel very sad about going ...but I’m now 65 and I’m also looking forward to the next part of my life.”