Hannah Johnson

Lancaster University graduate

Hannah graduated from Lancaster in 2016 with a degree in politics which she followed with a Masters in International Human Rights Law. Whilst studying at Lancaster she worked as a student ambassador, mentor and for the Student’s Union and was president of the University Gospel Choir. In her role as a student ambassador, she has worked with year 12 students applying for university on the application process and personal statements and on the clearing and adjustment hotlines on results day.

Since graduating she has volunteered in Africa, working with a human rights charity; worked in the University’s Careers Service and most recently used her experience as a Lancaster graduate and student ambassador to support the Sports and Exercise Science team in the setting up of our social media accounts and has written these blogs to help our new students.

Dr Michelle Swainson

Lecturer in Physiology

Michelle graduated from Leeds Beckett (Metropolitan) University back in 2004 with a 1st Class in BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science, which was followed up with some pretty awesome sports science support. In summer 2005, Michelle assisted in the sport science support to the Army on Everest West Ridge Team and the RFL Youth Development programme. Alongside her MSc in Exercise Physiology (Manchester Metropolitan University, 2005-2006), Michelle supported the GB Wheelchair Tennis team, as well as some players from GB Women’s Hockey, GB Wheelchair Basketball and GB Wheelchair Rugby. Her research and sport science support with the GB Wheelchair Tennis team was focused around preparation of players for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics and they came back with medals. After her MSc, Michelle decided that she had a greater interest in exercise physiology for the general population and those with clinical conditions such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease, and worked for Nuffield Health as a Senior Health and Wellbeing Physiologist for almost five years. In this time, she completed her PhD looking into the associations between fitness, fatness and contemporary cardiovascular risk factors. Michelle has worked as lecturer since 2011, and joined us in July 2017 – she is a key member of the course design team and is very enthusiastic about give students a “real-life” approach to learning and assessment and encouraging students to engage with as much professional development as they can to stand out from the crowd. Follow her on Twitter to keep up to date with her tweets and activities.

On a personal note, Michelle is a very proud Cumbrian and spends most weekends hiking, road cycling or mountain biking in the Lake District. She completed the 2016 Paris Marathon – probably her proudest sporting achievement – and is on a mission to enjoy running again! She loves to travel including Australia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Uganda, Canada, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, China, Eastern USA and plenty of Europe, and she will take every opportunity to jump on a plane!