Team Members

 (Page under construction)

Dr Lilly Hvingtoft-Foster: (President)

Dr Richard Stevens: (Vice President)

Prof. Frederick Toates: (Vice President)

Professor of Biological Psychology at the Open University. An OUPS tutor of long experience in teaching introductory psychology and biological psychology, he has also taught undergraduate classes in Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany, USA, Moldova and Romania. His research interests include the study of motivation, emotion and the control of behaviour. His most recent book is Biological Psychology (2^nd Edition), Pearson Education, 2007.

Dr Alan Pechey: (Vice chair)

I studied psychology with the OU many years ago before going on to Cambridge to do my PhD, looking at modality effects in memory.  I have been an OUPS committee member since September 1995 and since 1999 I have served as either Chair or Vice-Chair.  I am currently vice chair and a key task of mine is finding speakers for our conferences. I am also heavily involved at local level (particularly pub meets!) and am chair of SOUPS.

My work which brings in the money is in the field of occupational psychology – running my own consultancy.  My consultancy work covers a wide range of activities including change management in organisations, behavioural studies, identification of the (technological and human) support required in organisations to improve performance and the development and implementation of training programmes. I am interested in how organisational and team factors impact on effective performance, and provide advice to organisations on effective team-working. A particular focus of my consultancy work has been on how one can introduce new technology or new working practices into organisations.

However, I try and limit my consultancy work to no more than half-time to allow time with my family (I am married with 6 children) and to pursue other interests.  I have been an associate lecturer with the Open University for more than 10 years, and I currently tutor on DD303 and teach at Summer Schools.  I also enjoy lecturing at OUPS weekends and regional Overview Days. Whenever possible I still like to study with the OU, and in 2008 will be taking a French course – having just bought a house in France.

Vanessa Jones: (Treasurer)

Having initially taken a degree in Mathematics, Vanessa qualified as a Chartered Accountant and worked in various Finance Directors roles in industry. Her first connection with the Open University was in 1999 when she was undertaking post-graduate study in Technology Management as part of an MBA. A few years later and one very big career change she graduated with a degree in psychology (2005) and was working in various roles NOT including finance!

Her freelance work within the NHS has included involvement in the commissioning of pilot projects for Personality Disorder Services in England, research and training with the ‘Thames Valley Initiative’ (Personality Services in the Thames Valley), research in the Berkshire Trauma service and ad-hoc training for mental health professionals, including the Berkshire Therapeutic Skills Courses at Foundation and Basic level. Last year Vanessa sat on a committee of the Royal College of Psychiatrists involved in re-drafting their Ethical Guidelines and she is also a member of the Association of Therapeutic Communities research steering group. She recently published two articles on aspects of personality disorder research.

In addition, Vanessa has tutored E-Prime at OU Summer Schools on the cognitive course for the past two years (it being the only way she could enjoy the life at Summer School once she was no longer a student!). She has also tutored E-Prime at Masters level at the University of Reading.

Having just finished her Masters degree in Psychological Research Methods at the University of Reading Vanessa is looking to start her doctorate in 2008. She is also completing the OU course in Biological Psychology (SD226) next year – simply because she did not need it before! She has been involved in SOUPS for several years and this year became Treasurer of OUPS. She has no free time….

Linda Harvey: (Secretary)

Ms Irene Baumgartl: (Bussiness Administrator)

I took up my position as Business Administrator in July 2001. My main responsibilities are to keep the Membership database up to date and to process all bookings for our National Events. I deal with all general enquiries, act as a point of contact and do general administrative duties. My previous career was in the Hotel Industry where I rose to General Manager.

In the early nineties I saw an advertisement from the Open University: since I worked shifts/weekends and long hours attending a conventional university was not an option and studying from home in my own time as and when I could fit it in seemed ideal. I had wanted to do a degree for some time, so I filled in the form and started with my studies. I joined OUPS and still remember going to my first Revision Weekend. These Weekends inspired me and helped me immensely in my exams. I finished with an Honours Degree in 1998 and went on to do a Masters in Legal and Forensic Psychology at Leicester University (Distance Learning). By now I had a family with 2 young children and working full time was not what I wanted to do. I had remained a member of OUPS and when I saw the advertisement for a Business Administrator I applied. I was thrilled to be appointed and have since worked part-time from home. The long-term plan is to eventually do a PhD, but I’ll leave that until the children are a bit older and I’ll have more time on my hands – hopefully!

Denise Ward: (Summer weekend officer)

I have been on the OUPS Executive Committee for eight years, primarily in the role of Summer Weekend/Conference Officer, but also taking on the additional role of Secretary for a couple of years. I joined the committee soon after graduating as I felt OUPS events had been a great help to me and I wanted to stay involved with the Society. Following my OU degree I completed an MSc in Occupational Psychology and have also trained in psychometrics. Outside of OUPS I am working as a career counsellor, so I am putting my psychology to work!! In this role I have been particularly involved recently in helping women get back to work after taking a break, many of whom are considering making a career change. Alongside this, I am also an OU tutor in the London Region on DSE212. In addition I do voluntary work as a mentor to children in secondary schools. In my previous life, before psychology and the OU, I was a consultant in Marketing and Market Research.

Evelyn Slavid: (Revision weekend officer)

Raj Gnanaiah: (Website officer)

Diana Pincott: (News letter editor)

I graduated from the OU in 2005 with a first class honours degree in psychology.   The Editorship of News and Views re-ignites a dormant passion in me – I was involved in student publications throughout my overseas secondary and university days.

My goal as the Editor of the OUPS newsletter is to bring news of a psychological nature, both within and outside of the OU and OUPS, to members in a relevant and stimulating way.  I am constantly looking for new blood and will be delighted to hear from anyone who enjoys writing about psychological topics.

The workload of the Editor is heavy, as it involves four publications a year.  The scope covers commissioning articles, design and layout, editing, and managing the publication process.   The reward for me is twofold – to produce something interesting and to be involved in an organisation which has done much for OU psychology students by way of conferences and study/revision weekends.

Outside of OUPS, I work full time as a project manager for a global telecommunications company, enjoying the challenges of delivering large scale telecommunications and IT projects with a team drawn from a matrix organisation across the continents. 

You can contact me at editor@oups.org.uk

Janet Simpson: (Special needs)

Peter Weeks: (OUSA Rep.)

Melanie Adkins: (Publication officer)

Melanie Adkins is currently a Chartered Educational Psychologist working for Luton Borough Council. Melanie completed her Psychology Degree with the Open University and completed her training as an Educational Psychologist at The Tavistock Centre, London. As well as working full time, Melanie is completing her Doctorate in Educational Psychology at UCL, specialising in Early Years and Speech, Language and Communciation. Melanie originally joined OUPS as the Student Representative OUSA/OUPS to repay the invaluable support she received from the organisation during her degree. Following this Melanie took on the role of Publications Officer and did this until September 2007. Her current role with OUPS is still being developed - watch this space. Melanie is also a Committee Member on the BPS London and Home Counties Branch with a special interest in organising events for students about careers in Psychology.

Pam Murhpy: (Social secretary)

Angie Johnson: (Publicity officer)

Well I’m still not one of the more ‘established’ members of the committee. I graduated from the OU in 2003 and then floundered. I was meant to go into education (with the idea of being an educational psychologist) but this idea just lost its appeal somehow.  Having just completed my MSc in 2005 I’m presently working as a researcher looking at the development of appropriate pedagogy for bridging the gaps  between industry and Higher Education and I also teach foundation course Psychology at a local HE College and DD303 for Region 9. So, I’ve ended up in education, just a discrete approach.

In addition to this I have been involved in research looking at the cognitive skills in driving and I also conduct independent research into Prospective Memory and Dyslexia (fame and fortune awaits me or maybe this is just wishful thinking!). 

I’ve now had three full years on the role as Publicity Officer so, hopefully, I’m settled into the routine of what needs to go where and when.  My resolution for 2008 (now I have my feet under the table) is to try and get electronic mailshots to OU students (in addition to the course flyers) as I missed out on the opportunities made available by OUPS as I was always so keen to read the text books that I used to bin everything else. If anyone has any other ideas then just email me personally & I’ll consider them.