Dr Lynda White shares her thoughts on being awarded the Imperial College Medal

Dr Lynda White

Principal Teaching Fellow, Dr Lynda White, has been awarded the Imperial College Medal, in recognition of her exceptional service over 44 years.

“The first I knew about this award was when I received a letter from President Alice Gast saying I was to receive the Medal”, says Lynda: “I have no idea who nominated me so I was amazed but also rather happy. Awards such as this are proof that the College has an interest in and a commitment to acknowledging its people.”

Recognition where it’s due

The Imperial College Medal is awarded for meritorious or praiseworthy service to the College or for having otherwise enhanced its reputation, mission and objectives. Beyond her teaching and pastoral responsibilities, Lynda has made many contributions to the wider College community. She has used her statistical research to design numerous experiments for other departments across the College and was also involved in the design and analysis of the TOAST, Imperial’s online surveys of academic staff time.

Many Department of Mathematics alumni will know or recognise Lynda and be able to testify both to her excellent teaching and her commitment to Imperial and its students.

This commitment really comes to the fore in her capacity as College Tutor - a role she took up alongside teaching after ‘semi-retiring’ in 2011.

As part of a team of four College Tutors, Lynda helps to support to around 15,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students across the College: ‘We’re there for students when they feel unable to raise an issue within their own academic department’, she says. This includes some of the more challenging issues that might affect any large campus or group of young people; times when Lynda’s experience and insight prove invaluable.

Lynda completed her PhD at Imperial, which means that experience stretches back 46 years in total. “I’ve stayed because of the people” she says, “and because it would be difficult to find anywhere better to work.”

A familiar experience

Lynda is looking forward to receiving her award at the Postgraduate Degree Ceremony in May:

“The Ceremony is always amazing anyway”, she says; “the Royal Albert Hall is a brilliant location and my family will be there. Plus it’s always nice to be acknowledged.”

The Department of Mathematics congratulates Lynda and wishes her every future success.