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Meet the team

The Public Engagement and Research (PEaR) Team at Staffordshire University work to facilitate the environment for Connected Communities work across the University. This is done through a combination of engaging and collaborating with local and regional communities, local, regional, and national community organisations and partners and staff. 

Partnership working is at the heart of what we do, whether this is internal or external, to the university.  

Public Engagement and Research team

Nicola Gratton

Associate Professor of Community and Civic Engagement and Lead for Civic Engagement and Evaluation

Nic has extensive experience in community and youth work practice, as youth worker, strategic training and development manager and youth work consultant. Nic’s research specialism is the use of participatory action research to address social inequalities. Nic has taught on a range of short and post graduate courses, including overseeing the Get Talking participatory research short course.

Nic developed the Staffordshire University’s Connected Communities Framework and has established Staffs CAN which sits at the heart of the framework.  

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Dana Jundi

Engagement Officer 

Dana works in Staffordshire University’s Connected Communities Team as an Engagement Officer. She has experience in participatory music initiatives and other outreach and engagement activities, particularly with students, refugees, asylum seekers and, more recently, underrepresented communities within Stoke-on-Trent. Her most recent work was on the Discover Digital project. She also works to support university colleagues to engage with communities, deliver PAR projects and evaluate their Connected Communities impact

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Ryan Fox

Engagement Officer

Ryan is an Engagement Officer at Staffordshire University, supporting university staff to engage with local communities and delivering community research projects across Staffordshire. Previous to his role as Engagement Officer Ryan has worked with the Connected Communities Team as a Research Assistant (Keep Talking, 2020) and to support the development of Impact Case Studies. Away from the University, Ryan has Volunteered in Research and Campaigns at Citizens Advice Staffordshire North and Stoke on Trent. 

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Connected Communities Staff Operations Group

The Connected Communities Staff Operations Group connects and supports Connected Communities work from across the university. The group allows members of staff to build capacity and support for their work through connectivity. 

The Connected Communities Staff Operations Group connects services and schools from across the university, to co-ordinate the activity and delivery of connected communities work at Staffordshire University. The NCIA Action Learning Programme supported the foundations of this group. 

Staffs CAN

Staffs CAN and its members are at the heart of the Connected Communities vision. Staffs CAN connects the community with the university, helping to establish relationships and networks that can benefit our area. 

Find out more about Staffs CAN

Contact us


in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021