Donna Graham

Donna has been teaching at University of Staffordshire since 2019 and is an alumna, having completed both her undergraduate and Masters degrees here. She is currently a PhD researcher undertaking doctoral research in Mental Health Law, this aligns with and complements her teaching portfolio.

Donna's professional experience spans healthcare, education, and governance. She has worked as a personal assistant to a surgeon, gaining insight into the practicalities and regulation of the healthcare system in England. Within the field of education, she contributed nearly two decades to school governance, including as Chair of Governors in a voluntary aided school. During that juncture, she helped shape strategic direction and oversaw the school's improvement from a Satisfactory to Good Ofsted rating. Her Masters degree in Education, with a thesis on the experience of international students studying Law complements this work and informs her approach to teaching.

Donna has a long standing interest in politics and its intrinsic link with the legal sphere. She gained early experience in political organisation and campaign management, engaging with political actors at both national and local levels. She also served as a company director for over 20 years, providing further business and governance experience.

The aforementioned experiences underpin Donna's teaching and research, giving her a practical understanding of how law functions within organisational, political, and societal contexts.

Outside academia, she has four children and lives on a small holding, balancing professional work with rural life.