What inspired or motivated you to pursue work abroad? Was this always your plan?
My UCLA professor and mentor, Dr. Fred Massarik, had links with the University of Leeds (UK) and encouraged me to go to Europe to study to get a broader international education. I just was going for a year, but after several months they offered me a PhD place. After I finished I was planning on going back to the States but got offered a tenured lectureship at the University of Southampton and then onto Manchester for most of my career.
Can you speak a little bit about your career and how it has progressed since graduating from UCLA?
My career really took off at Manchester University where I had a large team of international researchers working on workplace stress and wellbeing. It led to me being given Honorary Doctorates by 7 Universities, a Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians, Chair of the Academy of Social Sciences, President of the British Academy of Management, President of the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy & being Knighted by the Queen for my contribution to the Social Sciences.
How do you think UCLA prepares students to fill positions that have a global reach and influence?
UCLA has a global reach with staff from all over the world. Professor Fred Massarik was my mentor and originally from Austria, so he had an international perspective and helped shape my career on the global stage.
Are you involved in any international UCLA alumni groups or support networks?
I meet the UCLA representative in London from time to time and have on two occasions met the UCLA Chancellor on his visits to London. I keep in touch with the alumni group there.