Mrs Karen Bond

I am the Employability and Community Knowledge Exchange Projects Officer for the Criminology, Anthropology, Sociology and Professional Policing undergraduate degree programmes at the University of Plymouth, and have been in post since October 2019. A former mature student of the university, I kept in touch with the faculty after graduation, attending events and sharing networking information. My role is to expand and nurture those networks, in order to source volunteering opportunities and identify potential graduate employment for students. In today's competitive jobs markets, a degree is no longer enough - graduates need to be "valued added", so need real-life experience as well as study skills.

I have worked in the field of criminal and social justice in various agencies in Plymouth, both voluntary and statutory, for the past 20+ years, and am passionate about improving life chances for marginalised and excluded people. I seek the good in everyone, and believe that everyone is not only more than the sum of their past, but has the capacity, with support, to change their future. I believe that the University of Plymouth should be a central part of the community of the City of Plymouth, and encourage students to engage with the opportunities on offer in the City, for mutual benefit and growth.  

In my spare time, I love to walk, visit the beach, wild swim, cook, knit mad and colourful things, and spend time with my family, including my two small granddaughters.  

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) (First Class) Criminology with Criminal Justice Studies (Class of 2014)
• DASH Assessor trained
• Mental Health First Aider
• ASSIST (Suicide Prevention) trained
• LGBTQ+ Ally trained