Our Staff

Lecturers

 Garfield Southall (Head of School of Computer Science, Mathematics & Business Computing)

As well as managing the department Garfield is a keen runner and takes part in a number of competitive cross-country events across the UK. Aside from being extremely fit, Garfield also specialises in computer programming, business and teaches on the MSc Project Management programme.

 Linda Rayner (Deputy Head of School of Computer Science, Mathematics and Business Computing)

As well as assisting Garfield in the management of the department, Linda teaches multimedia games programming on our undergraduate programmes, and teaches Research Methods on MSc Information Systems. Linda studied at University of Chester and worked as a technician in the department prior to lecturing. She has a BSc in Computer Science and Geography and a PhD focussed on Distance and Supported Learning. Email: Dr Linda Rayner

 Carol Beattie

Carol has been with the University since 2003, and teaches on a variety of courses - her interests include the use of Microsoft applications in business and also programming techniques - she has taught a myriad of programming languages, from COBOL to Java. Another part of her role involves advising staff throughout the University on how to enhance their teaching using technology. In her spare time Carol is renovating her small Victorian house, and when that is complete, is contemplating finding an old barn in France with which to do the same.

 Andy Davies

Andy has been in the department since 2007. He teaches on numerous computing modules including Digital Media Production, Video and Multimedia Authoring, Digital Technologies and Usability, Web Technologies and Digital Audio. He holds a BSc (Hons) Multimedia Technologies and MSc Interactive Digital Media. Andy specialises in front-end web site development and user interface design, as well as key creative areas across the spectrum, including sound design, animation and DSLR video production. Before joining the University Andy worked in industry on numerous web development and design projects. 

 Guy Dewhirst

Guy is Departmental Assessment Officer. He teaches multimedia authoring, programming and databases on our undergraduate programmes. Guy holds a BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and an MSc in Microprocessing Engineering, both from the University of Bradford. Before lecturing he worked in the telecommunications industry for ten years, and joined the department in 1999.

 John Kerins

John teaches systems analysis and programming to our undergraduate students, and programming and knowledge management on MSc Information Systems. John’s qualifications include a BA and PGCE in English, an MA Second Language Learning and Teaching, an MSc Intelligent Knowledge-Based Systems in Manufacturing and a PhD. He joined the department in 1999.

 Graham Logan

Graham is Programme Leader for BSc Information Systems Management, and teaches e-Business to our undergraduate and postgraduate students. Graham joined the department in 2001 and has a BEd from Lancaster and a BSc in Computing and Statistics from the Open University as well as an MSc information Systems from University of Liverpool.

 Andrew Muncey

Andrew joined the University full time in 2008. He teaches on the web development and advanced programming modules on the undergraduate programmes. Andrew also teaches data modelling and data analysis on some of the business school's undergraduate programmes. Before lecturing, Andrew worked in the department's Informatics Centre where he specialised in web and mobile application development.

 Mohammed Saeed

Mohammed is the department's Research Director. He currently teaches  at our undergraduate programmes Computer Systems and Networks, Modern Database Management  Systems, and Investigation and Research. At the postgraduate level, Mohammed works as the Research Dissertation Co-ordinator and also teaches Research Methods and Systems Analysis. Mohammed holds an MSc and a PhD in Parallel Processing from Loughborough University. He joined the department in 1997.

 Jan Shaylor

Jan is Programme Leader for BSc Multimedia Technologies and teaches video, authoring and digital media to our undergraduate students. Jan is also Director of the Harlequin Project. Jan holds a PhD in computing in primary education and began working at University of Chester in 1987. 

Helen Southall

Helen gained more than 10 years’ experience in industry and commerce at companies including the BP Research Centre, Excel Logistics, the British Council and Royal & SunAlliance Insurance, before joining the department in 1998, when she initially concentrated on teaching Business IT, Java Programming and Music Technology. From 2005 to 2011 she was seconded full-time to the New Technology Initiative, an externally-facing training centre within the University of Chester, where she concentrated on organising professional training courses such as PRINCE2 Project Management, and worked on government-funded research into IT for education, such as the JISC e-Portfolio / PDP project ‘SOLVS’. The NTI was absorbed into new School of Computer Science, Mathematics and Business Computing in September 2011. Since then, Helen’s role has continued to include managing the NTI's PRINCE2, M_o_R and P3O training activities (which now benefit from increased resources as part of the new School). She also teaches under-graduate courses on project management, software development and music technology, and is in the process of completing a Ph.D. on the history of the local music industry, focussing among other things on pre-internet social networks.