Meet the team

Dr Jo Begbie - Foundation Year Director

"I came to Oxford as a lecturer and research scientist in the Department of Physiology Anatomy and Genetics in 2004 having been at a number of other universities. I was also Tutor for Medicine at Lady Margaret Hall before changing direction to lead a pilot foundation year programme there. I have been Director of the Astrophoria Foundation Year since its inception in 2020."

"I have seen the positive impact that foundation year courses can have on students, and I am really excited to be part of the University's new

Caitriona Woolhouse - Programme Manager

"Before I became the Programme Manager for the Foundation Year I have worked at the University of Oxford for over fifteen years running programmes aimed at encouraging and supporting students to make competitive applications to the University."

"I’m so excited to be working on a programme that will mean more talented students are able to access all the fantastic benefits that Oxford can offer."

Maria Garcia - Administrative Assistant

"I have a varied background in education having started out as a secondary maths teacher, then working as a Microsoft Trainer and finally moving on to OCR/Cambridge Assessment as a Qualifications Development Manager before taking a long career break to raise a family. In 2019 I returned to the sector and worked in professional services for Warwick Business School until recently, when I joined the Foundation Year Team in 2023."

"I am delighted to be part of this programme and look forward to seeing our students flourish."

Cat Purtell - Welfare Lead

"I joined the Foundation Year Team at the University of Oxford in September 2023. For the previous 15 years I worked in state schools in Oxfordshire and London in a range of roles."

"I enjoy working with students from disadvantaged backgrounds to support them in accessing programmes such as the Astrophoria Foundation Year, and the opportunities such programmes can provide."

Rachel Quarrell - CEMS Course Lead

"I studied Chemistry at Oxford and specialised in medicinal chemistry for my doctorate and post-doctorate career, researching the use of combinatorial chemistry to design new enzyme inhibitors with pharmacological effects against diseases. I am a tutor of organic chemistry at several colleges and also host the Oxford Café Scientifique, a friendly public forum at which the latest advances in science are discussed."

"I'm delighted to be involved, as I'm particularly interested in the transition between school and university and the extra challenges some students face and overcome."

Aurelia Annat - Humanities Course Lead

"I have been a Faculty Lecturer in Modern History with the History Faculty since 2020 and have been Lecturer in Modern History at Trinity College, Oxford since 2007. My research interests concern twentieth century sexuality and gender, especially the way this intersects with alternative beliefs and practices, such as mysticism."

"Being part of the Astrophoria Foundation Year, I hope my work will help convert the academic potential of young people from disadvantaged contexts into the academic abilities that will carry them forward to successful careers."

David Campbell - Law Course Lead

"I have been a Law Tutor at LMH since 2019 where I am now the organising tutor and College Dean."

"Having taught on the Foundation Year course at Lady Margaret Hall during its initial development I am delighted to continue to be involved in its development across the University. The Foundation Year (building upon TAP in Trinity College Dublin) offers a route for able candidates to study here. It has been very fulfilling to see past students on the Foundation Year course proceed to flourish at undergraduate level."

Natalie Quinn - PPE Course Lead

"I have taught economics at Oxford since 2006, when I was a graduate student at Balliol College. I am now a Tutorial Fellow at Lady Margaret Hall, where I taught on the pilot foundation year in PPE. I teach microeconomics and mathematical methods, while my research focuses on welfare measurement in developing countries."

"Oxford PPE graduates are strongly represented in public life, including several recent prime ministers. It can only be a good thing to increase the diversity of backgrounds from which talented students are recruited and I am delighted to be involved with the programme."