To celebrate Black History Month, we’re highlighting some of our inspirational alumni who have graduated from Leeds Trinity and are making an impact in their lives and careers.

Professor Kevin Hylton

Awarded an Honorary Fellowship at Leeds Trinity in 2018, Professor Kevin Hylton graduated from Trinity and All Saints College in 1987 after studying Physical Education with Business Administration. His interest in race and diversity was apparent during his time here and he completed his dissertation on ethnicity and the multidisciplinary nature of sport, leisure and PE.

Having spent more than 25 years working with national governing bodies and local authorities, his early research focused on race equality within local government. He has since worked with the West Yorkshire Health Authority; Kick It Out; Football Against Racism in Europe; FIFA; The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport; Sports Councils; Sporting Equals; the Yorkshire Cricket Partnership; the England and Wales Cricket Board; and numerous local authorities.

Now Emeritus Professor of Equality and Diversity in Sport, Leisure and Education at Leeds Beckett University, Kevin brings a voice to the sociology of sport and leisure, which reflects an intricate engagement with, and commitment to challenge, the endemic issues that mark race relations.

Fiona May

Also an Honorary Fellow at Leeds Trinity University, Fiona May is a retired international track and field athlete who competed for the United Kingdom and later Italy in the long jump. She won the World Championships twice and two Olympic silver medals.

Fiona studied Economics, Business Management and Administration at Leeds Trinity in 1988, combining her love for athletics with academic success.

After she retired from track and field, Fiona embarked on a new career in television and film. She made her acting debut in 2006 as the protagonist of the Italian TV miniseries Butta la luna telling the story of a young pregnant Nigerian woman who came to Italy in the 1980s. That year she also won the Italian Globo D'oro best actress award for the short film Guinea Pig, and the Italian version of Dancing with the Stars.

Fiona also built on her economics education to develop her career as a businesswoman and establish herself in sports administration as a member of the Italian Olympic Committee and at the Italian Football Association, leading projects to fight racism and promote inclusion in football. Following this, Fiona became the fourth vice-president of UEFA’s Fair Play and Social Responsibility Committee.

Samantha Fray

Samantha Fray studied Media and Marketing at Leeds Trinity University and graduated in 2011 as a mature student, crediting the institution as the place she found her confidence.

During her time at Leeds Trinity, Samantha became the Mature Students’ Officer and was able to help highlight the differing needs of mature students. She was also involved with an in-house professional production company at the University, where she gained skills in media production, which she utilises in her career now.

Samantha went on to work at ITV for several years, including being their Legal and Business Affairs Coordinator between 2017-19, looking after all the Entertainment and Sports commissions. She was also co-Chair of ITV Embrace, a group that has been established to support and nurture talent, both on and off screen.

She now works in talent development and has even set up her own creative company Boujie Media, a production organisation giving a voice to the under-represented.

Wendy Huggins

Wendy Huggins was 47 years old when she joined Leeds Trinity University to study a Foundation Degree in Supporting Young People, Children and Families. After graduating in 2014, Wendy went on to complete a BA in Professional Practice Supporting Young People, Children and Families, achieving a 2:1.

Before she had even graduated, Wendy secured herself a job at a school as Pastoral Head of Year which she did for four years. Since December 2019, she has worked as a Deputy Designate Safeguarding Lead.

Wendy enjoyed her time at Leeds Trinity so much that she encouraged her daughter Ayesha to apply for the Children and Families in Social Contexts course, which she did and graduated in 2016. She also went on to graduate with a Professional Practice degree in Supporting Young People, Children and Families in 2017. With the support and encouragement of her mum alongside her degrees, Ayesha is now working in children’s social services.

Both Wendy and her daughter have excelled in their careers since leaving the University and are achieving their ambitions – with Wendy hoping one day to work in higher education to be able to promote the routes to further education for mature students.

Dalton Tulloch

Now working as a Live Content Delivery Coordinator for ITV Yorkshire, Dalton Tulloch graduated from Leeds Trinity in 2018 with a degree in Film and Television Studies.

During his time at the University, Dalton thrived during his professional work placements in his first and second year – which are embedded into all undergraduate degrees at Leeds Trinity – developing video content for the NHS with Trinity Vision and producing promotional material for the local charity Voluntary Action Leeds. As part of this, Dalton gained experience and key skills in journalism and media to help prepare him for the next stages of his career.

With the skills he learned during his course and work placements, Dalton worked on television adverts and promotional videos which led to him gaining a graduate-level job with ITV Yorkshire. Dalton continues to keep in touch with Leeds Trinity and helps to inspire students to make the most of their time at University. 

We are proud of our exceptional graduates in our alumni community. Find out more on our website.