A new history graduate living with autism and severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has praised Lancaster University’s ‘transformative’ support and encouragement in securing a scholarship to the USA.

Phoebe Teasdale, 21, credits the University, and in particular Senior Lecturer in History Dr Nicholas Radburn, for initiating the ‘domino effect’ from the Fulbright scholarship programme, from which she won a Study of the US Institutes (SUSI) award on environmental issues.

The five-week trip led her to apply for a Master’s in Global Medical and Health Humanities at Lancaster, for which she’ll begin studying in October.

“I applied to the Fulbright Program on a whim; it was a very detailed application process,” said Phoebe, who represented the UK in the summer of her first year studying history alongside 19 others from across Europe.

The group was paired with Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania for a four-week academic residency before a week-long study tour in Washington DC, Baltimore, Minneapolis and Albuquerque.

“Nick Radburn was amazing,” added Phoebe. “He was so helpful and Lancaster was massively supportive.

“The residency [focusing on climate change, clean energy, and environmental policy] got me interested in the environment in a way in which I wasn’t before. Directly because of that I became a Lancaster University Students’ Union (LUSU) green student ambassador in my second year which for me, was the best job ever.”

The trip also influenced Phoebe’s love for content creation following her project on ‘autistic future leaders’.

She has just launched a YouTube account with visuals from her podcast Person2Person, Substack page and TikTok account, to share not only her love of television series House of the Dragon, but her lived experience of autism and OCD.

Opportunities to submit assessments in creative forms deepened her love of podcasts, whilst a module on global history ‘really changed the way I look at the world’, she said.

“Inclusivity-wise, I really didn’t have anything to worry about,” added Phoebe, who hopes to launch a non-profit organisation and hold a career in the third sector.

“My department has been so understanding of the way I communicate, letting me work at my own pace and I feel so supported by not only Nick, but lecturer Dr Stephanie Wright, FHASS student programmes coordinator Helen Caton and student conduct manager Tim Brunwin.

“If you want somewhere with academic rigour but also that’s caring, and gives you time, choose Lancaster.

“That’s what made university so special and transformative for me, because I’ve learnt that there can be things in place to help me.

“It says something that I’m staying for my MA. I don’t want to leave!”

Dr Nick Radburn added: “Phoebe’s stellar path through the history program is a testament to what can be achieved through commitment and talent here at Lancaster.

“It was a pleasure to support Phoebe on her journey and see her hard work pay off, especially in being selected for the competitive Fulbright Program. She certainly has a bright future ahead of her!”