About

Cynthia Tuuli is a Social Worker by background and currently a social work lecturer at the College of Health and Humanities, University of Derby. She is also undertaking her Doctoral research at the University of Derby. Cynthia prides herself as an alumna of the University of Derby and has returned as an academic and to complete her doctoral research. Cynthia has practice experience in working with unaccompanied asylum-seeking children; working with the hospital discharge team to facilitate hospital discharge process; working with the older adults’ team within a local authority setting. Since going into academia, Cynthia’s interest and passion has been about working and supporting students of minority ethic background (Global Majority) to achieve the best of their academic ability. Cynthia is also passionate about understanding and supporting diverse women experiencing menopause.

Teaching responsibilities

• BA/MA – Contemporary Issues in Social Work.

This module allows students to understand contemporary issues around displaced people in the UK. The module challenges students to think critically, analyse and apply current legislation, theory, social work ethics and values to current issues around displaced people.

• MA – Practice Learning One (PL1)

This is the first placement element of the of the student’s social work training. The module is made of lectures and 80 days in placement. The lecture sessions prepare the students on expectations from placement. The placement opportunity gives students practical experiences of being a social worker.

• MA – Practice Learning Two (PL2)

This is the second placement element of the students’ social work training. The module is made of 90 days in placement and challenges students with practical social work practice as they prepare to become social work practitioners. There are lecture sessions to prepare students prior to starting this placement.

Professional interests

Social Work - Black, Minority Ethnic students experiences in higher education.

Research interests

• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
• BME students’ attainment and outcomes.
• Inclusive teaching and learning practices.
• Widening participation and degree attainment.
• Using various forms of student feedback to inform teaching and learning.

Membership of professional bodies

Registered Social Worker.

Member of British Association of Social Workers (BASW) and Social Workers Union (SWU).

Qualifications

• Doctor of professional studies – Ongoing.

Working title: Experiences of BME students and the impact on student attainment: strategies towards bridging attainment gap.

• MA Social Work – University of Derby (2019)
• MPhil in Conservation Biology – University of Hong Kong (2010)
• BSc Oceanography and Fisheries – University of Ghana (2004)

Recent publications

Simpson, M., Tuuli, C., & Eate, E. (2025). A UK study: Menopausal and perimenopausal women’s biopsychosocial experiences, understanding of treatment options, and thoughts towards their future lives. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus, 2(3), Article 100191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aggp.2025.100191

2025, Experiences of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) international postgraduate students on a Social Work programme: Support strategies towards bridging attainment gap. | Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice

https://doi.org/10.56433/csbfqp72

Co-author of chapter 8 in 1^st edition of Research in Health and Social Care  https://www.routledge.com/Research-in-Health-and-Social-Care/Williams-Searcey/p/book/9781916925304

Tuuli, C. D., de Mitcheson, Y. S., & Wai-Chuen, N. (2016). Molecular identification of croaker dried swim bladders (maw) on sale in Hong Kong using 16S rRNA nucleotide sequences and implications for conservation. Fisheries Research, 174, 260–269.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2015.10.018

Tuuli, C. D., Sadovy de Mitcheson, Y., & Liu, M. (2011). Reproductive biology of the greyfin croaker Pennahia anea in the northern South China Sea. Ichthyological Research, 58(4), 302–309. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-011-0228-0