Black History Month blog: Reclaiming the Narrative of Marvel

This blog reclaims the narrative of a colleague whose story exemplifies resilience, adaptation, and insight. 

Marvel Smith is now a lecturer in the School of Health and Society here at the University of Wolverhampton, but she is also an alumna. Growing up in Nigeria where Marvel went to primary and secondary school, she then spent time as a teenager in Malaysia to complete her A Levels before coming to the UK and, specifically, the University of Wolverhampton as an international student, where she graduated with a BSc in Health Studies. Her lived experience is unique, giving her a rare insight into both sides of the coin — first as an international student navigating the complexities of a new system, and now as an academic who teaches and supports international students in that very same environment.

Marvel’s story resonates deeply with our international student community. 

She’s created an outstanding video resource for our academic and staff community, where she speaks candidly about her journey.

When we talk about culture shock, it’s not just about adapting to a new place. It’s about adjusting to the climate (the UK’s infamous weather), learning where and how to shop, from outdoor fresh food markets to huge supermarkets, that is before we mention navigating the food differences. But it’s also about much more than that — it’s about digital shock, with so much of what we do now online and entrenched in systems and programmes, all while trying to understand the quirks of British systems, and, of course, academic shock.

Marvel has often spoken about the challenges she faced moving from differing styles of education to a UK system that emphasises critical thinking. Suddenly, there was an expectation to engage in discussions, develop arguments, and write long essays — often assessed more on the thought process than the final answer. And all this while trying to understand the wonderful array of UK and West Midlands accents, which can sometimes feel like a challenge in and of itself!

Marvel’s journey reflects the experiences of so many of our international students, who find themselves juggling not just academic demands, but a whole new way of living. Marvel’s work in supporting our students and sharing her insights with staff ensures that we are continually improving how we engage with and support our diverse student body. We have a long way to go, and the journey will never be complete, but Marvel is a prime example of the brilliant staff we have here as part of the pack! 

Her story is one of resilience, adaptation, and ultimately success. The University is proud to reclaim and share a part of Marvel’s narrative, and to acknowledge the vital work she continues to do. If you would like to hear more of her story, watch the incredible video Marvel has made and shared.