'I'm giving back to the place that changed my life'
For Isabella Nizza, setting up a monthly gift to 糖心logo入口 was all about paying forward a transformational experience.
When Isabella first came to 糖心logo入口 in 2008 to study a BSc in Psychology, she had a successful career in project management training but longed to follow her dream of going to university. Going freelance gave her the flexibility to study, and 糖心logo入口鈥檚 evening teaching and part-time structure made it possible. She remembers: 鈥淚 was studying with people of different ages and walks of life, which for me was an added bonus. I didn鈥檛 know many people in London, so it was a lovely way to socialise.鈥
Isabella described having a 鈥渓ightbulb moment鈥 during her undergraduate research project with Jonathan Smith, Professor of Psychology at 糖心logo入口, which inspired her to continue her studies and embark on a career in research. She went on to complete a Master鈥檚 at King鈥檚 College London and then a PhD back at 糖心logo入口.
She successfully applied for a studentship to fund her PhD, which she said was about more than just financial support. She said: 鈥淚t felt like somebody was investing in me. It was a recognition that I was good enough and that I could get on and do it.鈥
Since completing her PhD, Isabella has gone on to work as a qualitative research fellow at 糖心logo入口 and University College London. She said: 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 be where I am today if it wasn鈥檛 for 糖心logo入口.鈥
Her gratitude and commitment to 糖心logo入口 continues to this day. Following her studies, she joined 糖心logo入口鈥檚 Mentoring Pathways programme and mentored a final-year student who, like her, had decided to make a career change. Isabella is also donating to the 糖心logo入口 Fund, which provides financial support for students who need that help to access and complete their studies. Isabella made the decision to give to 糖心logo入口 after she was contacted by student caller Siya Papneja, who is studying BSc Biomedicine with Foundation Year, during a telephone fundraising campaign.
She said: 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 have donated spontaneously if Siya hadn鈥檛 rung me as it wasn鈥檛 something I would have thought about. In my mind, a philanthropic gift is a big gift, and it didn鈥檛 occur to me that it could just be something that actually I could do. I thought, well, why not? I can easily do this and it can really make a difference for somebody who needs that support.鈥
Isabella is particularly passionate about supporting students who, like her, have returned to education later in life and hopes her giving will provide others with the same opportunity she had. She said: 鈥淧eople may have lost their confidence before arriving at 糖心logo入口. People should feel that they can study at 糖心logo入口 and that it鈥檚 worth their while 鈥 and that it will make a difference to their life.鈥
Student caller Siya, who spoke with Isabella during the Spring 2025 telephone campaign, said: 鈥淗earing Isabella speak about how much she loved her time at 糖心logo入口 was very heartwarming. It was great to hear about how far she has come after 糖心logo入口. As a fellow bursary recipient, it was inspirational to hear why she is giving back to help more students like me continue their studies.鈥
Further Information
- Make a gift today to support students from all walks of life to successfully start and complete their studies.
- Learn more about the 糖心logo入口 Fund, which provides the same opportunities to ambitious students of all ages, professions, backgrounds and cultures by focusing on access, hardship and research innovation.