Dr Zina Lehef’s journey from international doctoral student to award‑winning alumna is one of resilience, purpose, and a commitment to empowering others.

Dr Lehef, who completed her PhD in Language Studies and Applied Linguistics in 2024, has been named a recipient of our CCCU Alumni Rising Star Award 2026. The award recognises graduates who have made an exceptional impact early in their careers—and Dr Lehef’s work has certainly made an impact both in local communities and the global academic stage.

A full‑circle moment

Receiving the award was, in Dr Lehef’s own words, “an absolute, breathtaking honour”—and one she had not anticipated. Despite her confidence in the value of her work, she was aware of the calibre of fellow nominees.

The significance of the moment was also heightened because of the setting. Held at Augustine House, the ceremony brought her back to the very place where her journey began.

“When I walked into the library I was instantly transported back to October 2017,” she recalls, remembering her arrival in the UK as a new international student.

Returning in 2026 as a celebrated alumna created a powerful emotional contrast—one that highlighted just how far she had come. The experience, she reflects, was “a deeply emotional, full-circle moment” and a reminder that “with unwavering self-belief, patience, and time, great results will always manifest”.

From doctoral journey to global influence

Since completing her PhD, Dr Lehef has established herself as a PhD and Dissertation Mentor and Coach, working with the international organisation Write the Damn Dissertation (WTDD). Through this work, she supports postgraduate researchers navigating the complex and often isolating process of doctoral study.

Her impact is both practical and transformative, helping researchers develop clear, structured arguments, strengthening critical analysis and building confidence and momentum.

Her work also reaches far beyond the UK. Through WTDD, an organisation that has supported over 17,000 women across 160+ universities globally, Dr Lehef coaches scholars from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds.

What sets her apart is her unique combination of academic rigor and empathy, drawing directly on her own doctoral experience to guide others through one of higher education’s most demanding journeys.

Driving change through research and community impact

Alongside her international work, Dr Lehef has continued to make a significant contribution locally. In her role as a Project Officer and Research Assistant at Diversity House, she applies her academic expertise to issues of social justice and community wellbeing.

Using an applied research approach, she uses evidence-based strategies to create meaningful, real-world change. This dual focus allows her to bridge global best-practice with local need, supporting both postgraduate researchers and community members.

She is also deeply committed to widening participation, regularly mentoring first-generation students and women from minority backgrounds, often providing support free of charge.

The power of support and belonging

Dr Lehef credits much of her success to the support she received during her time at Canterbury Christ Church University.

“This milestone would never have been possible without the outstanding ecosystem of support I received while finishing my PhD,” she explains, specifically highlighting the role of her academic supervisors and the library teams.

“They didn’t just support my research; they nurtured my growth.”

Her story reflects the University’s wider mission of academic excellence, inclusion, and social justice, which continues to inform her work today.

More than recognition

For Dr Lehef, the Rising Star Award is not simply a celebration of past achievements, it is a catalyst for the future.

“Winning this award feels incredibly good… it is a powerful piece of internal validation that whispers I can do more, and I can be more,” she says.

Rather than signaling an endpoint, the award strengthens her ambition to go further, to expand her impact, push boundaries, and create new opportunities for others.

A lasting connection

Gratitude and pride remain central to Dr Lehef’s reflections on her journey.

“I am so deeply grateful to Canterbury Christ Church University… and I carry an immense amount of pride in knowing that I completed my PhD here and will forever be a part of this extraordinary alumni community.”