Dr Alan Sanderson was (1) Programme Leader for the Community Studies (Development and Youth Work) Foundation Degree; (2) the Counselling Foundation Degree and (3) the Social Enterprise Third Year Honours Degree at Truro and Penwith College (validation by Plymouth University) from September 2007 until September 2017. Previously, he was an Associate Lecturer in Public Services at the University of Plymouth from 2002 until 2007. Additionally, from September 2009, he delivered a series of lectures to the third year Combined Social Science Students, on the theme of public administration and theoretical understandings of community, at Cornwall College. He also acted as a Dissertation Supervisor for students at both Truro and Penwith College and Cornwall College. Furthermore he was a teaching mentor for several post-graduate students undertaking teaching qualifications.

His academic career benefitted from his wide experience in the effective leadership, management and administration of Private, Public and Voluntary Sector Organisations.

After a successful career in the Financial Services Sector, where he held several managerial posts with large institutions before directing his own business, he re-entered full-time education in 1997 with the intention of exploring the possibility of becoming an academic. He taught at the University of Plymouth from 2002 contributing to the delivery of Social Policy, Community Work and Public Services Programmes.

He completed his doctorate entitled “Managing Community: A Philosophical Analysis of Praxis” in December 2006. This work resulted in several publications, including the co-authorship of two books, The Situational Logic of Social Actions and Reading a Relational Situation both published by Nova Publishers in February 2009.

Alan was an External Examiner for (1) the Adult and Community Foundation Degree and Honours Programme validated by the University of Teeside and delivered at Leeds City College; (2) the Community Work Foundation Degree validated by Hull University and delivered at Grimsby College and (3) the Social Care Practice Foundation Degree validated by Suffolk University and delivered at Great Yarmouth College.

He has acted as a Trustee for the Citizens Advice Bureau, Enable in Cornwall (a Disability Charity), Pentreath ( a Mental Health Charity), Carers Rights (an Advocacy Charity) and Mind. Alan has also served as a Governor of the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and is, at present, a Library Assistant for the Chained Library in Wells Cathedral, a Volunteer for the City of Wells Dementia Action Alliance and a Member of the City of Wells Lions Club.

His current projects are the publication of his revised dissertation, incorporating the work of Pierre Bourdieu, together with papers exploring the dynamics of the Voluntary Sector and the history of Wells Cathedral during the 14th Century.