Dr Cheryl Dunn

Cheryl was born in Northumberland and completed her secondary education within the local secondary school.  Primarily, Cheryl began her career enlisting in the Royal Navy as an Officer, to train within the Fleet Air Arm as a Pilot and then relocated overseas to Germany to join her husband, also serving with the British Forces, to raise a family.

Cheryl studied her first degree in Human Biology with the Open University and achieved a ‘First’ classification. During ten years in Germany, Cheryl worked for the Ministry of Defence as a Head Teacher of pre-school education as well as teaching foreign languages to forces children at secondary level and relocated to the United Kingdom in 2007.  Following return to the UK, Cheryl gained a post at a secondary school teaching biology and foreign languages in the absence of the subject leader as well as lead an inclusion programme for students who were at risk of exclusion. Cheryl gained further higher education qualifications following her move from Germany and in 2011 she embarked on her journey within Midwifery.

Cheryl graduated from Northumbria University with a First Class BSc Hons in Midwifery Studies in February 2014 and awarded ‘Best Academic Student’ within the Faculty and soon gained employment within a local trust. Following quick succession of preceptorship, Cheryl worked as a rotational Senior Staff Midwife, specialising in antenatal and postnatal care and became part of a core team supporting the antenatal and postnatal ward. During this time, Cheryl became involved with research within the hospital as well as audits, practice developments and gaining funding for Maternity.

Cheryl then gained a sonography post as an Advanced Midwife Practitioner within private healthcare and completed a PGdip in Obstetric Ultrasound Sonography in April 2018, awarded with Distinction.  Cheryl returned to Northumbria University in April 2019, to take position of Graduate Tutor in Midwifery and to study PhD where her passion for midwifery, education and research unite to assist in pushing towards an even safer and effective maternity service.  Today, following completion of PhD in November 2024, Cheryl continues to educate student midwives, advocate and immerse herself in midwifery research and is a vital link to local NHS Trusts and stakeholders providing maternity care, in her role as Assistant Professor of Midwifery.