From finding love during their PhDs to watching their daughter cross the same stage at the Great Hall almost 40 years later – the University of Reading has been woven into one family’s story for more than four decades.
For Konstantia Apostolidou and Ebrahim MohammadKhah, the University of Reading was the place where their academic ambitions took shape in the early 1980s.
More than 40 years later, their daughter Sara Cha followed in their footsteps, returning to Reading for postgraduate study and completing her PhD during the University’s centenary year.
Although each pursued a different academic path, their experiences share a common thread – a passion for learning, the value of perseverance and a lasting connection to the University.
A University that brought them together
Konstantia arrived at Reading in 1981 to study for a PhD in Mathematics. She shared: “I chose Reading because I was initially interested in studying meteorology, which the University had an excellent reputation in. However, during the process of choosing my research direction, I became aware of the strength of the mathematics department and that Prof Nash Williams, who went on to become my supervisor, was a highly respected name in the field. This ultimately led me towards my PhD in Graph Theory.”
Ebrahim also chose Reading for its academic reputation, enrolling on an MSc in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development in 1980 before progressing to a PhD in Agriculture, specialising in Crop Production under the supervision of Professor Eric Roberts and Professor Richard Ellis. He recalled: “The University had a particularly strong school of agriculture and was internationally recognised for its teaching and research.”
Their time at Reading was significant not only for their academic development but also for their personal lives. Konstantia and Ebrahim found love during their first year as PhD students and were married by the time they donned their cap and gowns.
“Meeting my husband is one of my most special memories from Reading,” says Konstantia. “We were both working towards demanding research degrees at the time, and we supported and encouraged each other throughout the process. There was also a friendly element of competition between us, which made the experience even more memorable.”
Ebrahim remembers how the University helped them build a life together while pursuing their studies. “We were initially living independently in Bridges and Sibly Halls respectively, but once we got married, the University generously provided us with accommodation in a flat in Northcourt Avenue, for married couples. This allowed us to live together while we both pursued our PhDs,” Ebrahim explained.
“Having someone close who understood the pressures and demands of research made those years particularly meaningful. We shared many experiences, and those memories have stayed with us throughout our lives.”
After completing their PhDs, Ebrahim and Konstantia returned to Greece to pursue their careers. Konstantia eventually became a senior officer at the Ministry of Trade in Athens, while Ebrahim went on to become a professor in the Department of Agriculture at the University of Thessaly in Volos. Now retired, they look back on Reading as a formative period that gave them the skills they needed to thrive in their careers.
Konstantia shared: “My education at Reading gave me a strong analytical and problem-solving foundation, which was valuable throughout my professional career.” And Ebrahim added: “The skills and specialist knowledge I developed during my studies remained relevant throughout my entire career.”
Following in her parents’ footsteps
More than four decades after her parents began their studies at Reading, in 2021 Sara’s own journey to Reading started as she embarked on a PhD in Nutritional Psychology under the supervision of Professor Claire Williams and Dr Lynne Bell. Keen to specialise in human nutrition, she chose Reading because of its strong reputation for research and the opportunities it offered to explore her interests in the relationship between nutrition, health and behaviour.
She completed an MSc in Nutrition and Food Science in 2020 before returning in 2021 to undertake a PhD in Nutritional Psychology. She shared: “After completing my BSc in biomedical sciences at the University of Southampton, I wanted to specialise further in human nutrition. Reading is a leading school in nutrition research and provided the opportunity to study in a field that closely matched my interests.”
For Sara, however, choosing Reading was about more than academic opportunity.
“There was also something very special about choosing the same University where my parents had studied many years earlier. Knowing that I would be continuing a connection that had begun in the 1980s made the decision particularly meaningful.”
Her parents were delighted when they heard the news.
Konstantia remembered: “It was very special to hear that Sara had chosen Reading. We had many happy memories of our own time at Reading, so knowing that Sara would experience the same campus and University, although in a completely different era, created a lovely connection between our experiences.
“It was also fascinating for us to see how much the University had developed while retaining many of the qualities that had made our time there so memorable.”
Ebrahim added: “I felt very proud when Sara decided to study at Reading. Our own time there had been an important period in our lives, both academically and personally, and it was wonderful to see our daughter choosing the same institution many years later.”
For Sara, the experience brought a family tradition to life while allowing her to forge her own path. She shared:
“I had heard stories about their time at Reading since I was young, so eventually becoming a student there myself felt like continuing a family tradition. But at the same time, my experience was very much my own.”
One of the things that struck her most was how impressive the campus remained. She said: “Even around 40 years after my parents had graduated, the University still had a beautiful campus and a strong sense of community and academic identity.
“It was quite special to walk around places that my parents had known as students and realise that I was now a student there too.”
Similarly to her parents, Sara’s time at Reading was more than just academia. It was also where she discovered a passion for running that continues to shape her life.
She shared: “I first became involved in running through parkrun, which initially helped me with recruiting participants for my PhD research and gave me the opportunity to contribute to the local community through volunteering.”
“I also joined Reading Roadrunners and gradually started taking part in races and competitions across Berkshire. What began in Reading later developed into a genuine passion that I have continued to pursue competitively ever since. I hope to continue progressing and see how far I can take my running.”
An extra special graduation
Sara’s most significant academic milestone came with the completion of her PhD – made extra special by celebrating with both her parents.
Sara shared: “Having my parents there to celebrate with me in the Great Hall, during the University’s centenary year, made the occasion particularly special. We went walking in Harris Garden together, which was particularly meaningful reminded me of my own time at the University while bringing back memories of their time walking around the campus.”
After completing her PhD, Sara decided to pursue another long-held ambition: studying dentistry. She is now entering her second year at the University of Dundee, bringing with her a strong foundation gained at Reading and from her previous studies.
“My degrees have given me a strong understanding of biology, nutrition, human health and scientific research, all of which are relevant to dentistry and my PhD taught me how to critically evaluate evidence, work independently and approach complex problems, which will continue to be crucial throughout my career.”
“Reading has had a significant impact on me both academically and personally,” she shared.
“My degrees taught me perseverance, independence, critical thinking, professionalism and how to deal with challenges over a long period of time.”
Looking ahead, Sara hopes to complete her dentistry degree and build a career in healthcare. She shared: “I would like to continue learning and, where possible, combine clinical practice with my interest in research, nutrition and health.
“My academic journey has taught me that different areas of health are closely connected. I hope to bring that broader perspective into my career while also serving the community.”
Her parents, meanwhile, are enjoying retirement and spending more time with family and being grandparents. They shared: “It is very rewarding to see the next generation of our family pursuing their own ambitions.
“Seeing Sara graduate from Reading has been very special for us, especially knowing that she has followed in our footsteps more than 40 years later.”
