Like mother, like daughter: Deakin graduation a family legacy

Deakin University’s landmark 50th anniversary graduations were a special milestone for Dianne Thomson and her daughter Cianan, as they donned their academic regalia and graduated together on 10 February.

Dianne, a dedicated academic in Deakin’s Department of Finance for 33 years,  graduated with her PhD — an achievement she pursued throughout the challenges of COVID-19 lockdowns.

Meanwhile, Cianan, a Dean’s Scholar, graduated with a Master of Marketing (Project Management); having achieved the highest mark in the course and solidifying a remarkable family legacy at Deakin.

‘It was lovely to be in the academic procession together,’ Dianne said.

‘I was on stage as an academic when Cianan graduated from her first degree in February 2020, just weeks before the COVID-19 lockdowns began. Now we got to share this moment as graduates.’

‘It was lovely to be in the academic procession together.’

‘I have a strong affinity for Deakin, with my mum having been a lecturer there for so long.’

Dianne’s career has seen the transformation of Deakin from its early days as Victoria College to a leader in digital education.

She recalls a time before computers, when using transparency sheets for lecture notes was the norm, and the excitement of universities being among the first to adopt email.

‘The first computers had less storage than a CD, but we thought it was great,’ laughed Dianne.

Now, after a career as a nurse and midwife followed by decades of teaching economics and finance, she has completed her PhD on customer satisfaction in Australian financial institutions, exploring differences in service perception between community-owned and big four banks.

For Cianan, Deakin has been home for nine years, spanning her undergraduate studies in commerce and postgraduate studies in marketing.

With a scholarship to study commerce, she took full advantage of Deakin’s global opportunities, including research internships in Canada and India.

‘I have a strong affinity for Deakin, with my mum having been a lecturer there for so long,’ Cianan said.

‘It was a great decision because it gave me so many opportunities. The international program is unmatched, and Deakin has really nailed the collaborative online learning.’

‘The thing that’s really cemented my decision though is seeing my peers who graduated from Deakin – Deakin students come out ready for the workforce. They have the communication skills and the social skills that you need to succeed in the workplace.’