Championing a Queen's for All of Us
(TL;dr manifesto) / My Commitment to You:
I am dedicated to being your advocate, ally, and partner in driving positive impact. My role is to represent you and help facilitate your ideas and projects. We've achieved a lot together, and I believe we can accomplish even more in the coming year. The average full-time PhD student spends about four-years doing what we care about: our research, writing, teaching, and community. I will attend all Faculty events and will make every effort to show up to the SU events that matter for the issues we care about.
Thank you for taking the time to read my manifesto. Your support means everything as we continue to strengthen our community and champion our Faculty as an exceptional place for everyone, and lobby for a campus that's more inclusive and more responsive to the needs of an increasingly more diverse community in every meaning of the word.
.... Those who know me, know that brevity is not my forté ?? - here's more about me!:
About Me:
I am the former QSU Postgraduate Officer, where I successfully organized over 20–30 events for postgraduates, including events in the SU, the SU Bar, the quad, and off-campus. Notably, I initiated the first Postgraduate ‘Field Day,’ bringing postgraduates and their families together on campus for a day of community, and launched the first campus-wide headshot photo days for postgraduates, providing professional headshots with the support of the SU team and the Graduate School.
I moved to Belfast in 2021 to pursue a Master’s in International Public Policy and am currently undertaking PhD studies. As the AHSS PGR Rep, I have had the privilege to:
- Meet and engage with PhD and prospective PhD students across the Faculty.
- Lead campus tours and represent the Faculty at various events.
- Convene workshops and writing sessions, host trivia events, and collaborate with students to secure funding for meaningful projects.
- Serve as the SU Council's Representative on the Senate (2021–2022 and 2023–2024), successfully lobbying for PGR cost protections and working on initiatives to make our campus more inclusive.
- Act as a mentor to a number of our peers, including a number of international students and those just beginning their journey at Queen's.
My background in public affairs and politics has taught me the importance of advocacy and integrity. I have spent nearly a decade in American politics, building a reputation as a committed and passionate advocate for the communities I serve. I'm honest about what I can (and cannot) do, and take pride in connecting people, projects, and ideas.
My Vision for Us:
Having experienced the challenges of international tuition fees and moving abroad, I am committed to continuing to represent and support the diverse PGR community within our Faculty. I believe in building on the strong foundations we’ve laid and continuing to create a supportive, inclusive, and engaging environment. Since I first got involved in the Faculty and the SU, our Faculty has gone above and beyond to work with us (see our work at the Staff Student Partnership Network!), and I'd love to keep up the momentum. And, I'd really like to see more of us feel at 'home' when we're in our spaces on campus, so I am keen to work with anyone who has ideas about how we can modernise and do just that.
What You Can Expect from Me:
- Communicating with You: I will continue to reach out to all PGR reps and staff to foster open communication and collaboration.
- Community Building: I will work to provide more social opportunities, leveraging my role as a Student Skills Assistant to connect our community.
- Increased Funding for PGR Activities: I will lobby the SU and the University for additional funding to support PGR activities, including off-site events that offer a change of scenery and fresh experiences.
- Advocacy for BAME and International Peers: I will continue to champion initiatives that support our diverse community, advocating for a truly inclusive campus.
- Highlighting Our Faculty's Strengths: I will work to showcase the incredible research and achievements within our Faculty and support initiatives that enhance our reputation.
- Active Representation: I will hold the SU accountable where necessary while promoting its best initiatives, such as Fund It, SU takeover, SU Volunteer, and SU Enterprise (whose work helps many of us launch a business, take on a placement, network or get out there and try something new).