I am a postgraduate student in geography with a passion for the University of Oxford. From technical theatre to the MCR committee, I am committed to student life, but particularly to welfare, equity and inclusion for disabled, socioeconomically disadvantaged, international, BAME, womxn and LGBTQIA+ students.

I know from experience the difficulties of being in university when struggling with illness or disabilities. Navigating unseen disabilities and medical treatments has been a challenge through my own education. In addition to my postgraduate experience at Oxford, I was also an undergraduate on a study abroad program for a year at Keble College, so I also understand the demanding tutorial lifestyle and how students contending with challenges in their life, whether mental, physical, financial, or otherwise, may struggle with the demanding undergraduate schedule.

 I have also witnessed the medical challenges of others and their attempts to be heard and accommodated by the university. I aim to push for changes to make navigating these challenges simpler, and to push for better protocols for colleges and academic departments to arrange accommodations. As a welfare officer, I would be dedicated to listening to and serving students with disabilities and illness, and ensuring that they are receiving the assistance they need.

Oxford can be a difficult university for students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly at colleges with smaller endowments that have less funding opportunities for students. Addressing the unfairness of the college system, in which luck in college placement determines how much funding you can receive, would be one of my highest priority concerns as an equity officer. I want to hear students’ concerns and would push for a better system in which economically disadvantaged or struggling students are more likely to receive financial assistance than under the current imbalanced system. 

Lastly, as an international student of color, I am dedicated to representing students of all backgrounds at the university. Last year was particularly difficult as the university provided limited support for Arab and Muslim students during the onslaught against Gaza. I would endeavor to push for more support from the university for all students, especially during times of hardship like last year.

I have exhibited my dedication to student life and my job responsibilities through my various student activities and work experience. My student experiences have included serving as an assistant director and stage manager for student plays and as an education coordinator for Students for Justice in Palestine; outside of university I have worked as an archival research assistant for an indigenous advocacy non-profit, hostel worker in Belfast, volunteer at a museum in Palestine, and a cataloguing assistant at the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology. Currently I am a dedicated General Committee Member of the Magdalen College MCR, assisting at community and social events. This diverse range of positions demonstrates my commitment and willingness to put in hard work to whatever task comes my way, and I hope to demonstrate this commitment through this position as well.