JCR PRESIDENCY Projects

LIFE DRAWING

Kicked off my presidency by co-hosting a life drawing evening with Architecture Society at the Women's Art Collection, Europe's largest collection of women's art. Wine, chocolate, and dinner trays doubling as drawing boards.

COACH HOUSE RENOVATION

An 8-week renovation, delivered for £15k of a £30k budget. I won student body backing, got senior leadership on side, and ran everything from clear-out and contractors to furnishing the space, largely sourced from Facebook Marketplace.

The Coach House is Grade II listed and the oldest building in college, once belonging to Charles Darwin's wife. It now holds a communal space, a music room (freeing up practice time for music students during exam term, a long-standing complaint), a dining space for kitchens without tables, an art room, and storage.

Women’s art prize

Launched the first-ever Student Women's Art Prize, in collaboration with the Women's Art Collection. Open to all female-identifying and nonbinary students across the University, this year's theme was "Growth," celebrating the college's gardens. First place received £700, with highly commended entries invited to a high table formal. Shortlisted work was displayed alongside the Women's Art Collection for a term, with a catered show for all shortlisted artists and guests, part of a wider push to bring the college's art collection directly into student life.

DOME RAVE

Curated a takeover by HYPOXIA, a leading collective in London's underground rave scene, staging a cultural exchange between the college's historic art heritage and London's contemporary underground. The servery, designed by Barbican architects Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, became the DJ booth for the night.

In conversation with Doreen lawernence

Hosted a conversation with Doreen Lawrence, Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon OBE, on the campaign for justice for her son Stephen Lawrence, and what it taught her about leadership and long-term advocacy.

additionals

  • Created a database to log and track student complaints

  • Negotiated reduced pricing and deals in the dining hall for students

  • Wrote to college council championing diverse hiring practices

  • Carried out the ongoing responsibilities of the role, including chairing weekly meetings, attending college committees, and managing regular communications to the student body