Game-changing ex Student Officers that you should know about
The deadline for Elections nominations has been extended until 1st March! What does this mean? Well, more time to put together your winning manifesto, more time to plan your campaign, more time to drum up some support, and, most importantly, more time to think about all the change you’ll make as a Student Officer at JMSU!
One of the many, many perks of being an Officer is that it can open so many doors for you as you enter the job market. Whether you want to go into law, science, politics, media, business or anything else, there are some key skills and connections up for grabs here that you really won’t want to miss out on.
Don’t believe us? Let’s look back at some of the Student Officers that went on to achieve great things in their field! We can’t say that they achieved success solely because they were Student Officers, but what we will say is that each person here gained skills, experience and knowledge that undoubtedly set them up to be successful no matter what they set their minds to.
Reni Eddo-Lodge
Reni Eddo-Lodge is an award-winning author, journalist and podcaster best known for her Sunday Times Bestseller and overall UK number 1 book, ‘Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race’. As a freelance writer, Reni has written for all kinds of publications, including The New York Times, The Guardian, The Independent, Dazed & Confused and many more. Reni is also the first Black British author to top the British book charts, an achievement that Reni explains “stands on the shoulders of so many Black literary giants”.
Before all of this, though, Reni attended the University of Central Lancashire where she studied English Literature. While at university, Reni became President of the UCLAN Students’ Union until 2012 and later became a member of the National Executive Council of NUS from 2012 to 2013.
Gemma Tumelty
Gemma Tumelty became the first NUS President from LJMU in history back in 2006 until 2008. Having previously been both the Women’s Officer and the VP Welfare here at JMSU (previously Liverpool Student’s Union). From here, Gemma became National Secretary of NUS in 2005 before taking the presidential spot in 2006.
Gemma’s activism didn’t stop here, she then joined MillionPlus, a university think tank dedicated to promoting the role of modern universities in the UK’s Higher Education system. Gemma has had a hugely successful career in Public Affairs, working for the Labour Party, TUC, and is now a Director at the LEGO Group.
Aaron Porter
Aaron Porter was NUS President from 2010-2011, and while in the position focused his attention on lowering the voting age to 16 and campaigning against the government’s planned rise in tuition fees. Before taking on the role of NUS President, Arron took a leading role in the University of Leicester Students' Union, serving as the Union's Finance and Services Officer, and then as its Academic Affairs Officer, as well as being the editor of the student magazine, The Ripple.
While Aaron was President, the NUS also organised a national demonstration in London that was attended by 50,000 protestors in response to the review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance.
Since his Presidency, Aaron has gone on to take on a number of roles, mainly in the UK’s Higher Education sector. He is Director of External Affairs for the National Centre for Universities and Business, Associate Director (Governance) for the Leadership Foundation, Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Winchester and is on the Advisory Board for the Office for Fair Access (OFFA).
In July 2014, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by his alma mater, the University of Leicester at their summer graduation ceremony to recognise his contribution to higher education and the student experience.
Whether you see yourself taking the world of big business by storm, writing multiple best-selling books, continuing to campaign for students or something completely different, there’s no denying that taking on a position as a Student Officer will give you the skills and experience to be able to do so. Leadership, decision-making, critical thinking, working under pressure. These are all skills that become second nature when you represent over 23,000 students at LJMU!
You have until midday 1st March to nominate yourself in the upcoming Elections and follow in the footsteps of every other Sabbatical Officer that came before you! Nominate yourself here.
