Meet the team

For Ross, there is no better sense of belonging then being part of a sports team, a club or doing some physical activity with your friends. His role is to support 64 sports clubs and a large Intramural community ensure that The University of Edinburgh has one of the best sport and physical activity offerings in the UK.

Sonia Mullineux is Head of Alumni Communications at the University and spends her time thinking about how former students can support current ones in significant, meaningful and mutually enriching ways. Creating a sense of belonging is a big part of this, and hopefully the insights that have been gained are what can be brought to this pan-University task group.

Mike is currently working in student relationships and student support role.  Part of the post focuses on strategic planning to build student communities which foster positive relationships across our school, amongst our people (students, staff, EMS providers, societies, and employers).   The other key focus of the post is to support our students and personal tutors if things go wrong during their studies.

Katie is wholly invested in the work of the Sense of Belonging Task Group. Seeing first-hand through societies, peer learning, volunteering and social enterprise the impact feeling part of a community has on students. However we aren’t getting it right across the board, therefore she’s excited to be part of a Group which recognises this and is keen to reflect, stretch, create and evaluate our way to a better future.

Cheryl is on the Task Group as the Senior Residence Life Coordinator in the Residence Life department at the University of Edinburgh accommodation, developing a Community that facilitates this is our foundation and daily work. I also have a Masters in Student Affairs with a focused Student Development theory.

Julia manages the relationship between the Sports Union and its member clubs, supporting clubs to deliver their developmental projects, support the current intramural and recreational sport offering, and developing new methods of encouraging more students to become involved in sport at university. Sport gave Julia a sense of belonging at this University, and she is deeply invested in helping students to have as incredible an experience as she did.

Liesbeth is a Clinical Psychologist, currently working as Research Assistant and PhD student on social anxiety in psychosis. Liesbeth aims to use her background and experience as a therapist and researcher as well as combine views from different disciplines to innovate ways to improve mental health. Interests: social anxiety, psychosis, social functioning, connectedness, social identity, mental health stigma.

Mohini works for the University as a Consultant Rheumatologist and Reader, caring for patients, teaching and researching into autoimmunity. Born to Indian/German parents and raised in a multicultural community. She believes a greater sense of belonging will enrich the student experience and help to close the BME attainment gap.

Eleri graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2018 with her MA(Hons) Philosophy. Whilst studying, Eleri took on many roles as Graduate Secretary and Secretary of Edinburgh University Boat Club and Vice President of the Sports Union. She then went on to serve as President of the Students’ Association 2018/19. Eleri now takes up her role as Student Communities Project Officer building on the commitment to create a bigger sense of belonging for all students.

Tina is the University staff lead on the Student Partnership Agreement. The Agreement offers the chance for students and staff to submit bids to undertake work that supports students and staff effectively working together. The key themes for 2019/20 are community, student voices and social justice. 

Steve’s interest in the group comes from work the Students’ Association does: supporting student societies, enabling student voices to influence the University are obvious examples, but equally things more straightforward experience such as the touch points provided by selling coffee, a hoody, or going to an event are key to students building a sense of affinity with the University.

Grant heads the University’s alumni relations team. Their purpose is to bring today’s students together with former students and staff more often, more easily and more creatively, to share learning, experiences, ideas and insights and build a stronger sense of community and belonging.

Lesley leads the Pre-Arrival and Induction team. Working across the University to help each new student to transition into their new university life as successfully and smoothly as possible. Lesley is very passionate about ensuring all new students so that they are equipped with all they need to settle in, feel valued and part of the University community. 

Andrew is President of Edinburgh University Students’ Association, representing all University of Edinburgh students. Andrew is particularly interested in ensuring that all students can both feel like they belong in our University community but also have the opportunities to engage, regardless of any financial or cultural barriers.

Neale is the Student Experience Officer at the Medical School. He takes a lead on organising programmes like ‘Blether’ at Black Medicine, a Night at the Museum and many other community building projects within the Medical School.

Patrick is the Director of Teaching at the School of Biological Sciences. Before this, he was also Director of Student Experience in the school. Patrick is interested in the use of curriculum to create community within the school.

Nick is a Reader in Philosophy and Head of Philosophy at Edinburgh. Since coming to Edinburgh in 2012, he has spearheaded many initiatives to improve teaching and the student experience. In 2017, Nick was awarded the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Student Experience.