Who are you, and what drew you to becoming an Ethnicity and Equity Ambassador?
Hi, my name is Prosper, and I’m currently a second year Economics student here at UEA. I live in Hertfordshire, and I am of Half Malawian and Half Zimbabwean descent. Throughout these two years, I’ve enjoyed learning not just about myself, but also about the university and seeing the vast number of opportunities that are offered from the schools and the SU, and being given the opportunity to represent and further strengthen these opportunities is a forefront for me becoming an Ethnicity and Equity Ambassador for the School of Economics.
What experiences or perspectives do you hope to bring to the Ethnicity and Equity Ambassador team?
One thing I’ve learnt about being a person of colour is that the experiences I have may not always be the same as someone of another ethnicity, but instead of dwelling on it and viewing as a drawback, I’ve learnt to embrace it and see it as an opportunity to make a difference through my own experiences and views. Having a multitude of different views is essentially for a team to thrive and fulfil it’s purpose. As well as this, offering the opportunity for students of all backgrounds to express their own views and share their experiences will further boost the overall experience for students at the university.
What will your focus be this year as an Ethnicity and Equity Ambassador?
My focuses this year are to help students feel included and welcomed. Coming to university can be a challenge, especially as it may seem as such a short time between joining and graduating, however it’s important that students of all backgrounds feel safe and welcomed throughout their studies, from day 1. Another focus is enlightening students on the wide range of opportunities available for persons of colour on the extra-curricular side. This can be both in the form of spring-weeks, graduate roles, and internships which are designed to help represent people of colour, and close the gap in ethnic disparity in the corporate world.
How do you see the Ethnicity and Equity Ambassador role supporting student voice and representation?
I view the role as a key connection between students and people in higher positions. Connections like this are important to make the ‘social hierarchy’ seem less like a wall, but rather a bridge. It gives students an opportunity to have their voices heard, whether it be opinions, ongoing issues, or potential improvements they think can be made within the school and the wider university network. Being an Ethnicity and Equity Ambassador means I can voice my input, as well as taking advice from students to make sure that the opportunity for things like this to happen, do really happen. No false promises or empty words.
How should students approach you, and what can they expect when they do?
I am always available through my social media networks, and email. Whether it’s a simple hello, or deeper issues they may want to discuss, it’s important to me to make sure students are not ignored, and that their voices are not simply heard, but listened to. A key focus for me is to make sure students feel comfortable expressing their opinions, rather than holding onto them and carrying such burdens. I want to be someone students view not just me, but the whole team as a valuable support network throughout their studies.