Meet your Arts SU Sabbatical Officers 2021-22

Arts SU is our Students' Union, and all students automatically become a member when they join UAL. Anyone can sign up to a student-run society, play for a sports team or campaign to improve their college. Meet our Arts SU Sabbatical Officers, and find out more about their goals for this academic year!

Armani Sutherland - Activities Officer and Link Officer for CSM

What did you study?

I graduated from BA Media Communications at London College of Communication.

Tell us about your role as Activities Officer

My role as Activities Officer is to represent sports clubs and societies within the union, to look out for their interests and work out ways they can be helped an improved. I’m also the Link Officer at Central Saint Martins and a UAL Governor, so I sit on lots of different university committees to offer student perspectives and hold the university accountable.

What are your goals / priorities for this academic year?

Over the next year I aim to improve inclusivity and accessibility in Societies and Sports Clubs for marginalised students and push for funding on student-led initiatives and campaigns. I will also be continuing the work I started as a student by campaigning for UAL to fulfil their Anti-Racism Strategy commitments. I look forward to utilising my role as a Governor to represent the voices of students and improve student experience at UAL.

How can students and staff get in touch with you, or get involved with your projects?

Email me at a.sutherland@su.arts.ac.uk / activities@su.arts.ac.uk or follow me on Instagram at @activities.artssu.

Tell us a little known fact about yourself!

I would love to own a florist one day.

Georgia Spencer - Welfare Officer and Link Officer for CCW

What did you study?

I graduated from BA Fine Art Sculpture at Wimbledon.

Tell us about your role as Welfare Officer

My role is to improve various aspects of student welfare and the student experience at UAL by listening to the student voice on what they need. I aim to work with the SU’s Advice and Policy team to find gaps in the student experience and see what is letting students down. I'm especially looking at underrepresented student groups and liberation groups, and challenging UAL on ways to improve these students experiences - such as compulsory disability awareness training for UAL staff.

What are your goals / priorities for this academic year?

I have a lot of goals for this year, but a few of my priorities are:

Assessing the gaps in UAL’s accessibility within teaching, particularly within the shift to blended learning. This process has already begun by assessing the National Student Survey results for UAL, analysing the difference in satisfaction for declared disabled students and non declared disabled students. Accessibility improvement has many elements to cover, and a priority to begin with is pushing to introduce mandatory disability awareness training for all UAL staff.

Improving mental health services at UAL, again referring to student data to find the gaps within UAL’s mental health support. I want to ensure there are different avenues to UAL’s student support that fit different student needs. All student groups should feel able to access the right help when they need it. I'm also working on ways to maintain student support through the year and not just in times of crisis. I want this support to be tailored to different student groups, for example student sex worker support, and I'm considering ways in which staff and student training can support various student groups.

How can students and staff get in touch with you, or get involved with your projects?

Email me at welfare@su.arts.ac.uk or follow me on Instagram at @welfare.artssu.

Tell us a little known fact about yourself!

I have a sequin Danny DeVito cushion that sits on my bed.

Rachel Williams - Education Officer and Link Officer for LCC

What did you study? 

MA Screenwriting at LCC.

Tell us about your role as Education Officer

My role as Education Officer is to champion and advocate for the student voice regarding educational policies and the academic experience within UAL.

What are your goals / priorities for this academic year?

I plan on lobbying further for tangible decolonisation efforts and fighting to ensure the HE experience supports students developing diverse creative identities. I’m excited to work with you and for you to make real educational change at UAL.

How can students and staff get in touch with you, or get involved with your projects? 

Email me at education@su.arts.ac.uk or follow me on Instagram at @education.artssu.

Tell us a little known fact about yourself!

I'm from the same town in New Jersey where the Sopranos was filmed.

Syahadah Shahril - Campaigns Officer and Link Officer for LCF

What did you study?

MSc Cosmetic Science at LCF.

Tell us about your role as Campaigns Officer

As Campaigns Officer, my role is to support students to run campaigns.

What are your goals / priorities for this academic year?

• Organiser trainings for students, because building the new world requires builders!
• International student support
• Transparent and democratic university
• Justice for students during the pandemic and after
• Solidarity with trade unions and worker justice campaigns on campus

How can students and staff get in touch with you, or get involved with your projects?

Email me at campaigns@su.arts.ac.uk or follow me on Instagram at @campaigns.artssu.

Tell us a little known fact about yourself!

I’m from Singapore! Definitely not a Crazy Rich Asian though.