PSYCHOTHERAPIST. CONSULTANT. ACTIVIST.

Thanks to Your Support, We Have Made History.

Statement on my election as Rector at the University of St Andrews

 It has been a crazy time since I was asked to stand in the election as the new Rector of the University of St Andrews. I was ridiculously busy as the campaign coincided with the start of my new role as Global Advocacy Director and Deputy Team Leader of the Africa-led Movement to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and the students who ran my campaign were having to cope with the difficulties of being at university during the coronavirus pandemic as well as working with my hectic diary. However, challenging times forge special relationships and we all pulled together brilliantly. I would like to thank every one of the team for their passion and hard work. I am proud of you.

I was both surprised and humbled to be elected as the new Rector. I respect and admire Dr Fiona Hill and Ken Cochran. We each brought quite different experiences to the election so it was not easy to predict who would win and I did not expect to do so against such strong competition. I am however delighted to be the new Rector and I promise to represent all students and to listen to all views and ideas. From my first visit to St Andrews in February 2020, I have been impressed by the strong community and I firmly believe it is by respecting each other and building on what we have in common that we will all prosper.

When I was a teenager struggling with schoolwork in a new language, I can honestly say that having such a significant role in one of the world’s oldest and most respected universities is not something that I thought was possible. My family came to the UK as refugees from the civil war in Somalia and my parents had to build a new life for their young family. They worked hard and sacrificed much to make sure my sister, my brother and I had opportunities to thrive. Now it is my turn to help make sure the next generation is supported and given opportunities and as the mother of an 18-year-old daughter, this role is very personal for me.

Each generation has its own challenges and its own set of advantages and disadvantages. For the students at St Andrews, the coronavirus pandemic is having an enormous impact and affects all aspects of life. Universities are having to find new ways to deliver a high-quality education and keep students and staff safe. We are all facing restrictions on how we behave, where we can go and who we can socialise with. At times it can feel overwhelming for young people at university and away from their families, and those of us in positions of responsibility at universities have a special duty of care at this difficult time. The wellbeing of everyone at St Andrews, including their mental health, will be my number one priority.

I am immensely proud to be the first black woman elected as Rector and I also know that I am following in the footsteps of many greatly distinguished people who have held this position. I have a lot to live up to and one thing I want to be very clear about is that I am not here to be a token black woman or to tick a box on a diversity checklist. I am thrilled if I am an inspiring role model for black girls, but I want to be a good role model for all young people and I stood in this election to be a great Rector and strong advocate for the students at St Andrews. Hopefully, my appointment represents a positive step forward for St Andrews, but it is only one step in a long journey. As a community, we need to work together to root out racism, sexism, and any unfair discrimination wherever we find it. I am glad that St Andrews has already committed to removing barriers for disadvantaged students, increasing diversity, and improving support for BAME students and staff. Now this must be delivered and we need to look beyond our differences to what we share and what brings us together: our passion for learning; a desire to improve ourselves and the world we live in; and, our compassion for others.

I am excited to begin work, and I am ready to roll up my sleeves and get stuck in. Meetings and discussions may be online rather than in person for the coming months due to Covid restrictions but as soon as I can, I will be hopping on a train to visit and meet as many students as possible. I am grateful for the very warm welcome extended to me from so many and I look forward to serving and collaborating with you during my term as Rector.