What’s your job title and how long have you been at Loughborough?

I started in my role as LSU President five months ago having been here for four years as a student. I studied both my Undergraduate and Masters here in English and Creative Writing and then in Creative Writing.

Tell us what a typical day in your job looks like?

I find this one of the hardest questions to answer when people ask what my job entails. No two days are ever the same. On the University side of the job, in the last week I have sat on interview panels for staff appointments, met with the VC, and sat in various committee meetings with senior staff to represent the student voice. In terms of the Union side, some days I’m doing mundane things such as responding to emails or writing papers for meetings, others I’m working on the copy or filming content for social media, liaising with Halls and Media, or meeting with Venue to discuss event plans for the end of this term and the beginning of the next one. At the moment, I’m laying the ground work for a few projects to kick off after Christmas so any spaces in the calendar are spent pulling together graphics and mapping out schedules for these.

What’s your favourite project you’ve worked on?

I am currently working with marketing on a piece to increase the transparency of the Union in terms of financials and feedback. We’re creating a new artwork for the entrance to the Union to help students better understand our company-charity status and know how their money is being spent. I have spent the last few weeks pulling together stats, mapping out the graphic and working out how to incorporate our new comments box to improve student feedback and expand on our LSUggestions forum. The aim of this piece is to strengthen student trust in LSU and provide a space for student voices to be heard within the organisation that represents them. We hope to see this going up in the next semester!

What is your proudest moment at Loughborough?

My proudest moment has to be representing Loughborough on University Challenge. Despite feeling thoroughly out of my depth throughout, it was such a challenging yet incredibly fun experience. As an avid fan of University Challenge having been watching it with my parents since the age of about 12, to be chosen as one of the team was something truly special. I won’t sugarcoat it – results-wise it went terribly! – however I was incredibly proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone and simply for making it on to the show – a feat in itself when we needed to be one of 28 teams selected out of a pool of over 120 who trialed.

Tell us something you do outside of work that we might not know about?

Fitting quite well with my Creative Writing MA, I am currently writing a Young Adult novel which keeps me busy outside of work. My aim is to finish it by the end of this year so keep your eyes peeled in bookshops over the coming years – I hope to be on the shelves!

What is your favourite quote?

“It never hurts to keep looking for sunshine.” – Almost any Winnie the Pooh quote is a good sentiment for life but looking for the light, even during a hard time really resonates strongly with me.

If you would like to feature in ‘5 Minutes With’, or you work with someone who you think would be great to include, please email Lilia Boukikova at L.Boukikova@lboro.ac.uk