Vice-Chancellor’s Diversity Awards
Congratulations to Lauren Rudd (DPhil Zoology, 2018) who was recently awarded Student Champion in the Vice-Chancellor’s Diversity Awards.
The awards are an opportunity to celebrate the strength of commitment to equality and diversity across the University of Oxford and to recognise individuals and groups who have inspired others, demonstrated leadership and made a difference to equality and diversity in the university’s working, learning and social environment.
At Green Templeton, Lauren championed equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives as the Graduate Common Room Committee VP for Equality and Diversity (2019-2020). During that time, Lauren campaigned for targeted positions for student representatives and engaged with the college’s senior leadership.
Lauren says: ‘Being VP Equality and Diversity at Green Templeton was a really great opportunity to immerse myself in ED&I work at the University of Oxford. I was able to work with the college staff and other GTC students to put on events such as the first induction week Diversi-tea and the Diversity Dinner, both of which were well attended and great fun!
‘During my time on the GCR we also passed motions to add both an LGBTQ+ rep and Black Students rep to the committee, which has increased the voice of students within these communities at GTC. In addition, by sitting on both the E&D forum and Black Lives Matter Task Force from their inception, I hope that I was able to influence positive change within the college community for everyone.
‘I would especially like to thank [Senior Tutor] Alison Stenton and [Associate Fellow] Neo Tapela for their ongoing efforts, and for their support of me throughout all of the work we did together.’
Also shortlisted was Yusuf Ben-Tarifite (Clinical Medicine, 2018). Yusuf was shortlisted for his work as an Outreach Ambassador. He champions equality of opportunity and has attended student conferences, and virtual open days.
Yusuf also founded a social enterprise, The Aspiring Medics, to help disadvantaged students to get into medicine.
Green Templeton is proud of both students for their achievements.
