On arriving at St Andrews from Eton College, Crispian Riley-Smith (MA 1989) was looking for a blank canvas – a chance to write his own story after a childhood surrounded … Read more
University of St Andrews alumna Elika Ansari (MA 2014) led a workshop for members of Enactus St Andrews, part of the global Enactus organisation that brings together students and business … Read more
Dr Jane Pettegree, a lecturer at the Laidlaw Music Centre, shares a reflection on a talk given by Cuban music producer and St Andrews alumnus Pablo Herrera Veitia (PhD 2022) … Read more
Alumni Weekend 2024 – from 14-16 June – concluded a vibrant week of graduation celebrations in St Andrews. We hosted five Kaleidoscope Alumni Network (KAN) courtyard receptions outside the Development … Read more
With each new year comes new beginnings: a sense of renewal, of hope and of a fresh start. In many cultures people come together to dust off the cobwebs and … Read more
This International Jazz Day, St Andrews alumnus, musician and writer Eli Thayer (MA 2023) shares his experience of the University’s jazz scene and explains why it’s important to break down … Read more
Amid all the Christmas cheer we’re also thinking, joining in with and celebrating other religious and cultural festivities that take place in December. African American, Jewish, Buddhist and Pagan communities are among those marking important occasions as the year draws to a close.
Here, we mark five of the global occasions taking place this month and share insights into just some of the traditions associated with them.
Raahim Zafar (MA 2020) is a Strategic Communications and Development Consultant who works with organisations and communities across the UK, particularly with The Faith and Belief Forum. Sara Ahmed is the STAMSA alumni representative, currently in the final year of her MChem (Hons) Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry. Sara and Raahim work closely with STAMSA to host and connect future and current alumni through careers, social and other events. Here, they share an update and call for fellow students and alumni to connect.
Amrita Rahman is a third-year student studying English, with a particular interest in postcolonial literature. Born in Bangladesh, Amrita moved to the UK at the age of five. Keen to promote an environment where people feel a sense of belonging, she began promoting inclusivity and diversity locally in the student population through her position as secretary for University Hall from 2022-2023. In summer 2023, she started as a communications and social media intern with KAN, where she was able to continue to advocate for representation and diversity on a larger scale to empower voices in the community. Here, she shares her experience of being the Kaleidoscope Alumni Network’s first intern.
Kiki, a fourth-year student of Economics and International Relations, and BAME representative within the University’s LGBTQ+ Network, explains how their experience of arriving at St Andrews from India as a queer student encouraged them to take action through art, academia and activism. In addition to their academic pursuits, Kiki contributes to social entrepreneurship through Enactus St Andrews, addressing issues like maternal mortality in South Sudan, food insecurity in St Andrews and managing non-commercial glass waste. They explore their creativity through film, photography and Indian Classical dance. Art and social impact take the centre stage of their initiative – Recolouring the Queer.