MEET THE SU TEAM
Over the Summer, it’s time for us as a Students’ Union to reflect on the year that’s just been, prepare to welcome new and current students to Aber in September and put plans in place for a full events and activity programme for 2020-2021.
The summer months are also a time to welcome and train new officer teams in readiness for the year ahead. Supporting the officer team are a family of SU staff working behind the scenes to ensure Aberystwyth students have the opportunity to love student life and be ready for anything.
We would love to take the opportunity over the next few months to introduce our AberSU family – who are all here for you if you need help, advice or a chat.
Spotlight on Tom Morrissey – Societies Development Coordinator
Where is home?
Aberystwyth (originally Birmingham)
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
Before joining AberSU I recently graduated with an integrated masters in Geography. I have now been in this job a little over a year, and it has been a whirlwind. I have met some amazing people, done so many awesome things and can’t have asked to be part of a better team.
It’s your last meal on earth…what’s on the menu?
Mixed vegetable Ho Fun from Fusion King!
Outside of work, what are your favourite pastimes or hobbies?
I am keen on getting out in nature. I enjoy hiking, exploring and gardening. I have recently taken up running and enjoying it way more than expected so that can now make the list.
What do you love about working in Aberystwyth?
By far it is the community. From the local community, to the staff community, down to the student community. Everyone is very welcoming and there is always something going on. A huge perk of the job is being able to finish early on a nice sunny day to go and chill on the beach. We are also in a prime location to go exploring; no matter what direction you go out of Aberystwyth, there is somewhere to explore.
If you weren’t in your SU role…what would you be?
I would probably still be a student. Before getting this job, I was looking at doing a PhD in Environmental Psychology, with the eventual aim of becoming a lecturer. This is still on the cards, just not quite at this stage in my life.
What part(s) of your job do you enjoy the most?
I really enjoy interacting with students. Seeing the positive impact our clubs and societies have on the student experience is why I am here. Throughout the year, you get to see individual committee members grow and become an integral part of the Team Aber community. Alongside this, we have such a range of clubs and societies, each of them unique, making every day completely different from the previous one. Throw in the general Union activities and the various events we host it keeps me on my toes.
Before working here, have you had much involvement with the students’ union or student groups?
I did have quite a lot of involvement, just not with AberSU. I am a Bangor graduate; while there I was a part of various student groups, many focusing around conservation, horticulture, environmentalism and community building. I took on various roles, mainly starting out as a member in my first two years, to then becoming a committee member for a range of groups in my final two.
AberSU is…For you! It is place for students to be part of the Team Aber family! Your home to grow, connect and most importantly be yourself. Aber students deserve to get the most out of their student experience; AberSU is the place to do that.
AberSU is not…a bar, a shop or deep set in its ways to make your life difficult!
Summer isn’t ‘quiet time’ for Students’ Unions…what are you going to be busy working on over the Summer?
Where do I begin? For me and the Opps Team it is our time to welcome and train the incoming committee members. It is our opportunity to review the year and see how we want to develop everything we do. We use this time to begin planning our big events; for me that is the Aber Challenge, Societies Festival, Arts Festival and Society Awards. Most importantly we are still here for students if they need us! Committee members still have questions that need answering; they need support with planning for the year ahead, and in general, students still need support.