‘Change is coming’: St Andrews students elect first black rector
Dr Leyla Hussein, the first black woman to be elected rector at the University of St Andrews, has declared that “change is coming”.
Dr Hussein’s appointment comes just months after the 607-year-old university' s principal, Professor Sally Mapstone, issued an apology and admitted they had been failing black, Asian and minorit y ethnic (BAME) students.
Dr Hussein, a Somali-born British psychotherapist and lecturer on female genital mutilation and gender rights, tweeted: “Thank you to my fantastic campaigning team. Change is coming.”
Dr Ley la Hussein O BE has been elected as rector at the University of St Andrews, making history as the first black woman to hold the position.
Dr Hussein’s appointment comes just months after the education hub' s principal, Professor Sally Map stone, issued an apology and admitted they had been failing black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) students.
In June, Prof Mapstone said the university was aiming to break down barriers and become far more inclusive.
“We know that for decades, St Andrews hasn’ t got this right, that we’ve let down our BAME students and staff, and that our university has been, and continues to be, so much the poorer for it,” she said.
“On behalf of this institution, I apologise for that.
“Acknowledging that injustice, understanding what we are and have been doing to right it, and where we must all play a part in enabling structural change, is an absolute - ly fundamental step in our reform.”
Dr Hussein is a Somali-born British psychotherapist and an international lecturer on Female Genital Mutilation and gender rights.
She was awarded an OBE in the 2019 Birthday Honours list for services to tackling FGM.
The newly elected rector tweeted: “I’m excited to have been elected as the new Rector for St Andrews University; history has been made today.
“I’m the first black woman to hold this position. Thank you to my fantastic campaigning team. Change is coming.”
In her manifesto, Dr Hus - se in noted that her three core aims are access, action, and accountability. Over her term length, she said she would strive to create safe and accessible spaces, increase affordable accommodation, and improve mental health support in the community. She also intends to increase transparency between the student body and the university. Dr Hussein has alsoc ited key events such as Covid -19 and St Andrews Survivors, a social media platform which anonymously posts allegations of sexual misconduct at the university. A spokesperson for her campaign said: “We are positive that she will take on this role with the same dedication, compassion and ambition to drive change she applies to all of her work.”