On Saturday 15th May, Somerville College welcomed alumni and fellows as the VIP speakers at our first ever BAME Networking Careers Event.
Our special guests at Saturday’s event – see full list below.
Over forty BAME students from across the university came to meet our VIP guests and hear about their experiences as trainee lawyers, fashion executives, data analysts and YA authors. The event itself took the form of multiple speed-dating sessions, which enabled every student to speak with each one of our mentors in turn. The event was followed by an informal drinks reception where attendees continued their conversations.
We would like to thank all those who came to this event, and especially the Somerville College alumni and fellows who gave up their time to speak with students from across the university. We were particularly grateful to hear that our alumni are keen to continue helping Somerville in the important work of improving the support we offer to students from a BAME background.
Jan Royall welcoming guests to the event
Currently working as Head of Advisory at Vogue Business, Anusha Couttigane (r) is seen here with her former tutor, Professor Jo Innes
Speaking about the event, Somerville’s current JCR Access Officer Aarthee Parimelalaghan (2021, PPE), said, ‘The opportunity to meet alumni who understand the nuanced anxieties that come with being a BAME student attempting to enter the job market, was a very welcome one.
‘It was specifically helpful to talk to those who related to my experiences from their own time at Somerville, easing my worries and building my confidence. Hopefully this is the start of a strengthening college BAME community and further highlights the importance of representation at Oxford.’
Speakers at Saturday’s event were… Back row l-r: Maria Adebisi (2014 BA English), Mo Iman (2016, History), Senior Research Fellow Professor Patricia Kingori, Jacques Delors Chair of European Law Professor Iyiola Solanke, Kajen Thuraaisingam (2001, Maths and Computing), Ishraq Irteza (2016 MPhys Physics); front row l-r: Emily Louise (2017, History), Sade Clarke (2016, Classical Archaelogy and Ancient History), Anusha Couttigane (2009, History), Shakira Mahadeva (2016, MBiochem Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry)