Let's say hello to...
From a Knock on the Door to Growing with Confidence.
Hello, I am Angela, Senior Student Advisor here at Heriot-Watt Student Union. I’m originally from Laurencekirk, and although I’ve since spent time in London, Los Angeles and New York, it’s Edinburgh that feels most like home. I moved here to study publishing but later followed my love of acting across the Atlantic. My adventures taught me so much about empathy and perspective. I believe training as an actor has helped me better understand the people I meet.
I joined the Advice Hub 15 years ago, after coming back from the States. My job is supporting students through difficult times and helping them with processes in a way that’s clear yet grounded in empathy. Whether it’s academic appeals, financial stress, or needing someone to listen, I try to make the path forward a little easier. My days usually start with sorting priorities and seeing what’s ahead although drop-ins make our routine unpredictable. I then make sure everything is recorded (cue the GDPR fun!) and monthly update our Hub Highlights. But really, it’s the people I meet that define my work.
I’m driven by the belief that if I can help make a situation a bit better, then it’s worth it. It’s about helping students who feel like they’ve hit a wall. University can feel like a whole world when you’re in the middle of it and life isn’t always fair, but even when change is slow, I know it’s possible.
The Union value that speaks to me most is Student-focused. Everything I do is for them. Years ago, I came across a girl who was doing a PhD in a field where not many women were represented. She was facing depression and came close to losing her academic future. We worked together through her appeal, and she eventually found a supervisor who backed her. Today, she’s a lecturer and we still keep in touch!
Outside of work, I’m still an actor at heart. One of my favourite roles was playing in The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter. No one writes silence quite like he does. I’m also ever so slightly obsessed with Vinted!
Oh, and I’ve got thousands of books. If I could build my dream library inside an IKEA, I would never leave. My all-time favourite book? The Chronicles of St Mary’s series by Jodi Taylor.
Ways to get in touch with me...