How one passionate ResLife Officer connects a community

Joyce Wauty, Residential Life Officer at Queen Mary University, has been nominated for a Queer Student Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to campus inclusivity.

The nomination celebrates her work in creating the "Queer Link-Up" initiative in collaboration with UAL, a dedicated platform designed to enhance visibility, engagement, and support for LGBTQIA+ residents across university halls.

Joyce discussed the inspiration behind the initiative and what the recognition means to her:

"Last year, I felt a disconnect with our queer resident community due to low engagement with our queer-specific events and initiatives. Queer Link-Up was born out of a desire to bridge that gap and build a space where students genuinely feel a sense of belonging."

Reflecting on the collaborative nature of the project, Joyce added:

"Our partnership with UAL has been incredibly rewarding. My favourite thing about this collaboration is how distinct our student bodies are, allowing us to bring different perspectives together to strengthen our shared community."

Well done, Joyce! The entire Residential Life team and Queen Mary community are incredibly proud of you and your dedication ❤️ 

What are the Queer Student Awards? 🏆

The Queer Student Awards (QSAs) are an annual UK-wide event celebrating LGBTQ+ students, apprentices, and early-career professionals who demonstrate exceptional leadership within their communities. The awards shine a spotlight on the vital work being done by individual advocates, schools and universities to build safe spaces where young queer people can thrive.