Accommodation

Meet the Team: Residence Life Coordinators

By ResLife 22 Sep 2020

The Residence Life Coordinators are full-time staff at the university who manage the Residence Life Assistants. We are available to chat to students on request – just email residencelife@cardiff.ac.uk. We also have a Residence Life Manager who looks after the whole team.

Name: Lauren
Hometown: Hengoed, Wales
Responsible for: Talybont
How long have you been an RLC: 4 years
What motivates you to help and support students: I remember how hard I found it to adjust to uni life when I was starting out as a student, and I was massively helped by RLAs in my accommodation. It feels very rewarding to be able to help students that are in the place I once was!
What is the most satisfying part of your job: Seeing students thrive at uni! It is difficult for everyone to adjust, but once you find your place it can be one of the most amazing experiences of your life.
If you could live in one of the University residence halls, which one would you choose and why? I would probably live in Uni Hall – the grounds are so pretty and it’s just a short walk down the hill to Roath Park. I also love the lounge space and feel I would have spent a lot of time studying and socialising there.
What advice would you give to new students? Try new things! Some of the most fun and interesting experiences I had at uni were through trying something I had never done before or didn’t think I would be interested in. By doing this, you also get to meet people from so many different backgrounds and cultures that you may not have met otherwise!

Name: Kristina
Hometown: Newport
Responsible for: Uni Hall, Cartwright Court & Roy Jenkins
How long have you been an RLC: Since March 2021!
What motivates you to help and support students: I know how hard it is to be a first-year student struggling to find my place. Starting this new chapter in life is extremely difficult and some people need that little bit of extra support and encouragement to fully embrace their university experience. I love helping others so being that source of support is extremely rewarding.
What is the most satisfying part of your job: Getting to know the RLAs and see how dedicated they are to their role. It’s amazing to see them work together and put so much effort into providing great opportunities for students!
If you could live in one of the University residence halls, which one would you choose and why? I would probably choose Talybont as it's next to Bute Park and not too far out from the city centre either. Also, the social life on site is great if you want to meet new people.

What advice would you give to new students? Your university experience will probably be completely different than you imagined! Embrace any challenges you face, get involved in new things and push yourself out of your comfort zone. Please reach out if you ever need support, there are so many people here to help you. Finally, enjoy yourself, it flies by!

Name: Taz
Hometown: Cardiff
Responsible for: South Campus
How long have you been an RLC: Since October 2022
What motivates you to help and support students: Going to University is a big step in life, some people naturally flourish, others need a helping hand. I’ve always been the person who offers that hand. I enjoy supporting people, seeing them grow, develop and find their place is so rewarding.

What is the most satisfying part of your job: Seeing the RLAs gain confidence in their roles, develop lifelong skills and plan fun events for students to get involved in!

If you could live in one of the University residence halls, which one would you choose and why? Uni Hall. Its beautifully green, close to Roath Park and has a really nice social space.

What advice would you give to new students? This is your time to do things for you. Try new experiences. Take opportunities that spark your interest. Join a group that sounds fun. If you’re not sure where to begin, or need a little extra help, don’t be afraid to ask. There are people here who want to support you.

Name: Cicelie

Hometown: Aberaeron

Responsible for: North Campus

For how long have you been an RLC: Since March 2023

What motivates you to help and support students: I am passionate about peer support and people living compassionately and kindly with each other, so that really motivates me in my work. I also really believe in the ethos and values of Residence Life and the community the programme provides.

What is the most satisfying part about your job: Getting to have a positive impact on all parts of the Residence Life programme, and providing support and guidance to RLAs and students alike.

If you could live in one of the University residence halls, which one would you choose and why? Aberdare Hall! It's so epic, it feels like something out of a film.

What advice would you give to new students? Take a few slow deep breaths, drink lots of water and try not to overthink things. You've got this.

Name: Elizabeth

Hometown: Louisville, KY, USA

Responsible for: The RLCs

For how long have you been an RLM: 5 years, though I’ve worked in Student Support with residents for much longer.

What motivates you to help and support students: I love helping people. Watching a student succeed who was once struggling is the greatest reward.

What is the most satisfying part about your job: Getting to know our RLAs. They are engaged, passionate, and devoted peers and it’s a privilege to watch them grow in the role and enjoy helping others.

If you could live in one of the University residence halls, which one would you choose and why? I actually think about this a lot and it would probably be Uni Hall. I love the city views and the green spaces, and if it’s cold and rainy a bus can take you to campus.

What advice would you give to new students? Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Being a new student isn’t easy and there are teams like ours that just want help. There is no such thing as a stupid question and you can’t scare us, so please share with us. We can help.