Meet me in 5: Adrian Clark

Adrian is the Warden at Connaught Hall and the University of London’s Student Health & Wellbeing Manager. He is a medical doctor who trained in emergency medicine and worked in the NHS for 17 years before moving to his current role at the University. He first moved into Connaught Hall in 1997 as a first-year medical student – and never left, being an RA in 2000, Vice-Warden in 2011, and Warden since 2009. 

What should people call you? 

Adrian – that's my name! I don’t really like any of the shortened versions of my name, and I much prefer “Adrian” than “Dr Clark”.

What do you do?

At Connaught Hall, I lead the team who take care of the social, wellbeing, and conduct aspects of halls life - we call it “residential life”. So that includes things like cultural and community events; wellness campaigns, 1:1 support for students who encounter difficulties; and helping to resolve any disputes or behavioural concerns. 

In my “day job” at the University, I am responsible for the systems and processes designed to promote wellbeing and support students, and for leading the management of the most serious types of wellbeing and safeguarding concerns. 

What is your top aspiration for this academic year?

In my day job, I'm looking forward to engaging with the University Mental Health Charter and leading this work for the whole University. 

And at Connaught, I hope to see the development of a really strong, supportive community where everyone can make friends, have fun, relax, and work hard when they need to – and get back to some large events, including our annual all-residents group photo, which we couldn’t do for the last three years because of the Covid transmission risk.

What does a perfect day off look like?

An early start (I usually get up around 4am), time for a leisurely breakfast, some reading and meditation, then a mixed cardio and weights workout in the gym. Home by 10am, to indulge my nerd side with learning some computer programming or automation.

Lunch with my partner, Andrew, then an afternoon watching whatever sci-fi series or movies we have on the go: we recently caught up with The Book of Boba Fett and Obi Wan Kenobi. Strange New Worlds is next! And Doctor Who is always the priority when there’s a new series on. But we also finished the third series of Love, Victor recently – teen drama, not at all sci-fi.

Dinner in halls, followed by an early night.

What is one thing that most people might not know about you?

I am terrified of wasps. Although you would know that if you’ve ever been with me when there was a wasp around: I would be 20 metres away in about 3 seconds.