Meet your Student Support Managers

Meet your Student Support Managers who are responsible for providing wellbeing support to students living in University Accommodation. They provide proactive, preventative support, educating and enabling students to manage their emotional wellbeing and supporting those experiencing personal difficulties.

Read their bios to find out what experience they have and the details of which area within Residences they provide wellbeing support to. 

If you'd like to book a meeting with them you can find out more here.

Donna: My experience in customer service and support reaches back to 2011 when I started working for ACS as a portering and customer services team leader, where part of my role was to engage with resident students managing their wellbeing and developing their independence. Joining the Residence life team in 2018 was a natural progression, giving me the opportunity to provide specific welfare support, helping resident students work through challenging situations, which is very rewarding.

Jennie: I started working at the University about 10 years ago after a long period of living and working abroad.  During this time I've supported students with their visa applications and progression from the International College, worked with the Widening Participation and Admissions teams, have provided financial and wellbeing support to research students, and most recently I've been providing welfare support and guidance to taught students in the School of Education.   I'm new to Residence Life, and excited to be in a position to help students during their time at university!

Bev: I have over 20 years’ experience of teaching in both Secondary and Further Education. I gained my PGCE for the Post Compulsory Sector in 2002 and since then I have worked in various roles within Education, primarily as a Pastoral Leader. I am trained in Counselling and Mental Health First Aid along with practitioner status of Trauma Informed Education and Support. I have recently become a Sexual Violence Liaison Officer for the University of Sheffield and my wealth of experience has allowed me to develop various wellbeing strategies and techniques to support students in overcoming a multitude of barriers to learning.

Emma: I have over 15 years' experience providing welfare support both within a residential setting as well as in academic departments, all within Further Education.  I have previously undertaken support roles at both Bangor University and the University of Birmingham before I moved to my current role as a Student Support Manager in April 2021.  I’m a trained Sexual Violence Liaison Officer and have developed strategies during Mental Health First Aid training to support students with a range of various and sometimes complex mental health needs.

Tori: I studied for my degree in Biomedical Science here at The University of Sheffield. After graduation, I joined the Residence Life department where I have supported students with their wellbeing since 2015. I am a trained Sexual Violence Liaison Officer and have comprehensive knowledge in mental health support and safeguarding. I have had the privilege to work with and support a wide ranging number of students, but more recently I have specifically supported Estranged students, Student Carers and Students who are Care Experienced.

Dom: Over the past 13 years I have worked in Adult Social Care and Higher Education Support Services. I spent 2 years as a community outreach support worker for adults with Autism and mental health conditions. I spent 18 months as a Specialist Mentor at Sheffield Hallam University before 2 to 3 years as a Key Worker in a supported housing project for adults leaving secure mental health institutions. I managed a community outreach mental health support service for 2 and a half years before joining the University of Sheffield Security Services team for another 2 and a half years, and finally I joined Residence Life in August 2022.

Dan: I studied for my degree in Sociology and went on to build a career in Bristol social services. I spent three years working as a Support Manager, working closely with adults with complex learning needs. My career progressed to Bristol City Council where I planned and developed support services across the city. Having worked in Higher Education supporting the welfare of students in residence for the past 2 years, I have developed a broad range of knowledge and experience to provide effective wellbeing support to our resident students, particularly with cases of sexual violence, mental health first aid and suicide prevention.