Institute of the Americas Society: President

Hey everyone, it’s Katie! 

I’m so excited to put my name forward for President of IoA Soc for 2025-6 as having been part of restarting the society as Treasurer last year, I am passionate about continuing to strengthen this fabulous community we’ve built! As I would be taking on this role in my 4th year, following my Year Abroad (hi from me in the US right now!), and having held a senior position in the society previously, I believe I’m well positioned to head this society and create tailored events that support you academically, personally, and socially! 

I would love to expand socials to include sightseeing, museum trips and quizzes alongside our fun pub nights! I’ve also heard there’s interest in a departmental sports team, and I’d be so excited to make that happen! ‘Meet the Americas’ has been a great way for students and teachers to connect outside of class, and I would love to add to this by introducing a weekly ‘common room’ time. To introduce a way for us to study collaboratively, and especially to seek help from students in other years. I’m particularly passionate about supporting students who are thinking about taking a year abroad. My experience of the year abroad process drives my commitment to organising more events to share experiences, advice and strengthen the connection between past and future year-abroad students.

These are just a few ideas, and I will always be dedicated to hearing your feedback to ensure the IoA soc goes from strength to strength! 

Belonging to the Institute of the Americas is something that I am beyond proud of and this is why I would truly love to serve as the society's president next year.

I feel that my previous experience in youth politics allowed for me to demonstrate key leadership skills which I could transfer to this role. As the elected deputy chair of the London Youth Assembly, I helped lead a team of over 50 young people, facilitating meetings, and collaborating with members of the London Assembly's team to organise events such as our Young People's Question Time.

Furthermore, I am currently an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion representative for our undergraduate cohort at both a department and faculty-level (with the Social and Historical Sciences Faculty) as an EDI shadow board member, working alongside peers and members of staff to identify areas for improvement and implement collaborative projects to address these, creating a learning environment which truly embraces everyone.

My commitment to the department is something I feel have exemplified and I would love to do so further as the President of the Institute of the Americas society. As president, I would ensure the society remains active, supporting and helping to organise events (such as quizzes, games nights, seminar series and an annual ball) whilst also actively communicating with department and faculty staff to ensure maximum productivity.

Thank you so much for your consideration and I would love your votes for president!

I'm running for president to ensure our society is a model of efficiency, openness, and ambition. In this place, everyone feels like they have power, and every action has a lasting effect. As an Academic Secretary and in other positions that required careful planning, working with people from different fields, and speaking up for voices that aren't heard enough, I learnt how to lead with clarity, empathy, and purpose.

To increase the impact of our Society, I will make operational excellence a top priority as President. I learnt how to balance logistics, budgeting, and stakeholder engagement under pressure by organising Spark21's Heilbron Lecture, which sold 100 tickets and made a profit of £2,175. This means that events for our Society will go smoothly, with clear roles and deadlines, so committee members can focus on coming up with new ideas instead of fixing problems. 

As a candidate for social mobility, I know how hard it is for many people to get into elite sectors. Through workshops on navigating the legal and business worlds and starting conversations about equity in the Americas, my presidency will give under-represented voices a bigger voice. We will celebrate successes in public and deal with systemic problems in private, ensuring that our community reflects the rich diversity we fight for worldwide.
 

After my Study Abroad year I am returning to UCL with a genuine desire to be more involved in our Institute. If elected, I would use the role to further strengthen the sense of unity in the Department, encouraging inclusivity and engagement across years and disciplines, working collaboratively with other societies to foster a more connected and lively community. Students should feel heard and represented, and if given the opportunity to be part of the team I will help achieve this. I believe I would make an ideal candidate for this position as I am deeply passionate not only about my academics within the Institute but also representing and supporting students. I bring leadership experience from my roles as Head of House and involvement with the Climate Justice Society at UofT where I contribute to social media and lead meetings and events. In this role I would continue to grow our online accounts, including providing journalism and content creation opportunities, to connect students and advertise socials. In addition, my Year Abroad has shaped my university experience profoundly, thus I hope to encourage others to consider study abroad options and be a source of support in this area. I am approachable, proactive and enthusiastic and can communicate effectively and adapt to challenges. I am reliable and ready to commit to whatever this role demands of me and hope to be granted the opportunity to be involved and represent students in my final year.