Meet the team
Advisers:
Stephanie
Ley
Debbie
Moody
Kathryn Ward: Student Advice Manager
Originally from Pontefract in West Yorkshire, I first
joined York St John in 2001 as a student on the BA Drama &
Communication Arts programme (now known as BA: Drama).
Following my degree I went on to become the Vice President of the
Students’ Union with the remit of Education and Welfare.
After 3 years as a student and 1 within the Students’ Union, I had
quickly learnt what a great place YSJ was and was very keen to
pursue my newfound interest in student support.
I became the Student Advice Manager in
September 2006 and have never looked back. My role now
includes managing the Holgate Student Centre and the Student Advice
Team who specialise in a wide range of student advice including
areas such as student funding and welfare guidance. Alongside
my main duties, I am also responsible for the coordination of
Welcome Week each year which is one of my favourite duties as I
remember what coming to university was like, so we are here to help
make that not such a scary experience.
My main professional interests include those
that will help develop me in my role in order to better support my
team and subsequently, the students. As well as doing various
programmes and courses in leadership and management and customer
service, I am also very interested in British Sign Language, three
programmes done and I hope to start Level 2.02 in September.
In my spare time I also volunteer as a Befriender for Age Concern
providing social interaction support for the elderly which I really
enjoy.
It is hard to know what the future holds, but
for the time being, I love my job and being part of YSJ, however
seeing students stand and graduate in the minster each year knowing
all they have achieved is by far the most rewarding aspect of my
role.
Stephanie Ley: Student Adviser
After graduating with a degree in Communication Arts
in 2004 from York St John University I went on to work for Henshaws
College, who provide further education for residential and
day students with learning difficulties, disabilities and visual
impairments. My role as a Student Activities and Volunteers
coordinator was to empower students to get involved in
extracurricular activities, including Student Council forums,
events committee’s as well as the recognised V- Volunteering
scheme. I helped run the V-Volunteering scheme within the College
for both Henshaws students as well as young adults within the
Harrogate area.
I have worked as a Freelance artist
facilitating community arts projects with children and young adults
from a range of backgrounds, including care backgrounds as well as
young offenders. Some of my projects have been with the West
Yorkshire Playhouse First Floor scheme as well as the Leeds CLC
centre. During my Freelance work I worked at York St John
University for the Disability Service as a Student Mentor and Note
Taker. I have also worked with an education provider, delivering
learning schemes to asylum seekers and to young adults who have
offended or have been excluded from school, helping them get back
into education and onto apprenticeships.
In 2008 I started my current role as a Student
Adviser, working for the Student Advice Team, delivering advice and
guidance for pre-entry students and current students at the
university. We work closely with our specialist services including
Disability, Counselling, Student Funding and Welfare to assist with
administrative tasks, as well as virtual and face to face guidance.
I thoroughly enjoy my job role and love being part of our
student services team.
Alongside my job role I have attained
qualifications in British Sign Language up to level 201 and will be
progressing up to level 202 at the start of the new academic
year.
I am extremely passionate about people and
society. I believe that anybody who wishes to learn should have the
right to.
Debbie Moody: Student Adviser
My name is Debbie Moody. I am one of the Student Advisors
on the Student Advice Desk in the Holgate Centre.
I have worked at York St John University for
17 years first starting as a Domestic Services assistant at the
halls of residence at the Grange site. I worked for a number of
years at the Grange before deciding to improve my skills and
attending night school in computer processing and excel.
After improving my skills, York St John gave
me the opportunity to join the Accommodation Office as an
Administrative Assistant which I enjoyed working closely with the
team and other specialist staff from other areas.
Six years ago I moved across to the Student
Advice Desk and became a Student Advisor and brought the knowledge
of the Accommodation across to the new role and I worked then
closely with other specialist areas to improve my knowledge on the
Student Advice Desk.
As well as administrative work for the
specialist teams, I work closely with students, staff and the
general public every day is different and you are constantly given
new challenges which I love.
I have qualifications in NVQ Customer Care and
Excel and word processing and in house training when the
opportunity arises. Also in September I am starting the Level 1
British Sign Language course which will improve my ability to
communicate with profoundly or impaired of hearing people which I
find frustrating when I am unable to communicate with them.
Since coming across to the Student Advice Desk
I thought my role would have been a daunting experience, but I have
enjoyed the whole time through students coming through the door of
welcome week until they go out graduated. I hope in some way they
have been able to approach me at the desk with my smile and “can I
help you” and helped them in many ways to have settled in to the
student experience with ups or downs and gave them advice along the
way that has been helpful to them.
Student Advice Team Manager Contact Details
We really do value your
feedback, suggestions, compliments and comments about the
service. Please share these with us by contacting us using
the information below.
FAO: Kathryn Ward
Holgate Student Centre
York St John University
Lord Mayors Walk
York
YO31 7EX
E:studentadviceteam@yorksj.ac.uk
T:01904 87(6477)