ABSTRACT
Shanell Johnson shares her experience of structural racism in the British education system and university student governance, reflecting on her own experience as the UK’s first full-time student officer for black and minority ethnic students. Her position at University College London (UCL) set a precedent for universities across the UK, and the effects of her campaign have had repercussions, which remain until today. Though the position itself, introduced by UCL’s student union, overcame many hurdles, the subsequent journey was riddled with difficulties and contradictions, making the plight to address inequalities more challenging. Johnson firmly believed that, in order for lasting change to be implemented, long-term actions, not short-term trends, were required. Her appointment being limited to one academic year only, she was on a quest to find change-makers among the university staff and people willing to support lasting change; this is her story.
