Department of Student Affairs
The Department of Student Affairs assist students and faculty in achieving their educational goals both in and outside the classroom.
Our main objectives are providing services that support and encourage student welfare, safety and development, but we can also assist with general problem solving for any questions associated with student life in general.
We operate an open-door policy allowing students to drop by with questions or concerns. Private appointments are also available with our staff.
Below you will find staff profiles so that you can recognise us on campus!
Our Mission
The role of Student Affairs in fulfilling the University’s mission is to advocate for students to ensure that they are the main focus in all decisions and actions central to the overall development of the student learning experience.
We aim to accomplish this in partnership with Academic Affairs by offering programs and services which positively impact learning as well as the total student life experience.
Our goal is to help develop leadership skills that will enable students to excel in a global environment and to foster appreciation, sensitivity and respect for ethnic diversity and tolerance for cultural and individual differences.
Some of our main service areas include:
- Campus-wide events including Orientation, International Night, Graduation and more
- Immigration and visa information once you are in the UK
- Residence Life (Accommodation)
- Student Activities including clubs and societies, trips and sporting opportunities
- Issuing official University letters for many purposes including visas, council tax exemption and reference letters
- Physical and Mental health services
- Welfare support
- Career development and guidance for life after graduation
- Guidelines for the Student Conduct Code
A Nationally Recognised Team
We are proud to have an nationally-recognised Student Affairs team, having been shortlisted for the Excellence in Supporting Student Success in the highly prestigious Independent Higher Education Awards 2022.
The award submission by our Student Affairs team outlined the extensive range of services on offer at Richmond to support and empower students through all kinds of challenges – personal, social and emotional and how the team helps students make the most of their time at university. In particular, the team highlighted Richmond’s recent work to enhance the inclusivity of student support through a programme of activity across a number of departments at the University.
Independent Higher Education is the UK membership organisation and national representative body for independent providers of higher education.
Support for Students with Additional Needs
We will support any students with personal challenges to achieve their potential at Richmond.
Personal challenges could include a physical or sensory impairment, a medical or psychiatric condition or a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia. In all cases, we will explore how personalising a student’s academic and extracurricular opportunities will help them to succeed.
Richmond endeavours to make all practical and reasonable adjustments to ensure students are able to fully participate in the University community.
What to do if I have additional needs?
If you are a student with a documented specific learning difficulty, mental health condition or physical disability you need to provide the Office of Student Affairs with the appropriate documentation concerning your additional needs at the point of admission to the University, or as soon as possible after enrolment.
For conditions diagnosed after enrolment, it’s important to make Student Affairs aware as soon as possible so that we can explore any help that can be offered.
The University will make all reasonable accommodations for students with additional needs, but you should make sure you report your requirements as soon as possible so that you can begin to benefit immediately from the adjustments we will make.
In particular, if you are a student with physical disabilities, we ask that you communicate with the Office of Student Affairs as soon as you can so that the Property Services department can make any physical adjustments possible to accommodate you.
All of your information will be kept securely within the University’s student records system, which has appropriate access protocols in place.
In addition to providing us with official medical or academic practitioner documentation to validate your individual arrangements, you must complete a Students with Additional Needs Form.
Registry Services, Residence Life and Property Services all work together to ensure that students with mobility impairments have the required access they need to classroom space, residential areas and study space.
For questions or concerns about the University’s students with additional needs policy, please contact Allison Cole-Stutz, Vice-President of Student Affairs or Katherine Lytle, Student Affairs Coordinator.
Declaration Form
Contact Us
Give us a call, we’re here to help. No problem too big or too small. Alternatively, you can email us!
Chiswick Park campus building
Ground Floor in the Student Hub
Email: studentaffairs@richmond.ac.uk
Opening Hours
Please contact us in advance of your visit to confirm opening hours
Meet the Staff
Hello and welcome to Richmond!
I started at Richmond in January 2001, but have been involved in the field of international education since 1993. I have taught English overseas and have also coordinated housing for international students in the US.
I earned my undergraduate degree in Comparative Literature from Colorado College in 1992 and my MA in Foreign Language Education at the University of Texas in 1993. I am currently working on a doctorate in International Education at the Institute of Education, University of London.
At Richmond, I oversee all of the out-of-the-classroom student experience including housing, leadership development and careers, student activities and sports, and health care and counselling.
My staff and I aim to make your University experience the best it can possibly be, so please let us know how we can help you.
As the Associate Dean for Financial Aid & Scholarships, I am responsible for all areas relating to Student Funding; Loans, Grants, Scholarships, etc.
Professionally, I have worked for several years in various capacity at higher education institutions both in the USA & UK. I have also had the opportunity to study in the UK, USA and Sierra Leone. This broad experience has contributed in shaping my worldview.
Some of my extracurricular activities include playing tennis, and reading. As one with a deep appreciation for cultural diversity, I also enjoy travelling internationally and learning about different cultures.
Hello my name is Katherine Lytle and I am the Student Affairs Coordinator based on the Richmond campus.
I have always been interested in travel, other languages and cultures and I was an exchange student for one year at a university in northern Sweden, starting my working career there within the study abroad programme. I also have over a decade of experience working in the media and other educational settings in the UK including an international college advising students on settling into university life and immigration matters.
My role is to offer advice and guidance on any aspect of life outside of the classroom at university; be it healthcare and counselling, planning a trip, supporting and advising students with additional needs, immigration advice, and negotiating the administration within the University.
Hello!
My name is Raghad and I am your internship coordinator here at Richmond.
Before joining Richmond, I was actually a Richmond student doing BA Film and Photography. While I was doing my BA I spent my time between live and session photography and videography all in the while, doing music journalism where I served as a editor in chief of Richmond Free Press, editor in Country in The UK and finally a contributor at Americana Highways.
My name is Kirsty Ibbitson and I am the Student Affairs Coordinator at the Leeds campus working on the RIASA programme.
I have worked in the HE sector for over 15 years supporting international students to ensure a positive student experience during their time in the UK. I spent almost 5 years managing the International Student Advisory Service at Lancaster University before returning to Yorkshire working as an International Student Advisor at the University of Leeds and then at the University of Bradford as a Visa Support Officer.
I am the main point of contact at RIASA for any issues outside of the classroom and away from the football pitch. I offer advice and guidance on visas & immigration, healthcare & counselling, accommodation issues, social activities and I am the line manager of our team of Peer Leaders (student staff) who also work to support you during your time on the programme.
Hello, my name is Monica De Freitas. I am the Student Health & Wellbeing Officer based at the Chiswick campus. My role is to provide information, advice, guidance, and support to students across a range of health and wellness topics.
I trained as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner within the NHS, and I am very pleased to be able to use my knowledge on mental health and wellbeing to support the students of Richmond. I am passionate about removing barriers to study, academic attainment, and psychological support, and I am eager to collaborate with you to work through any personal challenges you may encounter during your time at university.
Hello, my name is Brittany and I’m the Student Accommodation & Community Support Coordinator here at Richmond. I’m originally from Los Angeles, California but have spent the last 5 years traveling around the world and working in schools in Asia, Europe, and South America. I’ll be your main point of contact for anything revolving around getting set up and feeling at home here in London like student accommodations, student and community events, council tax, bank accounts, etc.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me at yaxleyb@richmond.ac.uk
