Tonari Arikekpar

Tonari was elected SU Vice President (VP) Education in March 2022 and will serve her term as a Sabbatical Officer from July 2022–July 2023. She is the lead Sabbatical Officer in liaising with the University of Plymouth faculties to represent all students, on the development and support of the academic representation system. As Vice-President Education, she represents University of Plymouth students and partner colleges both internally in the University of Plymouth student union (UPSU), to the University, locally and nationally and leads on campaigns and projects to improve their academic experience – Teaching and Learning; Academic Support; Faculty representation; Quality processes; National Student Survey. She also works collaboratively on campaigns and projects to address issues faced by students in relation to housing and to work with the UPSU Advice Centre and University, where needed.

Tonari serves as Trustee of the UPSU responsible for the strategic development of the organisation and its financial, legal and reputational health. She works to engage all UPSU staff, students, and where applicable the University in all aspects of UPSU democratic processes, representational structures and campaigns, and as such ensures that the UPSU fulfills the needs of students whilst functioning efficiently as a charity. The Vice-President Education works to develop the strategic direction of the UPSU through the Board of Trustees and relevant Sub-Committees which will in turn provide development opportunities in which to broaden experience.

Outside of her role as Vice-President Education, Tonari grew up in Nigeria where she completed her BSc in Anatomy, graduating as the best student in her class, serving as Vice-President and President of her department. She migrated to Plymouth in the middle of a world-wide pandemic where she has just completed her master’s in biomedical science. She previously volunteered as the post-graduate part-time officer at UPSU. All these experiences have enabled her to connect with the struggles of the general student body and she is dedicated to finding that thriving school-life balance which now motivates her present campaign.

Tonari was appointed to the Board in July 2022.