Wesley Padfield
Meet Wesley, who embraced every opportunity with passion and now dedicates his time to empowering and guiding students as a volunteer mentor and advocate for student success.
| Current job role | Graduate EDI Officer at the University of Hertfordshire |
|---|---|
| Year of graduation | 2023 |
| Course of study | BA (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice |
Life at Herts
Reflecting on his experience, Wesley shares ‘My time at Herts was nothing short of phenomenal for the benefit of my self-development and my career prospects. I was exposed to tons of opportunities which I had a great support network for, so I just kept applying, achieving, and enjoying every moment!’
Wesley has ADHD and talking about the challenges he had to face during his time at Herts he said, ‘I’d always speak to lecturers before any assignment to gain clarity, and a vision of expectations – without that, the work would always be unclear.’
Life after Herts
Wesley is now working in a graduate role with the University of Hertfordshire’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Office, a job that he is deeply passionate about and involves celebrating diversity of both staff and students. As a key part of the team, they contribute to delivering large-scale diversity events and initiatives that honour and celebrate cultural diversity, individual differences, and what makes everyone unique. His work at the university places him at the forefront of advocating for inclusivity and fostering a welcoming community. Wesley proudly and openly speaks about neurodiversity and mental health and loves working at Herts organising events to raise awareness for ADHD and volunteering his support. ‘I’m now currently working on awareness of neurodiversity and celebrating them internally and externally.’
Outside of this role, Wesley has an amazing commitment to volunteering and contributing to the Scouts and the Army Cadet Force (ACF). Representing diverse communities across various platforms, they take pride in their contributions to the services provided by these organisations. Whether in the Scouts, the Army Cadet Force, or at the University of Hertfordshire, he is passionate about the impact they make.
Advice for future student
‘Keep learning because life doesn't stop teaching, and every professional was once in your shoes. It's absolutely okay to not have anything figured out and mistakes aren't ‘mistakes’ they're a by-product of success and should be a reaffirmation that you're becoming a better you every day!’