Contact us
When people feel included and are treated fairly and respectfully, they are more likely to perform better and recommend the University as a good place to work and study. Our aim is to encourage and support a diverse and inclusive environment that will attract the best staff and students and create a community that is fair and respectful and that we all want to be a part of.
The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team provide professional advice, guidance and the tools to enable everyone working or studying at Exeter to take individual responsibility and help create an inclusive community.
How to get in touch
Email us: EDI@exeter.ac.uk
Devon Campuses: EDI Offices, Hope Hall, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4PL
Cornwall Campuses: EDI Office, Stella Turk Building, Penryn Campus, Treliever Road, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE
Team profiles
Shraddha Chaudhary (Shades) (she/her)
Assistant Director (Culture and Inclusion)
Usual working pattern: Monday to Friday
Email: S.Chaudhary@exeter.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0)7554 229 110
As the Assistant Director (Culture and Inclusion), Shades works with students, staff and community partners to collaboratively design and deliver the University’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Vision and Strategy. She leads the University’s EDI team and works closely with colleagues from Widening Participation, Academic Development, and Education and Student Support.
Her role also supports the University’s Executive Board and senior leadership teams in ensuring the diversity, differential experiences and emerging EDI issues are considered in decision-making at the highest levels.
Through previous experiences, Shades has specialist insight into EDI, Wellbeing, Student and Staff Engagement portfolios within Universities and Students’ Unions. She has previously held various leadership positions in the Higher Education sector, including a Board-level role with the Office for Students.
Dorcas Cowan (she/her)
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager
Usual working pattern: Monday to Thursday (flexible hours)
Email: D.M.Cowan@exeter.ac.uk
Dorcas is a strategic lead for equality, diversity and inclusion at the University and works in an advisory capacity to further embed equality, diversity and inclusion across our whole community. She leads on our institutional agendas for Gender and Sexual Orientation Equality including associated accreditation work.
Dorcas joined the University’s HR Policy Team in 2004 before moving into the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team in 2010.
Beau Bell (they/them)
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager
Usual working pattern: Monday to Friday
Email: B.Bell@exeter.ac.uk
Beau is a strategic lead for equality, diversity and inclusion at the University and works in an advisory capacity to further embed equality, diversity and inclusion across our whole community.
They lead on our institutional agendas for Disability and Race Equality including associated accreditation work.
Before this role, Beau worked across alumni relations, student support and wellbeing, residential life, and internal communications.
Rae Preston (she/her)
Programme Manager (Cornwall)
Usual working pattern: Monday to Friday
Email: R.Preston@exeter.ac.uk
Rae leads on delivering EDI events, initiatives and activity on our Cornwall campuses in Penryn and Truro, through a programme of work in support of our Cornwall Strategy. Her role is focused on delivering impact through internal and external partnerships and community engagement.
Before joining the University in 2019, Rae worked in the charity sector in community mental health and refugee support services. She currently volunteers as a trustee for a local charity supporting refugees and asylum seekers in Cornwall.
Lewis Nurton (he/him)
Learning and Development Manager (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion)
Usual working pattern: Monday to Friday
Email: L.Nurton@exeter.ac.uk
Lewis leads a sector-leading Active Bystander Intervention Programme, fostering meaningful conversations among students and staff about strategies to create a more inclusive environment.
Lewis provides organisational support to the University's Gender Safety Group and collaborates closely with the Students' Guild, Athletic Union, and the Students' Union (Penryn Campus). Additionally, Lewis works with communications colleagues to ensure our community receives consistent and impactful messaging on healthy relationships and student safety.
Lewis also manages the university's in-house consent training programme, which is part of our commitment to delivering preventative initiatives and awareness training to ensure a safe and equitable environment for all. For staff development, Lewis supports the leadership training portfolio, including the prestigious Exeter Future Leaders programme.
Before this role, Lewis worked for the Students’ Union in Cornwall supporting academic representation, sabbatical officers, campaigns and events and large-scale student events. He has a background in primary education and a specialism in autism.
Beth Hall (she/her or they/them)
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Project Officer
Usual working pattern: Monday to Friday
Email: b.l.hall@exeter.ac.uk
Beth is an EDI Project Officer who supports the Faith and Worldview and Race Equality Groups. They also founded and chair Kemeneth: The Cornwall LGBTQ+ Staff Network, and have previously worked on EDI and Athena Swan data within the team.
Before joining the University in 2020, Beth completed a Master's degree in Gender Studies and has since held roles in Education and Academic Services.
Lena Worwood (she/her)
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Project Officer
Usual working pattern: Monday to Friday
Email: S.Worwood2@exeter.ac.uk
Lena is an EDI Project Officer looking after the Disability Equality Group and liaising with the associated networks. She works on accreditation such as Disability Confident and is also one of the organisers of the University’s Trans and Non-binary Café.
Lena has worked for the University since 2016 in a number of roles including philanthropy, quality and standards, advice, the Student Information Desk and degree apprenticeships.
Jasper Privett (he/him)
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Project Officer
Usual working pattern: Monday to Friday
Email: j.f.privett2@exeter.ac.uk
Jasper is an EDI Project Officer. He supports the Sexual Orientation Equality Group and associated Networks, alongside other EDI Projects.
Alongside his current role, he helps to facilitate the University's Trans and Non-binary Café. Jasper previously supported departmental Athena Swan applications.
Before this, Jasper completed both his undergraduate and MA at the University of Exeter, then worked as a staff-facing administrative assistant in the College of Social Sciences and International Studies.
Sandip Samra (she/her)
Senior EDI Advisor
Usual working pattern: Monday to Friday
Email: s.samra@exeter.ac.uk
Sandip's role involves supporting the EDI Managers with strategic priorities and collaborating with team members to deliver EDI action plans and projects. She also supports the Gender Equality Group.
Previously Sandip has worked in fundraising, communications, marketing, digital and EDI roles at a homelessness charity, two police forces, the House of Commons Library, and London School of Economics (LSE). She has also taught English in China and Spain.
Team member | Role |
---|---|
Shraddha Chaudhary (Shades) (she/her) | Assistant Director (Culture and Inclusion) |
Dorcas Cowan (she/her) | EDI Manager |
Beau Bell (they/them) | EDI Manager |
Rae Preston (she/her) | Programme Manager (Cornwall) |
Lewis Nurton (he/him) | Learning and Development Manager (EDI) |
Sam Campbell (he/him) | People Insights Manager |
Beth Hall (they/them or she/her) | EDI Project Officer |
Lena Worwood (she/her) | EDI Project Officer |
Jasper Privett (he/him) | EDI Project Officer |
Sandip Samra (she/her) | Senior EDI Advisor |