The new Mayor of Kirklees Clr Nosheen Dad returned to the University of Huddersfield a decade on from her role as the first female Muslim president of its Students’ Union.

Clr Dad, who graduated in politics and media in 2012, made history in May 2024 when she became the youngest Mayor of Kirklees at the age of 34 and the first Muslim woman mayor.

Clr Dad was welcomed back at the university by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof Tim Thornton who gave her a tour of the Students’ Union and the Jo Cox Building. She also met the current Students’ Union executive team.

Clr Dad graduated from the university in 2012 and then took on a role within the Students’ Union, becoming its president for the 2013-14 year at a time when the campus was undergoing many changes.

She was at the helm when the new Student Central building was being constructed and was there with university Vice-Chancellor Prof Bob Cryan to officially open the new-look facilities which now house the Students’ Union itself.

 

 

Mayor of Kirklees Nosheen Dad and Prof Tim Thornton

 

Clr Dad, a mother of two, spoke of how thrilled she was to be back on campus after all this time and to see a number of familiar faces.

“Everything that I learnt in my time here, not just as an undergraduate, but in offices as vice-president for wellbeing and equalities and then as president of the SU, it was certainly the foundation for me to then be able to build on in terms of my career to get me to where I am today.”

She added: “One of the main things as SU president was the relationship with the university and working collaboratively for our student population – this was a very positive experience.

“I was involved with the new Students’ Union and Student Central right from the start when it was just a shell and a construction site.

“I had a lot of input into what they were going to look like which was appreciated. It was great that we were able to influence the building as much as possible.”

In an effort to inspire the current cohort of students, Clr Dad added: “If you’ve got a passion for something, got fire in your belly, keep fuelling that fire and I promise you will make something of it and great things will happen.”

Prof Thornton said: “It was a pleasure to welcome such a successful former student back to campus and to showcase the numerous positive changes that have taken place at the University of Huddersfield since Nosheen graduated more than a decade ago. What an inspiration she must be to so many of our students.”

Clr Dad grew up in Dewsbury and was a commuter student during her time at the University of Huddersfield.

She was first elected to represent the Dewsbury South ward for Labour in 2015, just three years after graduating.

 

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