Lavanya 'Lav' Sharma - Art School President

WSA is brimming with creativity, yet there are still areas of disconnection across our campuses. Having lived in Winchester for my first two years before moving to Southampton for my placement year, I have experienced this divide firsthand. I’ve seen the lack of activity in Winchester and the missed opportunities for collaboration between students across both sites. As your Art School President, I want to build stronger bridges between Winchester and Southampton through more joint events, networking opportunities, and creative collaboration.

My involvement in SUSU spans across societies including Scuba, Golf, and Anime Society. As a committee member, I have already worked to bring more activity to Winchester by hosting Bunfights and trials on campus. I understand the feeling that there is often “not enough to do” in Winchester, and I want to change that by creating spaces where students from different courses can meet, share ideas, and collaborate creatively.

I also bring experience from working within the creative industry, particularly in UX initiatives and campaign management. As a scholarship recipient who has completed both a placement year and a summer abroad, I understand the challenges students face entering the job market, especially international students. I will advocate for more industry-focused opportunities, including workshops on emerging technologies, to ensure WSA students are future-ready. I am here to amplify your voice and turn ideas into action so that, together, we can strengthen and transform our creative community.