Models of faith-based support and chaplaincy in higher education

Professor Kristin Aune

Senior Research Fellow, University of Oxford and Visiting Professor of Religion and Higher Education, Loughborough University

Professor Kristin Aune is Senior Research Fellow at Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford, and Visiting Professor of Religion and Higher Education at Loughborough University. She has led and co-led many externally funded research projects on religion in higher education and published widely on this topic, including recent co-authored articles in the journals Higher Education, British Journal of Sociology and British Journal of Sociology of Education.

: https://www.rpc.ox.ac.uk/people/kristin-aune/
: kristin-aune-b653573a8

Imam Zeryab Elhassan

Muslim Chaplin, University of Chester

Zeryab Elhassan serves as Muslim Chaplain at the University of Chester, where he provides pastoral, spiritual, and faith-based support to students and staff from diverse backgrounds. As a member of the University Chaplaincy multi-faith team, he is committed to promoting wellbeing, inclusion, and a sense of belonging within the university community. A significant aspect of his role involves supporting Muslim students, offering guidance on matters of faith and personal development, and overseeing Muslim prayer facilities across the University's campuses.

Before joining the University, Zeryab served as a Chaplain at AlderHey Children's Hospital, where he provided spiritual care and support to patients, families, and healthcare staff. He is the Senior Imam leading Friday prayers at Wirral Deen Centre and remains actively involved in community engagement through his local mosque in Ellesmere Port.

Zeryab holds a degree in Engineering and has pursued further academic and professional development through a Higher Diploma in Islamic Studies and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Combining faith leadership, pastoral care, and community engagement, he is committed to fostering understanding, respect, and meaningful dialogue across diverse faiths and cultures, while supporting individuals in their personal, academic, and spiritual development.

: https://www.chester.ac.uk/about/chaplaincy/

Dr Sammy Li

Assistant Director of Student Affairs (Postgraduate and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion), University of Birmingham

Sammy is an AMOSSHE Executive Member and Assistant Director of Student Affairs (Postgraduate and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) at the University of Birmingham.

: https://www.amosshe.org.uk/about/our-team.html

Dr Sachi Patel

Multi-Faith Advisor and Coordinator, SOAS, University of London

Dr Sachi Patel is the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Coordinator at SOAS University of London and Hindu Chaplain at King's College London. He is the first Hindu chaplain to lead a university chaplaincy in the UK. He also serves on the Executive Committee of UK HE Chaplains Together, a national network bringing together chaplains from different faith and belief traditions to share good practice, support one another and strengthen chaplaincy across the higher education sector.

At SOAS, his work focuses on multi-faith pastoral support, student wellbeing and fostering dialogue across religious and cultural differences. He also leads the SOAS Global Citizenship Programme, which brings students together to explore questions of identity, faith and global responsibility, encouraging meaningful dialogue across difference and engagement with contemporary global challenges. Dr Patel has over

Dr Patel has over fifteen years' experience in chaplaincy. He holds an MPhil in Classical Indian Religions from SOAS and a PhD in Hindu Theology from the University of Oxford. He is the author of a monograph in the Routledge Hindu Studies Series on politics and religion.

: https://ukhechaplaincy.com/who-we-are-1

Sarah Richardson

Associate Director of Student Services, University of Derby

Sarah is an AMOSSHE Executive Member and Associate Director of Student Services at the University of Derby.

Rev David Stroud

Senior Chaplain, Canterbury Christ Church University

The Rev David Stroud is the Senior Chaplain and a sessional academic at Canterbury Christ Church University. Since joining the University in 2008 as Mission and Outreach Chaplain, he has played a central role in shaping the institution’s chaplaincy and now coordinates both the chaplaincy team and the University’s interfaith provision.

David contributes to the creative delivery of holistic education across the University, specialising in digital media engagement and strengthening community awareness of faith, spirituality, and wellbeing. As an academic, he lectures in Education and Practical and Pastoral Theology and is actively involved in the planning and delivery of foundation-level programmes.

: linktr.ee/chaplaincycccu

Jim Valentine

Deputy Head of Student Services, Ravensbourne University London

Jim Valentine is the Deputy Head of Student Services at Ravensbourne University London. He heads up the teams delivering wellbeing support, international student guidance, disability and study support. In addition to supporting Student Services at Ravensbourne for over ten years he has previously worked in various community roles. This included time developing online community support at the National Autistic Society and online community building at YouthNet UK (now The Mix).

Chris Warrington

AMOSSHE Vice Chair (Professional Development), Director of Student Experience and Support, University of Leeds

Chris is Vice Chair (Professional Development) at AMOSSHE and Director of Student Experience and Support at the University of Leeds.

: https://www.amosshe.org.uk/about/our-team.html

Bethany Williams

Chaplain, University of Chester and Manchester Metropolitan University

Beth is a Christian chaplain at both the University of Chester and Manchester Metropolitan. She comes from a theological and chaplaincy studies background working in a collaborative and ecumenical way alongside the multifaith teams at both universities. As a chaplain Beth is passionate about meeting students where they’re at, creating community and welcome, and for students to have the opportunity to bring their whole identities and authentic selves to their time at university.

: https://www.chester.ac.uk/about/chaplaincy/