MCR
The page is updated by the MCR bench.
The MCR exists for the benefit of the community of graduates at Mansfield, providing as many opportunities as possible for social interaction and mutual support. While the Department is there to look after your academic development, the College is here to give you a ‘home away from home’, a close-knit community where you can belong while you are here in Oxford.
The MCR organises a wide variety of events for graduates, including formal dinners, cocktail parties, pizza and film evenings, international food nights, Nintendo and board games evenings, exchange dinners with other colleges, academic presentations, ice-cream café trips, and much more.
We aim to make our common room as accessible, inviting, and functional as possible, as well as encouraging graduate engagement in College life. In addition, we serve on behalf of graduates as representatives within the College, our executive members attending various College committees and pursuing issues that are raised by MCR members, while also serving members practically with support in areas of welfare and women’s matters. Essentially, the MCR is all of us together, and with your involvement it will be better for everyone.
Meet the current committee below.
Oliwier Melon, President:
Hey, welcome to Mansfield! As the MCR President, I am privileged to represent the master’s and DPhil community in the College by liaising with the College officials and leading the MCR Bench. While I hope you have a joyful year at Oxford, I encourage you to contact me about any matter which affects your experience here. Outside of my role, I am in the third year of my DPhil in Engineering Science; I work on optimisation-based motion generation for dynamic, legged robots. I come from Poland (hence the alternative spelling of Oliver) but for a substantial period of time, I lived and studied in Cork (Ireland). I try to dedicate most of my spare time to sport.
mcrpresident@mansfield.ox.ac.uk
Mikayla Brier-Mills, Secretary:
Hey Mansfield. I am your MCR Secretary. I'm an Australian lawyer and MPhil candidate in public international law. I have practiced and taught in law, including working at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem and advising international organisations from The Hague. I'm happy to chat about anything generally, and more specifically relating to philosophy, human rights, jurisprudence, culture and law! Other than the Harry-Potter-like Duke Humfrey's library at Oxford, I enjoy reading and writing at the Peace Palace in The Hague and The National Diet Library in Tokyo, Japan. You may find me sketching on the Mansfield benches or eating grapes and nuts at a wine and cheese! (#vegan).
mikayla.brier-mills@law.ox.ac.uk
Daria Jensen, Welfare & Environment, Ethics & Charities Representative:
Hi! I’m Daria Jensen, a 2nd year DPhil student in Psychiatry, researching the effect of lifestyle to brain health across the lifespan. I moved to Oxford about three years ago for a RA position at Experimental Psychology, thus, I know Oxford and Oxford life pretty well. I did my undergrad in Biology and my MSc in Cognitive Science, both in Germany. I am always available if you are having any troubles or welfare issues, want to have a chat and can make sure to put you in contact with the proper College and University services. I am also a Junior Dean Assistant at Keble College and was until summer at Mansfield a Junior Dean and experienced with welfare emergencies. Please feel free to contact me if you want to have a chat, or even just a cup of tea and/or any kind of sugary food! Another passion of mine is to improve environmental sustainability and raise awareness about issues from recycling, food waste, and always make sure we have vegan and vegetarian options always available! Feel free to contact me if you would like to get active in Oxford to fight the climate crisis!
Alexander Cliffe, Sports and Societies Representative:
Sports and societies are one of the best parts of Oxford life! With over 400 registered clubs and societies, this is a great opportunity to become involved with the activity of your dreams, or perhaps one which you could never have dreamt of! Failing that, why not start your own? There really is something for everyone, so I implore you to get involved (and especially with sport—there are numerous health benefits from regular participation, not least that it provides a mental break from your often stressful work life)! About me: ex-Cambridge, now second year DPhil student in mathematics (analysis of PDE). I love hockey (field, not ice), and when I’m not injured I play for the University 3s (a.k.a. the Infrequents). Regrettably infrequent however are my visits to the squash court; golf course; and ski slopes. Though I guess we can't have everything!
alexander.cliffe@mansfield.ox.ac.uk
John Wilkinson, Wine and Dine Representative
Hello! I'm Johnny, and I am the Wine and Dine Rep. My role in the MCR is to organise the MCR socials involving wining and dining, which are mostly exchange dinners with other colleges and wine and cheese events. I am also a third year DPhil in Condensed Matter Physics, and have been on the MCR bench in various roles for the entirety of it!
john.wilkinson@physics.ox.ac.uk
Last updated August 2020.