Hi! My name is Mifrah Khan Deshmukh, and I'm your Full-Time Postgraduate Officer at Leeds Beckett Students’ Union. Before being elected to represent you, I studied MSc Sport and Exercise Medicine at Leeds Beckett, which brings together my passion for physiotherapy, sport, health and helping people perform at their best.
I chose Leeds Beckett because I wanted more than just a degree. I wanted an experience that would challenge me, help me grow professionally and personally, and allow me to be part of a genuinely diverse and welcoming community. The university’s strong focus on sport, health and real-world learning made LBU feel like the right place for me.
What I love most about LBU is the people. Coming to university has introduced me to people from so many different backgrounds, cultures and walks of life, and I’ve loved being part of a community where everyone has their own story.
I’ve also really valued the opportunities to get involved beyond my course - from being a course representative and Global Ambassador to becoming involved with the Students’ Union. Those experiences have helped me realise how much I enjoy listening to people, bringing ideas together and turning conversations into action.
I ran in the Student Elections because I didn’t want to simply be a student who noticed things that could be better. I wanted to be someone who did something about them. As a postgraduate student, I understand that postgraduate life can be very different from the traditional university experience. Students are balancing demanding courses, placements, work, finances, careers and life outside university. I wanted to be a voice for those students and make sure postgraduate experiences are not an afterthought.
I want students to feel that their time at LBU is not just about getting a qualification, but about having an experience where they feel heard, supported and empowered. I want to work on practical issues that genuinely affect students - from timetabling and study spaces to transport, placements and graduate opportunities. Most importantly, I want to create a culture where students feel comfortable speaking up and confident that their voice can lead to meaningful change.
If, by the end of my time in this role, students can say “someone listened, someone cared, and something actually changed”, I’ll feel that I’ve done my job.
Outside university and work, you’ll usually find me at the gym, exploring somewhere new, trying to keep active, or spending time with friends and family. I also love discovering new experiences and meeting new people, which is probably why I’ve ended up enjoying student life and the Students’ Union so much!