Award-winning apprentice and changemaker Jessie Weavers-Medina joins College Board of Governors

We take so much pride in celebrating the achievements of our students, past and present, whose journeys embody our “Be You, Be Extraordinary.” ethos. One such story is that of Jessie Weavers-Medina, whose remarkable professional and personal journey has now come full circle with her appointment as one of our newest College Governors.

Jessie enrolled as a Chartered Manager Degree Apprentice with Abingdon & Witney College in 2021, while working at the University of Oxford’s Kellogg College. As part of the apprenticeship, Jessie studied towards a BA (Hons) in Business Management Practice, delivered by the College and awarded by Oxford Brookes University.

During her apprenticeship, Jessie was elected as a Student Governor, quickly making her mark with insightful contributions and a keen focus on sustainability. Her commitment and professionalism led then-Chair of Governors, Gavin Maitland-Smith, to describe her participation as “more in keeping with a full board member than many of the students whose involvement we have appreciated in the past.”

Since achieving a First Class Honours in her degree and a Distinction in her End-Point Assessment, Jessie has continued to go from strength to strength. Her achievements were recognised when she was named Higher/Degree Apprentice of the Year at the 2025 Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards. Reflecting on the honour, Jessie said,

“I didn’t achieve this by hiding who I am. I achieved it by embracing my identity and being supported by people and institutions who saw it as a strength, not a problem to solve…This award sends a powerful message that trans people have a rightful place in these spaces. We’re not merely taking part, we are excelling and leading the way forward.”

Jessie has recently stepped into an exciting new role as Operations Manager (Strategic and Education) in the University of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Medicine, following more than four years helping to establish and grow the Global Centre on Healthcare & Urbanisation at Kellogg College.

Alongside her operational and strategic expertise, Jessie has become a respected advocate for equality, diversity, and inclusion, serving as Oxford’s first Transgender Representative on the University’s LGBT+ Advisory Board.

Reflecting on her return to Abingdon & Witney College as an External Governor, Jessie shared:

“This feels like a real full-circle moment. My time as a Student Governor taught me so much about leadership and confidence. To now play a part in championing that same ethos for others feels both a privilege and a joy.”

Jessie’s journey, from apprentice to award-winning leader and now College Governor, reminds us of the transformative power of opportunity, inclusion, and lifelong learning. We are proud to welcome her back to the Board and to celebrate the extraordinary impact she continues to make.