MEET THE TEAM!
Our Officers make up the JCR Committee and are the elected students tasked with running various aspects of the JCR. You can get in touch with any of the JCR Officers using their email address in the University Directory.
JCR Committee 2026/27
Executive Committee
ALEC MCCALMONT - PRESIDENT
Hello Snow! I’m Alex and I am very excited to be serving as your JCR President this year! I have just graduated from Durham Law School, and I spent most of my undergraduate either behind the scenes in the Assembly Rooms Theatre or here at Snow!
Last year I was on the JCR Committee as Societies Officer, but I am now very excited to be stepping into the role of President for next year! The President is a full-time sabbatical role, which means you’ll most often find me in the office or around College at any given time! My job involves ensuring that John Snow offers the best student experience we possibly can, and I will be working very closely with my wonderful JCR Committee covering all aspects of student life at Snow including sports, societies, balls, events throughout the year and so much more! Keep your eyes on @snow_prez on Instagram or feel free to send me an email at any stage. I can’t wait to see what this year brings and hope you all have an amazing year!
THEA WOODHOUSE - VICE PRESIDENT
Hi! I’m Thea, your Vice President this year, and a third-year Environmental Geoscience student! I’m here to support the JCR and our President, Alex, wherever needed to keep everything running smoothly! My role primarily involves organising stash drops and planning formals alongside college. Follow @snow_viceprez for all my updates!
Outside of my degree, you’ll probably find me around college, where I spend the majority of my time- whether that’s playing netball and darts, watching live-music nights or pretending to do my work and just chatting instead! Since joining Snow as a fresher, I’ve loved getting involved in everything college life has to offer, and I can’t wait to see what you all get involved in too! Please feel free to come and say hi or drop me a message anytime- I’m happy to help with any questions!
#BLEEDBLUE
MATTHEW COSTIGAN - CHAIR
Hi, I’m Matthew a third-year Biological Science student and I will be your JCR chair this year! My role is primarily behind the scenes, organising JCR meetings and councils, overseeing elections and making sure everything is running smoothly throughout the JCR. I will also be representing the JCR at formals so I’m sure I will see many of you there.
Outside of my role as Chair, I’m involved in plenty of other areas of college life. I’m the Bar Steward for The Igloo, President of Badminton, and President of Pizza Society, so there’s a good chance you’ll bump into me around college. Being involved in so many different parts of John Snow means I’m always happy to answer questions, point you in the right direction, or simply have a chat. I’m looking forward to meeting you all and hope you have an amazing year!
MADALENE HOWARD- SENIOR WELFARE OFFICER
Hi I'm Maddy, a 3rd year CHSS student, and I'll be your Senior Welfare Officer (SWO) 26-27! My role involves leading the JCR welfare team to ensure that Snow is a supportive, safe and welcoming environment. This will involve working closely with a fabulous team of Assistant Welfare Officers, as well as the JCR, College and of course the wider community. From overseeing campaigns, running events and hosting weekly chats, I'm passionate about all things Welfare and can't wait to take on a role that is all about the lovely people of snow! Make sure to follow @johnsnowwelfare for updates and events!
BROOKE BAMFORD - TREASURER
Hey everyone! I’m Brooke, a second-year mathematics student and your JCR Treasurer for this year! I am in charge of the JCR finances – making sure that you and your sports and societies are spending your budget responsibly and getting reimbursed for any expenses. This role also involves planning funding for all the fantastic events we’ll be running this year – from fresher’s week to the summer ball.
Alongside my degree, I’m also a member of our college’s Ultimate Frisbee team and, in my spare time, I enjoy watching Formula One races. Since joining Snow as a fresher, I’ve loved getting involved in everything college life has to offer and I can’t wait to see what you all get involved in too! As a fresher, I loved every second of attending sports, societies, formals, balls and more and I hope that every student has the opportunity to enjoy the same great experiences as I have had.
If you have any questions regarding JCR finances, budgets or reimbursements, feel free to reach out – I’m always happy to help!
Non-Executive Committee
GEORGIE SANDERS - SPORTS OFFICER
Hi everyone, I’m Georgie and I’m your Sports Officer for this year! I am a final year Environmental Geoscience student that loves playing sports and ultimately BLEEDING BLUE!
To summarise, my role is to oversee the sports that run at John Snow, including netball, hockey, rugby, and cricket. The role involves communicating with presidents, booking your weekly training slots, and organising the funding for each sport with Treasurers. Throughout the year, I will be working closely alongside our amazing Societies Officer Kerrie to ensure that sports and societies can run effectively and therefore remain a major part of college life. Additionally, I organise our yearly varsity, a full day of sports against our rivals at South, as well as Festival of Sport and our sport and societies formal. Within college, I am a part of the hockey club, darts club, rounders club, ultimate frisbee club, and I also play hockey for Durham University HC.
My advice for anyone in college is to try something new! There are so many sports to try and get stuck into and I can guarantee that there is something for everyone. Most importantly, have fun and ensure that you take a break from studies, through taking part in a sport of joining a society.
Follow @johnsnowsports on Instagram to keep up to date with all things Snow sport!
KERRIE WARNER - SOCIETIES OFFICER
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CELIA SCHMIDT - ENTERTAINMENTS OFFICER
Hi I'm Celia, your entertainments officer for this year! My role includes organising and running events throughout the year.
This includes all the events experienced by freshers during freshers' week. I will also be organising the Spring Soiree during Epiphany term as well as Snow Day, our biggest college celebration in Easter term! I will also be ensuring that everyone has a good time throughout the year with live music nights and snowcials! I hope every snowie gets involved in everything myself and the JCR committee have to offer and make great memories. Always feel free to come to my office hours or drop me a DM on the ENTS instagram (johnsnowents)
KIRA RAMNARAIN - PROMOTIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Heyy I'm Kira your Promotions and Communications Officer for the year!
My role includes creating all the content you see across John Snow JCR social media and creating all the designs for Snow wristbands and t-shirts! I'm really excited to show everyone how fun it is to bleed blue and why Snow really is the best college!!
Outside of my role you will find me either at level 3 billy b (realistically the billy b cafe), on pitch 1 at MC in hockey goal or at the igloo dartboards playing some of the poorest darts you might have ever seen :)
I'm the person behind the John Snow Instagram (johnsnowjcr) so make sure to drop a follow to keep updated and always feel free to send a message if you have any questions I'm more than happy to help :)
ZARA JOLLIFFE- OUTREACH OFFICER
Hi everyone! I’m Zara, and I’m your Outreach Officer this year!
I’ll be organising all things volunteering, outreach, and charity- with a big focus on making it something that’s not just meaningful, but genuinely fun and social too. Whether you’re keen to give back regularly or just get involved in the occasional event, there’ll be plenty of ways to take part throughout the year.
I’m hoping to run a mix of initiatives, from college-wide volunteering (like community visits and local projects) to bigger fundraising events (think photobooths, socials, and creative ways to raise money for charity). The aim is to build something that makes a real impact while also bringing people together. Make sure to follow our Instagram @johnsnowoutreach to stay updated and find out how to get involved!
A bit about me, I’m a 3rd year Sociology student, always up for anything social, whether that’s a night out, college events, or trying something new. I’m really excited to meet you all and hope you’ll get involved in some of the things we have planned this year <3
CHLOE CATER - DEVELOPMENTS OFFICER
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MEGAN DUNLOP- BALL CHAIR
Hiya everyone! I'm Megan, an MSc Defence, Development and Diplomacy student, and I am so excited to be John Snow's 2026/27 Ball Chair!
Outside my degree, I've been involved in life at Snow for three years now, getting involved with dance and cheer, as well as Debate Society President, Entertainments Committee, and serving as Head Frep - John Snow is undoubtedly the best part of uni life! I'm also President of Durham Women in Politics Society, and you'll usually find me in the Igloo, in the Billy B or enjoying everything Durham has to offer!
As Ball Chair, I lead the Ball Committee, which plans and delivers the Winter and Summer Ball! We host one ball at Christmas and one at the end of the academic year, and they are truly the most unforgettable nights! Think a stunning venue, a three-course meal, live music, games, food stalls, DJs, a photobooth, and even a fairground in summer! The balls have been a real highlight of my time at Snow, and I can't wait to make them absolutely amazing for you all! Keep your eyes peeled on our Instagram @johnsnow_balls!
HAYDEN SMITH - POSTGRADUATE REP
Hi Snow! I’m Hayden, and I am very excited to be serving as your Postgraduate Representative this year! I have recently graduated with a BA in History and am now studying for an MA in International Heritage Studies here at Durham.
As Postgraduate Representative, my job is act as the liaison between the JCR and the MCR, ensuring that the views, interests and experiences of Snow’s postgraduate community are represented throughout the year. I will also be helping to organise your Postgraduate Welcome Week and running a range of flexible socials and events throughout the year designed to fit around different schedules and commitments. Whether you are living in College or elsewhere, studying a taught or research degree, a seasoned Snowie or completely new to Durham, I want to make sure that every postgraduate student feels welcomed, included and part of the Snow community.
Please feel free to get in touch with me at any point with questions, suggestions or ideas for events. I can’t wait to meet you all and hope you have an amazing year at Snow!