We are the LSE Safe Contacts. We are members of LSE staff who have received training and can offer a confidential 'signposting' service for staff and students who have previously or are currently experiencing some form of bullying or harassment.
Safe Contacts can support you no matter your gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability and more. We care, and we are here for you. If you have experienced any bullying or harassment that are homophobic, transphobic, biphobic, racist, sexist, or discriminatory of any nature, please reach out to any Safe Contact below and we will help you navigate the support available and what comes next.
We are all volunteers, who are supported by the EDI office and who are committed to supporting LSE’s inclusive working, studying and social environment.There are two ways you can speak with a Safe Contact:
1. You can contact Equity, Diversity and Inclusion via email (edi@lse.ac.uk).
2. You can reach out to us directly via our contact details below.
We recognise the strength it can take to reach out for support, so each safe contact aims to respond to you within 1 – 2 working days and aims to offer you an appointment within 5 working days.
Jennie Stayner (She/Her)
Department Manager
Department of Economic History
j.c.stayner@lse.ac.uk
Safe Contact trained to support with bullying, harassment, discrimination AND sexual violence. Trained in Safeguarding.
I’ve worked in Higher Education Administration since 2003 in 3 different institutions and have been at LSE since 2016. I have worked in academic departments for my entire career and my favourite part of my job is meeting and working with students. In my spare time I love watching films, being creative by knitting and sewing, spending time with my family and friends, and doing yoga.
I have received training for sexual violence and harassment support and have been a Safe Contact since 2018.
I am a committed and passionate ally for LGBTQ+, BAME and Disabled Colleagues and am trained as a Mental Health First-Aider.
Dimitris Thomopoulos (He/Him)
EO to HoD and EDI Officer
Psychological and Behavioural Science
d.thomopoulos@lse.ac.uk
Safe Contact trained to support with bullying, harassment, and discrimination.
I work at the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science as an Executive Officer to the Head of Department and an EDI Officer, supporting students and staff and taking an intersectional approach to EDI.
I have been a member of the LSE community for the past 20 years on and off, either as a student or now, as a staff member. I have experienced LSE culture from both sides and that has given me a unique perspective in understanding the needs of both students and staff.
As an EDI Officer at PBS, a member of the LGBTQ+ community and a committee member of SPECTRUM, I understand the importance of a safe contact that is approachable and able to empathically listen and support students and staff during a distressing period of their lives. I strongly believe in equity and respect for all and want LSE to be a place where all of us can thrive and grow without fear of harassment, discrimination, bullying or any form of sexual violence.
I have also trained as a Mental Health first aider.
Sonya Onwu (She/Her)
LAWS Director
Department of Law
s.onwu@lse.ac.uk
Safe Contact trained to support with bullying, harassment, discrimination AND sexual violence.
I chose to become a Safe Contact because it is vital that all students and staff who have experienced bullying, harassment and/or sexual violence have a judgement free space to sit, share and think. Furthermore, as a woman of colour, I know that for BPoC students and staff, having the option to speak to someone from a similar community can make a world of difference.
As a mama of two, free time is hard to come by! But I do love to cook- food is a love after all! When I am able to grab a few minutes to myself, I like to read young adult fiction, doom scroll twitter, rewatch episodes of Greys Anatomy and This is Us, or just sit in silence and finish a cup of cofee without having to reheat it!
Daniel Linehan
Centre Manager
LSE LIFE
d.p.linehan@lse.ac.uk
0207 106 1147
Safe Contact trained to support with bullying, harassment, discrimination AND sexual violence. Trained in Safeguarding.
I’ve been at the School since 2001, first as Departmental Manager for what used to be the Department of Social Psychology (now the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science) and now as Centre Manager in LSE LIFE.
Over the years I have gain a good understanding of the issues faced by colleagues and I welcome the opportunity to work as a Safe Contact and to make a positive contribution to the School.
In my spare time, I have become addicted to Spotify and it has replaced Five USA as my favourite way to relax.
My favourite book is Lord of the Flies by William Golding. This book made me look at the world in a different way in terms of good and evil.
If I had one superpower, it would be the ability to instantly switch off.
Stephanie Lambert (She/Her)
Academic Mentor, BSc Management
Department of Management
S.Lambert@lse.ac.uk
Safe Contact trained to support with bullying, harassment, discrimination AND sexual violence. Trained in Safeguarding.
I chose to become a Safe Contact because I understand there are so many situations in life that where confiding in someone can make things easier to cope with. Having somebody impartial, reliable and trustworthy to talk to makes such a difference; nobody should have to struggle with something alone.
I am part of three staff networks championing diversity and inclusion: Power, Spectrum and EmbRace. I have completed my Active Bystander Training, Sexual Violence Training and my White Ally Training at the LSE.
If I could have one superpower it would be the ability to teleport so that I could find the sunshine when I need it (without enduring the costly long haul flights), eat all of my favourite foods in the best places and visit family and friends more often.
Katarzyna Krajniewska (Kasia) (She/Her)
Undergraduate Tutor
Economics
k.a.krajniewska@lse.ac.uk
0207 955 6889
Safe Contact trained to support with bullying, harassment, discrimination AND sexual violence. Trained in Safeguarding.
In my daily job, I regularly and frequently interact with students. They come to me with lots of different issues and I always strive to ensure they get the attention and the right support needed, be it emotional, personal, academic or research related. I deeply believe all of us (staff, faculty and students) should feel safe, respected and cared about, and have a confidential and non-judgemental space to disclose details of incidents with negative impact and receive reliable advice on possible course of action. I hope to be able to extend the support I give my students also to other members of the community and this motivated me to become a Safe Contact.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family. My kids are young and it’s my priority to make sure they get the right amount of attention and value time with their parents. Besides, I really enjoy being around them; they make me truly and unconditionally happy. There is a lot one can learn from a child.
Tom Jones
Graduate Programme Coordinator
Geography and Environment
t.jones5@lse.ac.uk
0207 107 5689
Safe Contact trained to support with bullying, harassment, discrimination AND sexual violence.
I chose to become a Safe Contact as I had previously worked in HE in residential roles so thought my experience would be invaluable in this role. I also felt that there needed to be more male representation in the Safe Contact role.
In my spare time, I’m an avid rugby fan having grown up playing from the age of 4 and plan on getting back into playing when I move up to London.
Victoria Frost (she/her)
Head of Student Services
Academic Registrar’s Division
V.L.frost@lse.ac.uk
Safe Contact trained to support with bullying, harassment, discrimination AND sexual violence.
I chose to be a Safe Contact because I have spent years supporting staff and students through difficult situations, including issues that you might bring to a Safe Contact.
I have worked at universities in three different countries and in a variety of roles, including responding to intimate partner violence and sexual violence. I have also worked with the Student Wellbeing Service and have a good understanding of the various support services across the School and in the wider community.
Please come talk to me if you would like someone to listen to you and help you figure out a way forward.
Pete Evanson
Deputy Head of Student Services (Advice and Policy)
Student Services Centre
P.Evanson@lse.ac.uk
Safe Contact trained to support with bullying, harassment and discrimination.
In my role I often encounter students who are, or have, faced difficult or distressing circumstances and I try to be a good listener who can help to formulate a plan that joins up the academic and pastoral support available to students at LSE.
Tash Dalling
Organisational Learning Programme Coordinator (secondment)
Human Resources
t.dalling@lse.ac.uk
Safe Contact trained to support with bullying, harassment, discrimination AND sexual violence (including LGBTQ+ domestic and sexual violence). Trained in Safeguarding.
I have worked in HE within Human Resources and Programmes as well as within Victim Support as a Support Worker. I have an interest in both staff and student wellbeing and safety, and feel that it is an incredibly important aspect of University life, hence have taken on the role of being a Safe Contact.
I enjoy Olympic Weightlifting and watching films/tv shows in my spare time.
Kelly Benson
Faculty Affairs Manager
Management
k.benson@lse.ac.uk
0207 955 6291
Safe Contact trained to support with bullying, harassment and discrimination.
I have worked in Higher Education Administration since 2001, this is my third institution and I have been at LSE since 2014. My current role is primarily academic recruitment and supporting key HR functions for the Department. I have a keen interest in student and staff wellbeing and took on the role of a Safe Contact in March 2020.
Casey Kearney (he/him)
School of Public Policy
c.kearney1@lse.ac.uk
Safe Contact trained to support with bullying, harassment, and discrimination.
My name is Casey and I have been at LSE since 2022. I am an Assistant Professor in the School of Public Policy where I teach courses in data science and quantitative methods and support master’s students. I chose to become a Safe Contact to better support students and staff throughout our academic community.
In my spare time I enjoy running and indoor rock climbing.
Sudha Vijay (she/her)
Assistant Planning Officer,
Planning
s.vijay1@lse.ac.uk
Safe Contact trained to support with bullying, harassment, and discrimination.
I have been at LSE since 2019, first as a Master’s student and now as a staff member (in the area of data insights and analytics). I am well versed in the stress and chaos that University can bring to students and staff and am keen to use my knowledge and skills to support people feel safe and heard (while also sign posting to the correct support/resources available).
I chose to be a Safe Contact because I am passionate about supporting people, having worked with young people and adults from various social strata of society and being strong advocate of wellbeing.
Please come and talk to me if you would like a gentle listening ear and guidance on the support available to you.
Monica Haile-Selassie
Secretary Division
m.haile-selassie@lse.ac.uk
Safe Contact trained to support with bullying, harassment, and discrimination.
I joined the LSE in the summer of 2022, and I work in Secretary Division. Prior to this I worked in Corporate and during the pandemic rejoined the NHS. This is my first time working in Education, I decided to join the safe contact scheme as I believe it is important for everyone to access to help and feel supported.
I am a parent of two young children so quite a limited amount of personal time at home, however in my free time I like to read, and catching up on recommended TV series.