Shakira Martin (NUS president)
Shakira Martin | |
|---|---|
Martin addressing the 2017 NUS National Conference in Brighton. | |
| 59th President of the National Union of Students | |
| In office 3 July 2017 – 3 July 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Malia Bouattia |
| Succeeded by | Zamzam Ibrahim |
| Vice President for Further Education | |
| In office 23 April 2015 – 3 July 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Joe Vinson |
| Succeeded by | Emily Chapman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1988 (age 36–37) |
| Alma mater | Lewisham and Southwark College |
Shakira Martin (born 1988) is a British student politician and former president of the National Union of Students.
In April 2017, Martin, the union's vice-president for further education, defeated the incumbent Malia Bouattia, receiving 56% of the vote. After Bouttia's leadership of the NUS was marred by allegations of antisemitism, Martin pledged "unity", "pragmatism", and to put the "NUS back into the hands of its membership". She describes herself as a black working-class single mother, and comes from a Jamaican family background. She was the first Black female NUS president and first woman from the African-Caribbean community to serve as NUS President, and the second not to have studied at university.
In March 2018, Martin was re-elected to a second term with 51% of the vote in the first round.