Meet the People Behind the Scenes! 🎓✨
This article is part of our UHI interview series, in which we spotlight the amazing staff who support students every day.
Get to know Melissa O’Keeffe— wizard-level problem-solver and freshers’ organiser! Let’s celebrate our HISA and UHI staff who make university life smoother. 💙
When you think of UHI staff, you might envision lecturers, administrators, and the occasional librarian who gives you a knowing look when you panic-print your essay five minutes before the deadline. However, there are numerous unsung heroes working behind the scenes, and Melissa O'Keeffe is one of them.
Melissa’s official job titles? Well, it’s rather lengthy, but let’s say she’s the glue that holds many things together at UHI House and UHI Inverness. With HISA, she is our Operations Resource Coordinator, and with UHI, she is a Classroom Assistant. From assisting students in navigating academic hurdles to ensuring freshers’ events don’t spiral into complete chaos, Melissa is a problem-solver, a friendly face, and, as it happens, a fan of coronation chicken baked potatoes. More on that later.
The Double Life of Melissa O’Keeffe
Melissa describes her role as "two-faced"—not in a devious way, but like a coin with two sides, each equally important. One aspect of her job involves supporting students academically and ensuring they have a positive university experience. This may entail advocating for students, addressing pressing questions about room bookings, or providing reassurance in an overwhelming world of deadlines and Bright Space logins.
The other side of her job entails working on major projects, such as the summer residential and freshers’ freebies (yes, those tote bags don’t pack themselves). She’s also why vital UHI services don’t mysteriously vanish overnight—consider team spaces and all the behind-the-scenes efforts that keep the HISA and the university operating smoothly.
“I’m basically a human safety net,” Melissa says. “If something isn’t working, I usually find out about it first—sometimes before anyone else realises.”
Common Misconceptions: No, She Can’t Magically Solve Everything
One of the biggest myths about Melissa’s role is that she has unlimited powers to fix any problem.
“I think some students expect me to be a wizard,” she laughs. “They’ll say, ‘I don’t want to get up for my 9 AM lecture—can you ask my lecturer to record it and send it to me?’ And I have to be like… no, just set an alarm.”
That said, she is always there to support students, even if she can’t grant wishes. “Even if I can’t fix everything, I can listen and point you in the right direction. Sometimes, you just need someone who knows where to look for answers.”
The Secret to Engaging Students? Llamas and Laughter
If you were lucky enough to attend one of Melissa’s freshers’ talks, you might remember her as "the funny one."
“I stopped worrying about sticking rigidly to a PowerPoint and just had fun with the students,” she says. “Apparently, that made an impression because everyone kept joking about llamas with me the next day.”
(Sidenote: No, UHI does not have llamas. Yet.)
Her approach is simple: humour helps people relax. “Inductions are overwhelming. But if you can make people laugh, they remember you—and they remember that you’re someone they can come to for help.”
Hidden Talents & The Coronation Chicken Mystery
When asked about her hidden talent, Melissa admits she’s got a knack for learning things quickly. “Plumbing, knitting, tiling a bathroom—if there’s a YouTube tutorial, I can probably do it.”
But perhaps the most shocking revelation? She has eaten the same meal at the Inverness campus since 2015: a coronation chicken baked potato. Why? “Texture issues,” she explains. “Some foods just stop working for me, but coronation chicken never lets me down.”
What Keeps Her Going
Despite the challenges of the job, Melissa finds motivation in the students she supports. “There’s nothing better than seeing a student you’ve helped graduate,” she says. “Knowing you played even a small part in their journey—it’s really rewarding.”
So, next time you’re lost, confused, or need to know where to find the best snacks on campus, Melissa might be the person to ask. Just don’t expect her to change your lecture schedule.
How HISA Works with Melissa to Support Students
Melissa and the HISA Advice Service work closely to ensure students get the support they need. Whether advocacy, welfare issues, or ensuring no student feels alone, the collaboration between UHI Inverness staff like Melissa and HISA helps create a stronger, more connected student community.
So, if you ever need help, don’t hesitate to reach out—Melissa and the HISA team are here to make university life a little bit easier (and maybe even fun!).