From organising cultural events to creating spaces where everyone can connect and contribute, Mykal Riley has always gravitated towards roles that build community and enrich storytelling.
Officially joining UCL’s Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechEng) in 2014, Mykal found a department needing what he calls “a bit of a hug”; a stronger sense of belonging, shared experience and collaboration.
His response was to design events that brought people together and showcased the department’s research and teaching. Early student socials, competitions and research showcases laid the foundations for larger, public events and Mykal’s creative ideas soon went institution wide. The Wonders live show was a highlight of the award-winning UCL Festival of Engineering, while Cosmic UCL brought together leading science communicators from across the university for a science, comedy and music spectacular at The Bloomsbury Theatre.
It’s been an amazing ride. So many responsibilities and projects, so much autonomy and support to deliver them, and so many opportunities to make useful and creative contributions.
Born in Oxford, Mykal moved to Jamaica at the age of 6 and grew up there before returning to London. He quickly “wrote his way” into Channel 4 as a commissioning editor’s consultant and then as a civil servant, before studying commercial music at the University of Westminster.
Whilst at Westminster, he served as Student Union President for two years, beginning his longstanding interest in higher education and community building. His flair for events really took off when he began running London Spanish Language Meetup, delivering 40 events a year for language learners across the capital.
It is this combination of talents - in writing, events, radio, TV, film making and commercial music - alongside a little bit of showbiz know-how that has enabled Mykal to deliver a compelling programme of storytelling, bringing the marvels of engineering to broad audiences.
He has also brought a positive culture change to the department.
Our students now expect to have a range of events, they expect to have a big Christmas party, they expect trips.
His work has been recognised with multiple awards, including a UCL Professional Services Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution to Achieving our Mission, but the one he treasures most is when students designed a special currency for their Lunar New Year celebration with his face on it: “such an organic, sweet and telling gesture.”
For Mykal, the value of community cannot be understated.
I really, really believe in community and I don't think people can thrive outside of it completely. I don't have the sense of being alienated within London because I have my little town, which is UCL. I would like UCL to continue to be a thriving in-person community, with the aim of creating greater prosperity.
He hopes to continue to build on his creative talents to create engaging experiences for engineering enthusiasts, with a focus on video storytelling. This includes The Wonders 200, coming to a theatre near you for UCL’s bicentenary!
