Being present and connected with UCL alumni volunteer Leora Kurtzer

How pursuing passions and creating communities through volunteering has made Leora Kurtzer (UCL History of Art MA 2021) a role model who shines bright.

A keen volunteer throughout her life, Leora Kurtzer has seen the positive impact that volunteering has had for her on a personal level, as well as for the people she helped. This was further apparent during her Master’s studies at UCL where she volunteered with a Students’ Union UCL initiative. 

Since graduating, Leora has given back to UCL as an alumni volunteer, delivering work-related learning workshops to help current students develop their practical skills.

Impressively driven from a young age, American Leora’s first degree was a Business Marketing BSc from the University of Texas in Dallas. She studied there from 2013 to 2017 – while working full time as a project manager. Joining the Peace Corps after graduating, she spent the next two years as an education volunteer in China. It was this experience that led her towards studying History of Art at UCL.

“In China, I was asked to teach a class on Western culture,” Leora explains. “That’s a very broad topic, so I ended up teaching a class on Western art, but through the lens of how it applies to people in their modern lives.” She designed a lecture series on topics such as mental health and artists, art therapy, and comparing hieroglyphics and cave paintings with emojis and graffiti.

Realising she really enjoyed the topic, and with a still-strong childhood ambition to live in London, Leora decided to “merge dreams” and apply to study for a Master’s in History of Art at UCL.

Studying for passion

When the Covid-19 pandemic happened, Leora decided to move to London as planned, even though the majority of learning had to be virtual.  Leora doesn’t regret her decision. “I got a really solid education from my time at UCL,” she says. “My tutors were really amenable to the topics I was interested in exploring, and my research capabilities increased.”

“During my time at UCL, I collected a lot of experiences – including through volunteering programmes - that have made me into a well-rounded person.”

Volunteering to connect and make a difference

“I always recommend volunteering to people who come to new countries,” she explains. “I've lived in a lot of countries, and so I’ve had to make friendship groups quickly. I think doing things that you enjoy – and that includes volunteering – is one way to make friends.”

During her year at UCL, Leora volunteered for the Students’ Union UCL initiative B.Zine. These were online sex and relationship workshops for 16-18 year olds in London, aiming to answer the questions young people are asking, and removing the stigma around talking about sex.

As well as gaining great feedback from the young people who participated in B.Zine, Leora also became friends with other volunteers. “You end up just naturally expanding your network through taking on things like volunteering,” she says.

Supporting the next generation

After graduating from UCL, Leora worked for the LGBT+ Jewish education charity KeshetUK, before gaining a job at Everybody Agency, where she is now a Senior Project Manager. While staying in London – “one of the best cities in the world” – and navigating the path towards citizenship is a current focal point, Leora is still inspired by education and creativity – which keeps her connected to UCL.

As a UCL alum, Leora has volunteered her time to support with different UCL Work-Related Learning initiatives. One of these was on project management, and Leora designed a workshop on using the tools of project management to pursue an individual goal.

“I showed how a lot of the elements of project management can be used in your own personal life to achieve your goals.”

The project management session was incredibly well-received, and Leora subsequently volunteered to speak on a panel of UCL alumni who are working in the UK, and their pathways to visa sponsorship.

““Leora’s project management skills workshop took a totally fresh approach to an everyday subject, enabling students to see project management through the lens of their everyday goals. Leora also shared insights from her own career journey, so the session also served as an illuminating introduction to project management as a career. And, on top of all that, she is simply a great speaker, bringing bags of energy and humour to the session. We had great feedback from the students, and I’d definitely invite her back again!” – John Braime, Work-Related Learning Manager

 

Leora recommends volunteering to any UCL alum. “There are ways of giving back to an institution that supported you and your education and I think time is a huge resource that you can give. It means a lot to students to hear about people and their careers. There’s often a narrow view of the careers out there, and you can help them realise there are millions of options.”

Volunteering isn’t just a one-way street. “You get a lot from it as well,” Leora says. “The questions you get help you reflect on your own career. And they’re just really nice and sweet students to talk to.”

Your UCL experience is yours to define

Leora says she gives the same advice to every university student she meets. “You get to make the most of the time that you're there, or you get to make the least of the time that you're there. The time will pass no matter what, and you'll finish your degree most likely. But it's what you make of that time.”

Leora did this by sitting in the front row of lectures and using her tutors’ office hours during her undergraduate degree in Texas. While studying for her Master’s degree at UCL during the pandemic, this meant raising her hand in every online class. “Speaking up in class is really helpful to your own education, the group dynamic, and standing out to your lecturers,” she says. Being engaged in her education is important to Leora, and she believes that creating connections with people can only be a positive thing. She also reminds students not to forget that “UCL has this giant pool of resources that you can tap into.”

Leora’s life continues to be shaped by education, volunteering and creativity. Importantly, she lives by the advice she gives others. “Be present. Engage in all of the different activities that you can. And make your schedule as complicated as possible!”

Volunteer with us

Whether you’re inspired to have a chat with a student, help at a university fair, or get fellow alumni together through a group – there are plenty of volunteering opportunities as a UCL alum. Get in touch to start the conversation about how you could become a volunteer.

Register your interest as a volunteer by completing this form.

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