Ju Yoon is the Student Registry Services Lead in the Directorate of Academic Services.

Can you tell us a little about your role?

I lead an absolutely amazing team here at Student Registry Services, and together we organise core central student administrative events at the University to include Enrolment & Registration, Examinations and Graduations. The events require careful internal planning as well as collaboration with our colleagues across the University to ensure students have the best experience at each stage of their academic journey.

What does a typical day look like for you?

This varies a lot depending on the time of the year.

During the non-peak times, I can be in meetings, answering emails and supporting my team to make decisions in their respective roles. The topics can range from issuing education verification documentation such as transcripts, letters and degree parchments, to something more complex, such as giving guidance on student record management, consideration of exceptional circumstances to approve tuition fee waiver requests, resolving student loan-related queries, and so much more.

Our events take up over half of the academic year, so we do have a lot of critical peak times. It can very much feel like we’re constantly on the go, but we have a great team that thrives under pressure. During the Enrolment & Registration period, you’ll find me in the front line with my team answering phone and in-person queries from students.

For Examinations, whilst mostly I’m there to support the team in problem-solving issues that may arise during a live examination session, I can also be seen running to the Whitla hall with spare calculators or graph paper! Not forgetting Graduations, you’ll see me floating around in a black robe, doing everything within my power to ensure every graduand is accounted for and that their names are read accordingly as they cross the stage. Sounds easy, but trust me, I have seen it all during my 15 years of involvement in student graduations here at the University!

What do you find most rewarding about your role?

I guess aside from getting to fulfil my love for admin, one of the major things would be the people.

Giving advice and reassurance to a nervous student beginning their journey with us and being a trusted contact as they navigate registration, classes, exams or life in general, and then to watch them cross that graduation stage – it’s hard to get tired of that!

Then I have my team - I have the pleasure of working with so many talented individuals who dedicate themselves to their role. This makes my job much more enjoyable and takes away from the feeling of the daily grind.

Finally, the colleagues that I have met along the way. I have made so many connections throughout my time here and continue to collaborate with so many wonderful, supportive and inspiring people.

Can you share a standout moment or experience that's stayed with you during your time at Queen's?

I graduated from Queen’s back in 2009 and was fortunate to have had my mum and brother attend my ceremony at the Whitla Hall. It was the last major event that my mum was able to attend before she moved back home to South Korea. My parents sacrificed a lot for us to be able to pursue education and ultimately, a career here at the University. Those memories still motivate me to this day.

Not to forget, I also met my husband at the University. Apparently, all that chat about student loan entitlements and reporting lingo didn’t put me off saying yes. We got married in the Canada Room / Great Hall back in 2022.

About Ju

Outside of work, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy?

I love arts and crafts - embroidery, origami and painting, to name a few. I sometimes bring that energy into my work when possible. Need a bespoke birthday card or fun craft ideas for a team building day? I’m your gal!

What advice or insight would you share with someone new to Queen's?

Queen’s is a wonderful community. There are so many opportunities to build relationships, whether that be through your job, training courses or staff events. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or guidance if you’re struggling or feeling disconnected. It’s about the friends you make along the way!