Alumni governor is helping shape Birkbeck's future after graduating alongside mum
Edwin Lerew (BA Politics and Government, 2017) did not experience university in the conventional way. When he began his studies at Birkbeck, he did so alongside his mum, Samiya, and their shared journey culminated in graduating in the same ceremony. Today, he works as an academic and administrator at King’s College London and is bringing his experience back to Birkbeck as alumni governor.
“Not every day a mother and son study together but no qualms were had,” Edwin reflects. “She’d talk about how I was embarrassed to have her around but I was proud. It made us closer. We could talk politics and she illuminated me on a lot of concepts. It is one of my life highlights to graduate with my mum and all my friends.”
Edwin’s route to Birkbeck followed a period of uncertainty. After dropping out of the University of Roehampton, he found himself disillusioned with education and grappling with unemployment. Around the time of the coalition government, he developed a growing interest in politics, which would soon become an academic and professional focus. Birkbeck offered a route back into education that aligned with his circumstances.
For Samiya, her Birkbeck studies had a lasting impact. Gaining a degree gave her greater authority as an activist and political thinker, leading to her establishing the Cosmopolitan Democratic Party in Somalia before her sudden passing in 2021. “She’d found herself locked out of the system,” Edwin explains. “After her degree, those barriers came down.” Edwin is now planning to install a memorial bench on campus in her honour.
What continues to define Birkbeck for Edwin is that barriers between cultures and generations are non-existent. He remembers: “We’d learn as much from our classmates as our professors. The environment was international, as well as intergenerational, giving us depth perception that we wouldn’t get otherwise.”
At Birkbeck, Edwin also worked as a student caller, raising funds through two telephone campaigns. Those conversations gave Edwin insight into the strength and diversity of Birkbeck alumni as well as the value their support can bring to the university. Hearing these perspectives reinforced his belief that alumni are vital stakeholders in Birkbeck’s future - an outlook that shapes his approach as alumni governor.
After completing his degree, Edwin continued his studies with a Postgraduate Certificate in Text and Performance, delivered in partnership with Birkbeck and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. The course allowed him to explore political thought through performance and language, developing analytical and creative skills. Alongside his role at King’s College London, Edwin is also a writer and political satirist.
As Birkbeck’s newly-elected alumni governor, Edwin sees the role as an active responsibility to keep the authentic student experience at the heart of institutional decision-making. Committed to the founding mission, he is focused on ensuring Birkbeck continues to expand access to higher education for those who might otherwise be excluded.