Meet Pembroke’s new MCR President

Michaelmas Term is here, so what better time to introduce our MCR (Middle Common Room) President for the new academic year: Isabela Linares. We recently spoke to Isabela who gave us an insight into Pembroke’s postgraduate community. 

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Isabela Linares. I am an international student from Colombia going into my second year of my MPhil in Development Studies. Through my research, I have been exploring the dynamics of organised crime and governance in the context of peace building in Colombia. Before coming to Oxford, I was working as an international development journalist for a small U.S. NGO that operates in Guatemala—a country which became my home for 9 months. Here at Oxford, I have been involved in the University’s Latin American Society, Pembroke’s MCR Committee, and I try to make the most of all the academic and entertainment spaces that Oxford has to offer. 

Why Pembroke?

I have always found great value and comfort in a small but active community, which is what Pembroke feels like. For me, Pembroke strikes the perfect balance in all aspects; old, but not too old; small, but not too small; and both socially and academically active. Because Pembroke offers such a wide range of degrees, I have had the chance to meet people doing fascinating work in many fields and have felt part of a community where the exchange of ideas and interesting conversations are a constant. Then there’s the beauty and homely feeling of the College, heightened by the friendliness of the community. Both Old Quad and Chapel Quad, with their beautiful gardens, take you to a different time.

How would you describe Pembroke’s postgraduate community?

From the beginning, the MCR and postgraduate community have been incredibly welcoming; it was clear that this was a place where you can easily feel at home, surrounded by people who want to build a supportive environment. The MCR, which refers both to Pembroke’s postgraduate community and our common room space, fosters a friendly, collaborative atmosphere. It's an ideal place and community in which to thrive during your degree. A feeling of community is encouraged within the MCR through weekly social events such as ‘second dessert’ after formal dinners on Sundays, wellness teas on Wednesdays, brunches, and bar nights. Each event helps to create a relaxing and welcoming environment. 

I have really come to value the MCR community, which is filled with people who are always willing to listen. Not only have they been patient enough to listen to me talk through my thesis ideas (which for a period changed weekly), they have also listened to my ideas for essays and other projects. Friends from the MCR have read drafts, shared thoughtful comments, and helped me improve my work in ways I didn’t expect but greatly value. 

People in the MCR have many great ideas and Oxford encourages that; it creates an atmosphere where anything feels possible and really encourages you to strive to make the world a better place. Creating a space and platform for the exchange of ideas is important, both to encourage prospective students to join our community and to give current students the courage to bring their ideas to life. 

Our sincere thanks to Isabela for sharing her reflections on Pembroke’s postgraduate community, and to our Access and Outreach team for beginning this conversation with Isabela during her stint as MCR Access Representative. Throughout this year, Isabela has been keenly supporting Pembroke’s Access and Outreach initiatives for Year 12 pupils. Earlier this summer, she gave a talk titled ‘What Is Conflict? Understanding War, Violence, and Peace’ to pupils on the OxNet and Pembroke Scholars programmes, before leading tutorials on this topic during the Access Week residential in August.