Ellen Sandum is a philosopher and currently works as a student humanist at USN.
She is based in Drammen but can be contacted by students from all campuses and will eventually be able to travel around to other campuses as well.
The conversation services are free, and Sandum is bound by confidentiality.
A space for conversation and reflection
– A student humanist is someone you can think out loud with, in a space where it is safe and there is plenty of room for open discussion, Ellen explains.
With Ellen, you can talk about anything – for example:
- Loneliness
- Who you can and want to be in this world
- Grief, but also joy, the latter can also be good to share with someone
- Hope and dreams
- Homesickness
- Managing everyday student life
- All sorts of feelings and relationships with fellow human beings
Life often does not turn out exactly as one had imagined. With the student humanist, a safe and free space is created where one can reflect and wonder together.
Plenty of time
Ellen Sandum has plenty of time and many years of experience listening:
– Perhaps together we can find out if there is something behind thoughts and feelings that it might also be good to talk about.
A student once said this to a colleague of Sandum:
– A space is created where, by being listened to, you also listen to yourself.
And that alone can open up a lot.
Philosopher at your service
Ellen Sandum has a master’s degree in philosophy, but also has education in pedagogy, theology, languages and social sciences.
– As philosophers, we are used to sorting complex issues about existential themes. We are good at analysing and thinking long thoughts. In addition, we are often curious and want to understand. It is a good foundation for good conversations, Ellen says.
Before Sandum became a full-time student humanist, she worked as a humanistic life counsellor for the Norwegian Humanist Association in Tønsberg, where she had many conversations about grief, loss and longing. She has also worked with research communication at Kilden Gender Research, a knowledge centre that disseminates research on gender and equality.
In addition to individual conversations, the student humanist wishes to initiate joint meeting places and events, preferably in collaboration with student chaplains and psychologists connected to USN.
Available for drop-ins
Ellen Sandum has an office in Drammen. For now, drop-in appointments are available when she is not in meetings or at other campuses.
She is located on the 1st floor of Papirbredden 2.
Anyone can contact her by email: elsan8230@usn.no or ellen.sandum@human.no or by phone: 913 62 501.
She has spent her first time on the job getting familiar with the work, setting up technical things and getting to know staff so that they know she exists and can recommend students to get in touch.
As a student humanist, she is primarily available for students, but staff can also contact her if needed.