Hahna Briggs has an easy laugh that will probably come in very useful in her new role at the OUSA.
The gay support co-ordinator has begun her work in an environment she says has seen plenty of progress in terms of law changes, and an increasing acceptance of the queer community. But that acceptance is by no means complete.
''We're still living in a culture where heterosexuality is the norm, and that results in the idea those who are not are abnormal,'' Ms Briggs says.
And the simple act of holding hands with her female partner in the main street of Dunedin is still seen by some as an invitation for abuse.
On one occasion, in the middle of the day, that act resulted in a passer-by yelling ''fag'' at the couple.
At night, that abuse can quickly become more sinister.
''Some guys came out of a shop and started walking behind us. We were holding hands, and they started talking about their erections [laughs] and stuff like that. We were really uncomfortable.''
Ms Briggs laughs at both situations, but they are clearly the sort of experiences that mark Dunedin as a city with some work to do.
Is the queer community safe in Dunedin?
''That's a big question.''
The Doc Marten-wearing 36-year-old Oamaru native began her role three weeks ago, having first arrived at the University of Otago in the late 1990s, and completed a bachelor of physical education, including ''all the dance papers'', in 2001.
She returned to the city in 2007 to study for a masters degree and, in 2013, became the university's Caroline Plummer Fellow in Community Dance.
In between, Ms Briggs had jobs in advocacy roles, including arts administration and disability support, and working for the Blind Foundation.
The OUSA says the co-ordinator role provides someone ''well trained in theory around pastoral care and queer identities''.
Ms Briggs, from her office in Ethel Benjamin Pl, says being gay is not necessary for her job, but ''being queer gives you a certain amount of experience, understanding and awareness''.
''I do identify as queer myself.''
Her story is different from some, in that she came out in 2007, ''reasonably late'', as a 29-year-old.
''It was a fairly long process for me.
''I started questioning as a younger student when I was doing my under-grad, ... in my early 20s, but I very quickly put a lid on it - I wasn't really ready to explore that side of myself.''
The reason for that, she said, was ''a lot of fear around people's reactions''.
''None of my friends were out. I assumed that all of my friends were heterosexual.
''There was a lot of fear, a lot of shame.''
Not only that, but Ms Briggs said coming from the Catholic school system, she had had no education about such issues.
''The education around sexuality, sex and gender diversity was ... ah ... nil.''
In her late 20s she was ''growing up'', in a heterosexual relationship with ''a little bit of domestic violence''.
''So, I made some really big changes in my life, and made a commitment to start living for myself, and being who I am and being happy.''
Part of that was the resurfacing of questions about her sexuality.
''I guess it involved telling that first person, which was really, really hard.''
That friend was part of the gay community, but over time, she found the confidence to come out to friends and families.
The reaction was ''mixed'', from supportive to confused.
''I think 'cos I was older, and I'd dated men, people questioned whether I was confused.
''So, yeah, for some people who were close to me, it took a bit of time, but I must say everyone in my life is really supportive now.''
That included family.
''When you come out there's a lot of concern about what that might mean for you, and what that might mean for them,'' she says.
And for some, explaining to friends they have a family member who is gay or lesbian can be daunting.
Some may question whether the family member is going through a phase, or is confused, or could ''fix themselves'' by going to therapy.
''You get the range, from being disowned by family, to family fully embracing it from the start. I think mine was somewhere in the middle.''
In a way, Ms Briggs has come full circle. Nine years ago, she got support from the OUSA queer support co-ordinator.
Now, she has that role for a news influx of students next year.
And success in her eyes means making sure all students know where the service is and ''what we offer, and feel really comfortable coming to see us''.
