Helen Stephens is no stranger to media attention. She was appointed Head Porter at Selwyn College in September but has appeared in newspapers since March 2005, when Jesus College made her the first ever woman gate porter. Stephens, 48, then became Deputy Head Porter at Trinity College, before applying successfully for what she calls an "absolutely fantastic" job as Selwyn’s Head Porter.

Stephens is the latest woman to claim a piece of the ancient wall built to preserve the University of Cambridge as a male-dominated institution. Cracks began to show with the appointment of the first female professor, Dorothy Garrod, in 1939. But the wall only started crumbling as recently as the 1960s, when all-male colleges began to open their doors to women. Stephens herself finds it "surprising" that her appointment has made such big news, with the University’s student gender ratio at 52 per cent male to 48 per cent female.

However, women still tend not to hold many of the senior positions at Cambridge. "I went through something similar when I joined at Jesus", Stephens tells Varsity. "I think it’s a moment in history, it’s a break in the mould and making history all at the same time." Stephens finds the suggestion that women are less suited to the traditionally-masculine job of porter inconceivable. "It is a very appropriate job for a woman. When I applied to the College of Jesus, I had no idea that women weren’t doing these sorts of jobs. There’s no rhyme or reason why women shouldn’t be in the Porters’ Lodge. Things change, but there might be a Doubting Thomas or two out there I suppose." I get the impression that Stephens is referring to her time at Trinity College, which she mentions was "challenging". Although keen to stress that the College’s emphasis on tradition is a good thing - "nobody wants a College of Cambridge University to change" – she tells me that "getting used to the tradition was quite tricky. Selwyn is less ceremonial, much more relaxed and it doesn’t have the historical complexities that Trinity has."

Indeed, Stephens feels that a female influence, far from disrupting College life, "enhances the Porter’s Lodge". The Head Porter is responsible for the security of staff, students and visitors and is expected to offer a welcoming service to everyone who enters the College gates. Stephens notes: "It was the case when I was at Jesus, that I had a lot of female students asking me for my advice on certain issues." Whether this is to do with Stephens’ natural warmth or her gender is debatable but the suggestion that porters offer more to students in terms of welfare is a pertinent one. Crucially, she cites "the people, the students" as the best part of the job.

It is clear that Stephens has a genuine passion for her role. She has experience in areas as diverse as account managing and massage. After working for the NHS she trained as a massage therapist, practising at the exclusive Wentworth Golf Club and Spa in Surrey. "That’s got to be one of my favourite jobs", she enthuses. "I’d never worked with my hands before, so it was a lovely time for me to be hands-on. And I met lots of celebrities!"

When asked what drew her to a career as a porter, she pauses. "It was actually circumstantial more than anything. My long-term partner and I went our separate ways and I found that, because I’d followed him around progressing his career, I didn’t actually have any career of my own. I didn’t really want to stay in corporate life, I didn’t really want to stay working with the NHS and our split made it obvious that I could decide to do something different. I had to come back to Cambridge to find my feet again and I got a job working at Jesus as a gate porter. I didn’t even know what a gate porter was and I was lucky enough to get the job. Then the floodgates opened, as it were."

"Something good came out of something very, very awful in my life and I’ll always be grateful to Jesus College. They were just brilliant, and if I have anybody to thank it’s the Head Porter at Jesus. They are fabulous people and they just lit the fire, and started all my interests. It’s because of them that I’m where I am today."

Stephens is originally from Llanelli, a town on the west coast of Wales, but now lives in Huntingdon. Her close family live nearby, and are "immensely proud". Ultimately, this feels like a personal as well as a professional accomplishment for Selwyn’s Head Porter. "I think for the first time in my life I’ve actually found somewhere that I believe I belong. Professionally I think this is it really. I wouldn’t want to be in any other job!"