My role
As Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience, my role is to lead the University in the implementation of its Education Strategy. This means:
- Working in partnership with students and colleagues to ensure we deliver what we do in a way that is inclusive, personalised and transformative.
- A continuous focus on developing our learning and teaching to deeply engage and involve our students in purposeful academic, personal and professional development and to connect them to the outside world and employment opportunities.
- Careful consideration of the broader student experience in all aspects of University life so that we work collectively to support every single one of our learners to success.
- Approaching all that we do with compassion and with the wellbeing of our entire University community at the forefront of our minds.
Background
I have worked in academia since January 2007, starting my journey initially as a part-time visiting lecturer in Journalism following a 15-year career in the regional news media.
After graduating with a BA (Hons) History and Politics, I trained as a news reporter, working my way through the ranks to eventually become Deputy Editor of the Telegraph & Argus in Bradford. This extensive news media experience was critical in the way I approached my role as lecturer, working to bring the news media to life for students and embed authentic and real-world experience in every aspect of their learning.
I became a permanent member of the Journalism lecturing team at Leeds Trinity University before progressing to be Head of School, Dean of Faculty and then Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Experience). During all of these roles, I developed a strong focus on authentic learning and employability and this informed the research I carried out and employer related projects I became involved in, including working in partnership to design degree programmes. It also informed the focus of my Doctorate in Education.
Research
My research interests are around higher education pedagogy and its interaction with graduate employability and skills gaps, and, related to this, employer / student co-creation.
External roles
- Member of the University Alliance Teaching and Learning Network
- Member of the Spinnaker Group (student experience)