02 May 2014
The University of South Australia has appointed Dr Laura-Anne Bull to the newly created position of Pro Vice Chancellor for Student Engagement and Equity, a role designed to underpin a student centred approach to education at the University.
Dr Bull joins UniSA from the Australian National University (ANU).
UniSA Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd says he is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Bull who brings a wealth of relevant experience to the role.
“This important new position will lead initiatives to ensure that at university students are fully engaged and supported, not only to learn within their core area of study but to benefit from their whole university experience,” Prof Lloyd says.
“I know Laura-Anne’s experience as an academic and her outstanding track record both nationally and internationally in leading strategy to enhance student services and support gives her a very complete perspective of students’ needs – a skillset which we are delighted to bring to UniSA.
“She will be working to deliver on the important touch points for an outstanding student experience that are outlined in our strategic vision, Crossing the Horizon. That will include making sure we meet our target to become the university of choice for Indigenous Australians and deliver important opportunities for educational success for all of our students.”
Dr Bull says she is looking forward to making important contributions in the new role of Pro Vice Chancellor Student Engagement and Equity.
“I want to work with staff and students from across the university and with the wider community to position UniSA as a leading light for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, for students from diverse backgrounds and those from regional communities,” she says.
“UniSA has a strong history of equity and diversity and I want not only to maintain that tradition but to enhance it.
“One of my first priorities will be to meet, talk and listen to University staff, students in the city and in our regional communities so that together we can achieve the strategic ambition to deliver an outstanding student experience to all of its students.”
Dr Bull earned a PhD in Chemical Engineering in 1998 from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. Dr Bull worked as a process engineer for Zeneca Agrochemicals (now Syngenta) including a role as lead process engineer responsible for the commissioning of new plants, before returning to university teaching in 2001.
As a lecturer in Chemical and Process Engineering at Strathclyde she was fully engaged not only in teaching but in student pastoral support, PhD supervision, study advisor, and a range of academic operational groups from undergraduate recruitment to faculty school liaison.
In 2008 she became acting Head of Registry and in 2010 Head of Student Experience at Strathclyde. The role was responsible for developing and delivering a broad strategy to improve student experience from both an administrative and experiential perspective.
Moving to Australia she commenced with the ANU as Deputy Registrar – Student Services in 2011 before becoming Registrar – Student Services in 2012.
This broad and significant role led the implementation of ANU’s equity strategy and included policy implementation responsibilities across the university on matters from support for students with disabilities through to the development of a culture of quality student services.
Media contact: Michèle Nardelli office: 08 8302 0966 mobile: 0418 823 673 email: Michele.nardelli@unisa.edu.au
