Broadcast: News items

The Vice-Chancellor has announced an update in regards to several Professional Services roles. 

Adam Tickell said: “I have been working closely with our Chief Operating Officer Tim Westlake, who joins us in August, to put in place some new arrangements within professional services. 

“I recognise there have been a number of developments in the leadership team recently and I am extremely grateful to everyone for their professionalism as we make these changes.  The University has embarked on an exciting journey as we develop our new strategy and look to get in place the right structures to support our plans.” 

The Library 

We will be saying goodbye to Kitty Inglis, who has been the University’s Librarian since April 2008.  Over the past few years students have consistently rated the Library services in high regard and the quality of the experience offered to them is first class.  As well as overseeing a vast day to day operational service, Kitty has secured membership of Research Libraries UK, recognising the strength and quality of our print, digital and special collections, and has introduced a number of other changes to improve the service we offer our students and researchers, including 24/7 opening.  Kitty led the development of our partnership at The Keep, the excellent archive and history resource centre, which continues to grow its impressive array of special collections. 

Kitty was one of Sussex’s earliest occupants – an alumna of the University’s nursery in the 1960s – and her professionalism, insight and committed attitude have made her an exemplary colleague.  I wish Kitty all the very best as she takes a career break and thank her for taking on additional responsibilities in the past year as we recruited our new Director of Human Resources and Chief Operating Officer.  

Kitty will be leaving Sussex at the end of September and we have appointed Jane Harvell as Interim University Librarian.  Jane is currently working as Head of Library Academic Services.  

Academic Registry and Student Services

With the planned departures of Sharon Jones, Academic Registrar, and Claire Powrie, Director of Student Services, we will be merging the two units and appointing an Interim Director for the Student Experience to oversee this new division. 

We have appointed Debora Green in this interim role and she will start with us in late August.  Debora is a highly experienced education sector professional, who has spent almost 30 years at the University of Sheffield in various senior roles with the most recent covering student support and wellbeing.

Given the broader remit of this new division, we have appointed consultant Dr Andrew West, who will join us in a part-time capacity to work with Debora.  Andrew will also undertake a review of the Professional Services structures to support the student experience.  He will shortly leave the University Secretary role at Sheffield and join us in September.  For eleven years Andrew led a large directorate spanning the whole student lifecycle at Sheffield.  He has worked successfully with Debora for 25 years.

In addition, Marcus Williams (Director of Student Recruitment, Marketing and International Affairs) will take on interim responsibility for the Admissions and Widening Participation units. 

Student and Academic Administration Transformation Programme and Governance 

As a significant part of Sharon Jones’ role covered the Student and Academic Administration Transformation programme, David Cole (Director of Planning, Governance and Compliance) will become interim lead for the SAAT programme.   To help David with this expanded portfolio, we are currently exploring options around additional experience that might be brought into his team on a temporary basis.  We expect the arrangements for this to be agreed in the next few weeks and will let you know once finalised.