Fellows (l-r) Meriel Box (Liverpool John Moores), Professor Tara Dean, Director of Research, University of Portsmouth, Professor Julie Sanders (Nottingham) and Nicholas Jones (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) each with artworks made to mark their Fellowship status
The University of Portsmouth’s Director of Research, Professor Tara Dean, is among the first in the UK to be awarded a Fellowship of the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education.
She is one of six nationally to be awarded the status in recognition of exemplary leadership skills.
Professor Dean is an expert in allergies and Professor of Health Sciences at School of Health Sciences and Social Work.
She said: “Being awarded the Fellowship underlines my commitment to the University and strengthens the impact of my leadership.
“I volunteered for the first cohort because it was perfect timing for me – I had just been appointed Director of Research and thought the Fellowship could help me with all that I need to do and learn in my new role. The programme was excellent as it combined elements of what I needed to achieve to make a success of my new position as well as allowing me to contribute to the development of others with whom I work closely.”
Professor Dean was presented with her Fellowship at an awards evening last night in London.
She said: “Good leadership is difficult to define, though we all know it when we see it.
“I read this somewhere few years ago and it has stayed with me – a good leader needs to ask questions more than delivering answers; build relationships, not just structures; and reflect and not react.”
Dr Paul Gentle, of the Leadership Foundation, said at the event: “I’m delighted that we can recognise and celebrate the immense effort made by our participants to development their leadership capabilities. The impact this is having on practice across higher education represents real capacity-building for the challenges ahead.”
The Leadership Foundation was founded in 2004 to provide a dedicated service of support and advice on leadership, governance and management for all the UK’s universities and higher education colleges.
The other Fellows are Professor Julie Sanders, Head of School of English, University of Nottingham; Meriel Box, Head of Staff Development, Liverpool John Moores University; Dr Noel Purdy, Principal Lecturer and Team Leader, Special Education, Stranmillis University College; Nicholas Jones, Director of Estates, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; and Harri ap Rees, Director of Strategic Planning, University of Surrey.
