Congratulations to Professor Louise Gracia who will take up the role of Dean of Students from 1 August 2016.

Professor Gracia joined Warwick in 2004 and has served in a variety of roles, including Associate Dean for the Undergraduate Programme and Widening Participation within Warwick Business School (WBS). Louise was educated at the Universities of Wales, Swansea, and Bath and completed her PhD in transition and retention policy arising from widening participation within the higher education sector. Her research interests cover Accounting Education; Tax Avoidance; Emotions and Learning; and Academic Dishonesty. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Member of the Society for Research into Higher Education and its Student Experience Network, and an Associate Editor of Accounting Education: An international journal. She is also an External Examiner for the University of London.

Louise holds a number of awards for her teaching and learning practice, including the Warwick Award for Teaching Excellence (2013) and has received an Outstanding Teaching Award each year since 2004. She also consistently features as a top performing lecturer in student surveys of the School.
Louise will split her time, maintaining a 0.4 academic post as a Professorial Teaching Fellow within WBS in addition to her new university role as Dean of Students.

The role of Dean of Students

The Dean of Students is a new position at Warwick which seeks to provide strategic leadership of academic pastoral support at a University level under the direction of the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Teaching and Learning). It supports the enhancement of the student experience and ensures that the academic pastoral needs of students are considered in institutional strategic developments and delivery. In recognition of the importance of the academic pastoral experience, the Dean of Students will have line accountability for new Faculty Senior Tutors who will undertake the duties of the existing Senior Tutor role on a local Faculty basis working with Departmental Senior Tutors. The new roles reflect Warwick’s recognition of the importance of academic pastoral support to the student experience and the University’s Teaching and Learning strategy. The Dean of Students will also lead the development of the wider personal tutor network.