Deputy Vice-Chancellor unveiled at Marjon ahead of new campus developments

Released: 22.01.19

Plymouth Marjon University has announced the appointment of a Deputy Vice-Chancellor, strengthening the senior leadership team of the University as it celebrates a year of achievements. Professor Michelle Jones, an expert in children’s health and activity will be responsible for leading Marjon’s research strategy.

Michelle joins Marjon from Southampton Solent University where she was the Dean of School of Sport, Health and Social Sciences and led the development of new courses as well as creating new partnerships that match regional skills gaps.  She has worked in Higher Education for over 20 years at a number of modern universities that share common objectives with Marjon. Michelle continues to research and publish in the field of physical activity and wellbeing with a particular interest in young people. 

Michelle said, “I am delighted to be joining Plymouth Marjon University as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at such an exciting and positive time. Marjon has a proud heritage and plays a vital role as a university vested in social mobility and civic engagement.  I look forward to working for the students and staff of Marjon to enhance the research culture and promote the impact of this research on wider society.”

In a further development, recognising the exciting plans ahead for development of the Marjon campus, John Bailey has also joined the University to oversee Estates and IT. John joins from the University of London where he was Head of Sustainability, overseeing a 150,000 m2 central London campus and leading on a £500m master plan. John has achieved a 47% reduction in carbon emissions in his time at the University of London and has been working on making the University zero carbon by 2036. John previously took the University of Greenwich from 103rd to 1st in the University Green League and is a fellow of the Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges.

John said, “The Marjon campus is a spectacular place in a beautiful part of the world, with a deer herd, a green quad, ponds, allotments and acts as an important wildlife site. I’m really excited about bringing my campus development experience and passion for environmental sustainability to Marjon. The student experience will be at the heart of the estates growth plan and IT improvements; continuing the effort to make Marjon a fantastic place to live, work and study.”

The University’s annual accounts have just been signed off with a robust 5% surplus and the University is working with students on which areas of the campus are most important for redevelopment.

The new leadership team also sees Dr Ian Luke appointed as Executive Dean, Katy Willis appointed as Pro Vice-Chancellor for Student Success, and six Directors of Schools appointed to work with Dr Luke overseeing all curricular developments.

Marjon has had a year of exciting accolades, having been ranked first in England for teaching quality, and eighth in England for student experience by The Times’ latest Good University Guide.

The guide is published yearly and uses nine indicators to place universities from around the country in an overall ranking. Marjon came out first in England and second in the UK in the category for teaching quality at the university, with Wales-based Aberystwyth topping the standings. Marjon was also ranked in the top 10 in the UK for satisfaction with the wider student experience.

The satisfaction with the overall student experience puts Marjon top of Devon and Cornwall’s universities.

Further celebrations for Marjon include being ranked joint 12^th in the UK for student satisfaction earlier in the summer, based on the National Student Survey 2018. In May Marjon’s new Enterprise Hub The Edge was opened; in July the marketing team won Higher Education Marketing Team of the year at the Higher Education HEIST awards, and the University celebrated a 35% increase in applications to the University for 2018 entry.

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