Professor Susan Rowland appointed Vice-Provost

After an extensive search, the University of Sydney today announced it has appointed Professor Susan Rowland to the role of Vice-Provost. As an education-focused professor, Professor Rowland is an Australian leader in the field of science education and an internationally recognised expert in the areas of large-scale undergraduate research experiences and science communication. 

“I am pleased to welcome Professor Susan Rowland to our leadership team,” said the Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Annamarie Jagose.

“Susan’s expertise in teaching and learning innovation combined with her strong research background and cross-university leadership experience will be critical to our institutional ambition to define, support and reward academic excellence as part of Sydney 2032.”  

Throughout her career, Professor Rowland has focused on teaching and learning strategy, educational innovation and improving the student experience through professional development, employability and research-based learning. As the new Vice-Provost, she joins the University of Sydney’s leadership team at an important juncture in our institutional trajectory as we begin work towards the aspirations of the Sydney 2032 Strategic Plan. She will be responsible for providing support and assistance to the Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, overseeing enterprise-wide initiatives that enhance the University's teaching and research excellence. 

“It is wonderful to be returning to the University of Sydney, where I completed my undergraduate and PhD studies, at such an exciting period in the institution’s history,” said Professor Rowland in accepting her appointment.

“As a lifelong educator, I am passionate about pedagogy and the student learning experience. I look forward to working with Sydney’s outstanding community of academics to support best practice and innovation in education and research, and to ensure that the new academic excellence framework enables and rewards a diversity of academic career-paths across research and education.” 

Professor Rowland holds a Bachelor of Science and a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Sydney and is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

After graduating from the University, Professor Rowland held research fellowships at the University of Connecticut in the United States before joining the University of Queensland. At the University of Queensland, she held several senior leadership roles including as the Deputy Director of the Institute for Teaching and Learning Innovation (ITaLI), the Deputy Associate Dean Academic (Future Students and Employability) in the Faculty of Science, the Associate Dean Academic and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Science, and the Acting Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning). 

Professor Susan Rowland will commence her role on 20 February 2023 and the University of Sydney looks forward to welcoming her to our community.