Personal statement

As Pro-Vice-Chancellor Student Success and Inclusion, Melissa’s remit is to provide senior leadership and thematic oversight to a wide number of teams who support student success to deliver Strategy 2035, including:

  • The widening participation strategy and our Access and Participation Plan
  • Our institutional approach to lifelong learning entitlement developments, student retention and student success and key aspects of the Teaching Excellent Framework.

With a career focus and interests centred around inclusion, social justice and education and student experience in higher education, Melissa oversaw the co-creation and development of Bath Spa’s University’s 2025-26 to 2028-29 Access and Participation Plan.  Our intervention strategies are designed to deliver meaningful change to deliver equality of opportunity to support successful participation in higher education which resonates with the aims of the Women’s Commission. Melissa is the Chair of the University's Equality and Diversity and Mental Health and Wellbeing Committees and Race Equality Charter Self-Assessment Team. She also serves as the co-chair of the Women's Network and the Aurora Champion at Bath Spa. Together, these leadership and voluntary roles enable Melissa to advocate and champion inclusion and social justice.

Melissa joined 黑料正能量 in January 2021 as Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor Academic Planning, having previously worked as Assistant Director, Education and Student Experience in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor at the University of Kent. Following her three or so years as Pro-Vice-Chancellor Academic Planning, Melissa transitioned into the inaugural role of Pro-Vice-Chancellor Student Success and Inclusion in April 2026.

She has over 26 years’ experience of working in the Higher Education sector and is a Trustee of the Royal Agricultural University Student Union and longstanding member, Fellow and former Board Trustee of the Association of Higher Educational Professionals (formerly the AUA) with a firm commitment to investing in the wider HE professional community and advancing education. She has been recognised by the AHEP through their “Contributions to Career Development” award and was awarded honorary staff associate of the University of Kent in recognition of her contributions during her time there.

Academic qualifications

  • BA (Hons) History - University of East Anglia.

Professional memberships

  • Fellow of the Association of University Administrators (AUA)
  • Member of the RAISE Network
  • Member of Women in Higher Education Network.

Other external roles

  • Member of the West of England Education Taskforce as part of the Women’s Commission
  • Board member and charity trustee for the Royal Agricultural University Student Union.

Contact Melissa about

  • University strategy and delivery
  • Access and participation
  • Academic planning portfolio areas
  • Applicant and student journey
  • The Women's Network or the Aurora programme.