Personal statement

As Pro-Vice-Chancellor Academic Planning, Melissa’s remit is to provide senior leadership and oversight to a wide number of teams who support the applicant and student journey to ensure excellence experiences, optimising engagement and deliver:

  • the University's widening participation strategy
  • the University’s academic portfolio
  • student recruitment, marketing and admissions
  • the institutional approach to student retention
  • our student lifecycle management and academic administration services
  • our data and insights services including statutory reporting.

With a career focus and interests centred around inclusion, social justice and student experience in higher education, Melissa has recently overseen 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 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 Bath Spa University 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.

She has over 25 years’ experience of working in the Higher Education sector and is a 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.

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.