SHLS Dean says huge thanks to staff on her last day in role

Professor Andrea Nelson steps down as the Dean of the School of Health and Life Sciences (SHLS) today (Friday, April 30) to take up her new post as Pro Vice-Chancellor Research with a huge thanks to staff for making the last three years so “rewarding and enjoyable”.

She said: “I just want to say a huge thank you to all of my colleagues across the School for making this job so rewarding, enjoyable and a fantastic role to have here at Glasgow Caledonian University for the last three years.

“Also, thank you all so much for everything you’ve done in that time to help me within the role, and for all of your work helping the management, leadership, all of our students and research. It has been an absolute pleasure working alongside such a talented group of people.”

Since Andrea started at Glasgow Caledonian University in October 2018, she has continued to lead a programme of work on the diagnosis and management of infection in diabetic foot ulcers, as well as taking on the role of Director of the Research Centre for Health (ReaCH).

Highlights in her role as Dean include building a fantastic School Management Group (SMG). In her first week she chaired 16 interview panels and has appointed the majority of the SMG members. Andrea described the SMG as a “supportive team whose commitment to their departments and portfolios has been outstanding”. 

Andrea said she had learned so much from her team members, especially Professor Anita Simmers as Vice-Dean, who has been an “amazing partner in the Dean’s office”.  She is also “particularly proud” of the strong relationship with partners NHS Lanarkshire and the conferment of University status on NHS departments.

Andrea added: “Staff in the School have gone above and beyond during the pandemic over the past year and I am immensely proud of the work that all our staff and students have done to contribute to keeping education and research going during these exceptional times. 

“With the partnership working that is so evident between our students, external partners, the exceptional academics and professional support staff we have, I am confident that the School will continue to go from strength to strength.”

In her new role as Pro Vice-Chancellor Research, Andrea is looking forward to working with the community of research active academics at GCU, whose work encompasses a “marvellous breadth of activity and impact”.

She added: “Taking over from the current Pro Vice-Chancellor Research Professor Cam Donaldson will be big shoes to fill but it will be great as the research of the University is in such good shape.

“Endorsement of the Research Strategy by University Court this month means that we can now get on with delivering our ambitions for Strategy 2030, with the sustainable development goals and the University mission still at the heart.

“I am looking forward to working on behalf of all of you to build on the research, innovation and enterprise from across the University in the next part of our journey as the University for the Common Good.”