Academic Directors and Associate Directors
Ensuring that our School is as inclusive as possible is a fundamental part of what we do in SEED. We aim to redress staffing imbalances and inequalities. We promote equality and actively challenge unfair discrimination.
When we recruit, we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds – people of all ages, sexual orientations, genders, ethnicities, nationalities, religions, and beliefs. However, we particularly encourage applications from staff who identify as women, colleagues with disabilities, and individuals from minority ethnic groups, because these groups are currently underrepresented at more senior levels in Higher Education.
Unless stated otherwise, the terms of these posts are typically three years. The job descriptions are reviewed and refreshed ahead of each appointment, but you might find it useful to review advertisements from previous years as listed beside the current post-holder below.
Teaching, Learning and Student Experience
Director for Teaching, Learning and Student Experience
Dr Rory Stanton - rory.stanton@manchester.ac.uk
Appointed October 2024 - Job specification 2024
Associate Director for Teaching Assistants
Dr Joe Blakey - joe.blakey@manchester.ac.uk
Appointed May 2023 - Job specification 2023
Associate Director of Assessment
Dr Claire Goulsbra - Claire.Goulsbra@manchester.ac.uk
Appointed August 2025 - Job specification 2025
Associate Director for Employability and Professional Learning
Dr Bertie Dockerill - bertie.dockerill@manchester.ac.uk
Appointed August 2024 - Job specification 2024
Associate Director for Widening Participation
Dr Loretta Anthony-Okeke - loretta.okeke@manchester.ac.uk
Appointed August 2025 - Job specification 2025
Associate Director for Academic Advising and Student Wellbeing
Dr Kathryn Telling - kathryn.telling@manchester.ac.uk
Appointed August 2024 - Job specification 2024
Associate Director for Field courses
Dr Christopher Darvill - christopher.darvill@manchester.ac.uk Appointed October 2023 - Job specification 2023
Research
Director of Research
Professor Pamela Qualter - pamela.qualter@manchester.ac.uk
Appointed August 2023 - Job specification 2023
Associate Director of Research: Business Engagement & Knowledge Exchange
Dr Sherry Xu - yishuang.xu@manchester.ac.uk
Appointed May 2025 - Job specification 2025
Associate Director for Research: Impact
Professor Stefan Bouzarovski - stefan.bouzarovski@manchester.ac.uk
Appointed August 2023 - Job specification 2023
Associate Director for Internationalisation
Dr Nuno Pinto - nuno.pinto@manchester.ac.uk
Appointed August 2021 - Job specification 2021
Co-Associate Director of Research Ethics
Dr Mark Innes - mark.innes@manchester.ac.uk Appointed August 2025
Dr Helen Zheng - helen.zheng@manchester.ac.uk Appointed August 2024
Job specification 2025
Postgraduate Research
Director of Postgraduate Research
Professor Tanja Müller - Tanja.Mueller@manchester.ac.uk
Appointed February 2023
Associate Director of Postgraduate Research: Professional Doctorates
Dr Ishba Rehman - ishba.rehman@manchester.ac.uk
Appointed March 2024
Associate Director for Postgraduate Research: PhD Programmes and Research Training
Dr Pauline Prevett - pauline.prevett@manchester.ac.uk
Appointed August 2024 - Job specification 2024
Social Responsibility & Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Director of Social Responsibility
Dr Nicola Banks - nicola.banks@manchester.ac.uk
Appointed August 2023 - Job specification 2023
Director of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Dr Laura Winter - laura.winter@manchester.ac.uk
Appointed August 2024 - Job specification 2024
Associate Director of Social Responsibility
Dr Thomas Gillespie - thomas.gillespie@manchester.ac.uk
Appointed October 2025 - Job specification September 2025
Manchester Urban Institute
Director of Manchester Urban Institute
Professor Karen Lucas - karen.lucas@manchester.ac.uk
Appointed August 2024 - Job specification 2024
SEED School Board
Chair of School Board
Dr Miriam Firth - miriam.firth@manchester.ac.uk
Appointed December 2022