Professor Debra Humphris, currently the Pro Vice Chancellor (Education & Student Experience) and Professor of Health Care Development at the University of Southampton, has accepted appointment as Pro Rector (Education), with effect from 15 October 2012. She will succeed Professor Julia Buckingham, who has been Pro Rector (Education and Academic Affairs) since 2007.
Appointed Pro Vice Chancellor (Education and Student Experience) in 2008, Professor Humphris was responsible for the creation, leadership and delivery of the University’s education strategic plan, which emphasised enhancing the student experience and the importance of graduate employability.
In 2003 she was appointed Director, Health Care Innovation Unit at the University of Southampton, which focused on education innovation in health and social care. She first joined the university in 2000 as Director of the New Generation Project, which explored inter-professional education in health care programmes.
Originally qualifying as a Registered Nurse, she later held positions as Senior Research Fellow at the South Thames Regional Health Authority, and at St George’s Hospital Medical School. Professor Humphris achieved her PhD in 1999, which considered the implementation of policy into clinical practice.
Among her many external roles, Professor Humphris is a member of the Executive Committee, National HE STEM Programme, and Chair of the Employment & Skills Board, Solent Local Enterprise Partnership.
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