A new School-based structure will come into operation from 1 August 2019.
Following internal advertisement and interview, your new School Managers have now been appointed and the new managerial teams are already starting to prepare for a smooth transition to the new School structures.
We caught up with the new appointees to learn more about them and where the new School Offices will be located from September.
School of Business and Management – Helen Bacci
My name is Helen Bacci. I have worked at the School of Management since 2011 and for last sixteen months as Head of Operations.
The role is very similar to my current role, however I will now be part of a team of other School Managers and I look forward to working with them.
The School Office location remains the same as the current location for the School of Management office, on the ground floor in the Moore Building.
School of Humanities – James Phillips
My name is James Phillips. I will be the School Manager for the School of Humanities from 1 August, and I’ve been Department Manager in the English Department since August 2017. Before coming to Royal Holloway, I worked in a variety of roles in the English and History Departments at UCL, and before that, at the University of Oxford.
Having just had an initial meeting to bring academic staff in the four humanities departments together, I’m really excited by the prospect of working with related disciplines to provide a better, more joined-up experience for students, as well as starting to think about ways we can use each other’s expertise to design creative, interdisciplinary curricula. All the Departments in the School of Humanities have some real strengths, and I’m looking forward to us all learning more from each other.
The School Office will be on the first floor of the International Building, just on the right as you go up the main steps: where the Classics and Modern Languages Office currently is.
I like all the terms for different reasons: Autumn is good because I enjoy the fresh start of a new academic year. Overall though, my favourite term is probably summer term: although it can be a bit quieter on the day-to-day administration side, it’s also the term where we are able to think creatively and plan for the year ahead, which is one of the aspects of my role which I enjoy the most. I’m particularly excited about the coming months, with the chance to do this on a School-wide level.
School of Engineering, Physical and Mathematical Sciences – Vanessa Law
My name is Vanessa Law and I will be the School Manager in the School of Engineering, Physical and Mathematical Sciences.
I’ve been working at Royal Holloway for over 10 years and have supported three Departments. I began my academic administration career in Criminology and Sociology (now the School of Law) as a part-time administrator quickly learning just how many processes and systems we have at Royal Holloway!
I was then appointed as the Department Manager for the Department of Politics, International Relations and Philosophy (2012) and I am currently the Department Manager for Psychology (2014). In 2017, I was appointed to an additional role as a Senior Department Manager for Quality and Compliance, working with colleagues around campus on projects and consulting on policies to develop best practice.
I am most looking forward to supporting the academic endeavour to deliver excellent teaching and research, alongside a strong administrative team.
The School of Engineering, Physical and Mathematical Sciences School Office will be located on the ground floor of the Bedford Building - the old Bedford Library - with administrative support based within the Shilling Building for Electronic Engineering.
I like the whole academic year at Royal Holloway but my favourite term is summer. While exams can be a stressful time for students and administrative teams the summer term brings together the hard work from the whole academic year. I enjoy the administrative planning behind the exam period and what’s not to love about joining students graduating in the sunshine!
School of Law and Social Science – Moya Watson
My name is Moya Watson. I will be the School Manager for the School of Law and Social Sciences from 1 August and I’ve been working at Royal Holloway since 2007. I initially worked in the School of Management for six years as Postgraduate Programmes co-ordinator, including seven months as acting School Manager. For the past 6 years, I have been the Geography Department Manager.
I am really looking forward to working with all of the staff in the new School – both academic and administrative – to develop strong teams and good working relationships. This will be vital to the success of the new Schools structure at Royal Holloway.
The School of Law and Social Sciences Office will be in the McCrea Building, ground floor.
I always enjoy the summer term as I get to see students’ attainment at Sub Exam boards and finalists graduate which is very rewarding. I do also really enjoy the autumn term when I get to meet new students starting their studies with us and welcome back the current students.
School of Life Sciences and the Environment – Michelle Jux
My name’s Michelle Jux and I will be the School Manager for the School of Life Sciences and the Environment. I’ve been working at Royal Holloway for nearly four years in the School of Biological Sciences and also as Senior Department Manager for Opportunities, Employability and Careers. Prior to working at Royal Holloway, I worked in the advertising and marketing industry.
I’m looking forward to helping the admin team to settle in, meet the staff and students across the new School, and to build strong relationships with other Professional Services teams.
The School Office will be on the ground floor of the Wolfson Building.
Autumn term: Because this is when the new students arrive and the campus is buzzing again!
School of Performing and Digital Arts – Louise Mackay
My name is Louise Mackay. I will be the School Manager for the School of Performing and Digital Arts from 1 August and I’ve been working at Royal Holloway for three and a half years. Some students will already know me as the current Manager of the Music Department, prior to that I worked in the project team which introduced online academic timetables for the college.
I’m looking forward to the opportunity to develop a fantastic administrative team who will deliver outstanding service to our students. I’m also looking forward to bringing together the expertise of colleagues from Music, Media Arts and Drama, Theatre and Dance to create consistent, professional, and approachable administrative support for our new School.
The School Office will be located in the current Drama Administration Office, room KWB001 – that’s first office on the left as you enter the Katherine Worth Building.
I love the autumn term – it’s always invigorating to witness the excitement and energy of students starting at the College or a new year. I also enjoy walking through campus when the warm, autumnal sunlight perfectly complements the ochre tones of the Founder’s, Windsor and Davison buildings.
Doctoral School – Jane Gawthrope (Funding & Recruitment)
My name is Jane Gawthrope. I will be the Co-Manager of the Doctoral School alongside Alex Borrett from 1 August and I’ve been working at Royal Holloway since 2001. I currently manage the technē AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership and doctoral studentships more generally across the College. I’ve previously worked in a unit supporting English Studies in HE, and as a Faculty Manager in Arts and Social Sciences.
I’m looking forward to working with a new and larger team, and liaising closely with School Director of Graduate Studies.
We’ll be in the Bowyer Building initially until our permanent accommodation in the Founder’s South Tower is completed during autumn term.
Spring – seeing all the daffodils brings cheer for things to come!
Doctoral School – Alex Borrett (Operations & Student Experience)
My name is Alex Borrett. I will be the Doctoral School Manager (Operations & Student Experience) from 1 August. I’ve been working at Royal Holloway since 2008 in a variety of roles within the central Student Administration team, with a particular focus on supporting the lifecycle of postgraduate research students.
Up until now, the administrative support for postgraduate research students has been spread across the College within academic and professional service departments.
With the creation of the new Doctoral School, we have an exciting opportunity to create a centre of expertise within the College to provide more cohesive support to research students and staff and to help foster a stronger feeling of community for postgraduate research students across all disciplines.
We’ll be in the Bowyer Building initially until our permanent accommodation in the Founder’s South Tower is completed during autumn term.
As the support we provide for postgraduate research students continues across the year, regardless of terms, it’s difficult to pick a favourite term as such. However, my favourite times of the academic year are the Graduation weeks in July and December, in particular seeing those postgraduate research students we have dealt with over the years celebrate the fruits of all their hard work.
-
-
Find out more about how the Helpdesks will operate in your School Offices in our latest FAQs
-
Watch the School Office locations video.