Overview
The Academic Division at the University of Otago includes:
- Academic Committees and Services
- Continuing Education
- Distance Learning
- Higher Education Development Centre (HEDC)
- English Language Centre – Te Puna o te Kī
- Office of Student Success
- Otago Pathway – Te Huarahi
- Quality Advancement Unit
- Student Experience
- Student Services
- Summer School
- University Library
- Digital Learning Environment (PDF)
Our people
Professor Stuart Brock
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic
Stuart Brock is the Deputy Vice- Chancellor (Academic). Prior to coming to Otago, Stuart held various senior roles at Victoria University Wellington including Head of the Philosophy programme, Deputy Head of the School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations, Associate Dean (Students, Postgraduate Research, and Academic Programmes), the Vice-Provost (Academic), and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).
He has taught courses in critical thinking, epistemology, metaphysics, and the philosophy of literature at both Victoria University of Wellington, and Princeton University, and has published important works on fiction and metaphysics.
Stuart’s research interests are in the areas of metaphysics, philosophy of language, philosophy of literature, and philosophy of the emotions. He received his PhD from Princeton University in 2002 and previously taught at Western Washington University in the United States.
Email dvc.academic@otago.ac.nz
Amanda Mabon
Executive Assistant
As Executive Assistant, Amanda provides high-level confidential executive support and advice, and is the first point of contact for the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic.
Amanda manages the Deputy Vice-Chancellor's appointments, meetings, and email correspondence, including all the administrative processes regarding the DVC s/ PVC s Advisory Group and other committees and working groups supported by the DVC Academic.
Amanda joined the DVC Academic Office in March 2023, having worked as an Executive Assistant in the University since 2000.
Amanda Mabon
Executive Assistant to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
Tel +64 3 479 8883
Email dvc.academic@otago.ac.nz
Julie Weaver
Senior Analyst Research and Policy
Julie joined the Academic Divisional office in February 2023 as the Senior Research and Policy Analyst. In this role Julie provides strategic research and policy advice and analysis to support the delivery of the University’s strategic objectives.
Prior to joining the Academic Divisional office Julie has held a variety of academic and professional roles at the University of Otago.
Julie Weaver
Senior Analyst Research and Policy
Tel +64 3 479 9426
Email dvca.analyst@otago.ac.nz
Gary Witte
Manager Academic Committees and Services
Gary is the Manager of the Academic Committees and Services Office within the Academic Division. Academic Committees and Services provides support, advice to various stakeholders and secretarial services to many of the University's central committees, including Senate, Committees of Senate, Divisional Boards and some sub-committees of the Council.
The office is organised into two broad areas: teaching and learning support, which includes Specialists who are embedded in each of the academic divisions and centrally in the Academic Committees and Services Office to support the quality assurance, approval and reporting processes for new and changing programmes and papers together with related activities; and research support, which supports research and research compliance related committees which include the provision of support to animal research ethics committees and human ethics committees. Academic Committees and Services also leads and manages the provision of advice and support to researchers for human participant research ethics review and approval.
Gary Witte
Manager Academic Committees and Services
Tel +64 3 479 8256
Email gary.witte@otago.ac.nz
Dr Sarah Stein
Director Distance Learning
Sarah's past work experience has been as a primary school teacher, a curriculum advisor working with teachers in both primary and secondary schools, and, most recently, as an academic staff developer in universities in Australia and New Zealand. Before commencing as Director, Distance Learning, Sarah worked in the University of Otago's Higher Education Development Centre and maintains her connection with HEDC through research projects and supervision of postgraduate students.
Sarah's research is in teaching, learning, curriculum and evaluation in higher education settings, with specific foci on technology and science education, student evaluations, teacher professional development.
Dr Sarah Stein
Director Distance Learning
Tel +64 3 479 5809
Email sarah.stein@otago.ac.nz
Professor Ben Daniel
Head Higher Education Development Centre
Ben Daniel is a Professor in Higher Education and Head of the Department of the Higher Education Development Centre at the University of Otago, New Zealand. He obtained his PhD in 2007, jointly in Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIED) and Educational Technology from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. Before joining HEDC, Ben spent over a decade in the Canadian Prairies, working in the health care sector, in what was then Saskatoon Health Region (SHR)—now Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA). While with SHA, he worked as a Research Methodologist and Innovation Analyst in the Office of the Vice-President Health Research and Innovation. Before this role, Ben worked in the software industry as a Knowledge Management Software Architect and Learning Specialist.
In HEDC, Ben leads academic development programmes in Research Methodology (Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Methods) and Educational Technology and supervises postgraduate students in these areas. His primary research examines the value of Big Data and learning analytics in influencing the quality of learning and teaching. In addition, he is investigating what constitutes "best practice teaching" in research methods.
Ben has Professional memberships with the International Society for Artificial Intelligence in Education (IAIED), The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) (Learning Technologies) and the Association for the Advancement of Computers in Education (AACE).
As the head of HEDC, Ben is responsible for overseeing the operational and strategic directions of HEDC, including Student Learning Development (SLD), and works with colleagues to provide strategic advice to the University in the areas of teaching and learning.
Professor Ben Daniel
Director Higher Education Development Centre ( HEDC )
Tel +64 3 479 5362
Email ben.daniel@otago.ac.nz
Dr Paul Baker
Director English Language Centre – Te Puna o te Kī
After completing his doctorate at the University of Otago in 1995, Paul embarked on a career in teaching English to speakers of other languages which now spans more than 25 years. After several leadership roles including Assistant Head of Studies and Head of Academic Programmes, Paul was appointed Academic Manager of the University of Otago Language Centre in 2010, responsible for the operation, management and quality of all Language Centre programmes. He was appointed to the role of Director, English Language Centre │ Te Puna o te Kī in 2021.
The Language Centre delivers a variety of English-language programmes both face-to-face, in purpose built facilities on campus, and online to students around the world. Students can take the next step on their academic journey through the Language Centre through programmes designed to lead either into Pathway or directly into both undergraduate and postgraduate study at Otago (English for Otago). The Centre also provides shorter-term English-language programmes to international institutional partners and universities to assist them in their own English-language programmes.
Dr Paul Baker
Director English Language Centre – Te Puna o te Kī
Tel +64 3 479 5869
Email paul.baker@otago.ac.nz
Garry Chronican
Director Otago Pathway – Te Huarahi
After graduating from the University of Otago, Garry started his career teaching high school Mathematics. He progressed to Head of Department Mathematics, Deputy Principal and Director of International Students. During that time, he had stints as a Mathematics Adviser and Assessment Facilitator at the Dunedin College of Education.
Garry was appointed as Academic Manager, University of Otago Foundation Year in 2014. In that role he was responsible for the operation and management of the Foundation Year Academic Division and ensuring excellence across all facets of the teaching and learning programmes. He was appointed to the position of Director Otago Pathway │ Te Huarahi in 2021.
Garry Chronican
Director Otago Pathway – Te Huarahi
Tel +64 3 479 8734
Email garry.chronican@otago.ac.nz
Professor Tim Cooper
Dean, Learning and Teaching
Tim Cooper
Dean, Learning and Teaching
Email tim.cooper@otago.ac.nz
Margaret Morgan
Director Quality Advancement
Margaret Morgan is the Director, Quality Advancement and leads the Quality Advancement Unit (QAU) which has responsibility for the University's ongoing cycle of academic and administrative reviews, core institutional student and graduate opinion surveys, quality forums, improvement grants, external academic audit and liaison with the Academic Quality Agency for New Zealand Universities (AQA).
Margaret has an MA (Otago) and DipArch/RecMgmt (Monash). She has held a variety of administrative roles at the University and joined the QAU as its first Director in November 2010.
Margaret Morgan
Director Quality Advancement
Tel +64 3 479 8229
Email margaret.morgan@otago.ac.nz
Jo Gibson
Director Student Experience
Jo is the Director Student Experience at the University of Otago, a role she has held since her arrival in New Zealand in June 2019. Prior to this Jo worked for twenty years in Student Services/Student Experience focused roles in universities and charities in the UK, following roles in sports coaching (mostly soccer) in the UK and USA.
Student Experience includes responsibility for Student Administration (academic integrity, admissions, course and records management, examinations, graduation, research/doctoral administration, scholarships awards and prizes), Student Development, and Timetables.
Jo holds a BSc (Hons) Sport & Exercise Science degree, an MA in Student Support & Management, the PRINCE2 Foundation & Practitioner project management qualification, and will complete an MSc in Management & Law (International Business) in 2022. Jo holds the A1 Assessor qualification, and in the UK Jo assessed vocational qualifications focussed on advice and guidance. Jo is an England Athletics qualified run leader and guide runner (supporting visually impaired runners). Jo is a member of the Sport Otago Board, an elected member of the ATEM Aotearoa Regional Committee, and continues to input to a number of UK-based student experience and sport related boards
Tel +64 212 79 5137
Email head.studentexp@otago.ac.nz
Claire Gallop
Director Student Services
Claire Gallop is Director of Student Services which covers a wide range of support services for students. Claire has responsibility for the Proctor's Office and Campus Watch, Student Health, Recreation Services, Māori Centre, Pacific Islands, Disability Information and Support, Career Development Centre, Including the Social Impact Studio, and Te Whare Tāwharau. Her role also includes responsibility for oversight of the Compulsory Student Services Fee and managing the relationship with OUSA as a provider of services for student services as well as working with the Chaplaincy Trust Board for the provision of Chaplaincy Services.
Claire began her University Career at the University of Auckland where she gained an MA(Hons) in Political Studies. She has had a variety of academic and professional roles at the University of Otago and started as Director of Student Services in 2022.
Tel +64 3 479 8355
Mob +64 21 0369 668
Email studentservices.director@otago.ac.nz
Summer School and Continuing Education – To be advised
Acting Director Summer School
The Director of Summer School is responsible for the planning, development and operation of the annual Summer School teaching period, maintaining a robust and viable programme in accord with policy, best practice, and the overall interests of the university. The role currently has oversight of the University's Continuing Education Programme.
TBA
Director Summer School
Tel +64 3 479 9181
Email summer.school@otago.ac.nz
Mike Wall
University Librarian
Mike is the University Librarian with responsibility for the strategic direction of library services, including the Hocken Collection, six physical libraries and the digital services and infrastructure that contributes to the University's research, education, and external engagement.
He joined the University in 2021 and has over 30 years of experience in libraries in the UK, including at the universities of Bristol and Durham, leading service transformation especially related to digital content delivery, research information and library space design.
Mike Wall
University Librarian
Tel +64 3 479 8933
Email mike.wall@otago.ac.nz
For further information
Tel +64 3 479 8883