Swansea University has welcomed a new Pro-Vice Chancellor to its senior management team, with responsibility for the University’s Research and Innovation portfolio.
Professor Helen Griffiths joins the University from her prior post at the University of Surrey, where she had been the Executive Dean for the Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences since 2016.
She brings considerable strategic experience to Swansea University, having also previously served as the Executive Dean of the School of Life & Health Sciences and the Pro-Vice Chancellor (International Relations), at Aston University where she had overseen growth in research funding, international collaboration and student numbers.
Professor Griffiths has a distinguished research background in Biomedical Science, undertaken at the Universities of Birmingham, Leicester and Aston, where she gained her Professorship in 2005.
Professor Griffiths said: “I am honoured and privileged to be joining Swansea University as Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, in this Centenary year.
“In recent months, I have kept abreast of how the university community has risen to the challenge of the global pandemic. The speed and resilience in implementing new modes of education delivery and assessment has been remarkable. So too has been the collective effort in research and innovation projects that have been initiated in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The mobilisation of research expertise to enhance the University’s civic mission makes me even more proud to be joining the University.
“It is clear that Swansea University is deeply committed to research and innovation, a fundamental pillar that will continue to define our reputation both nationally and internationally.”
Vice-Chancellor of Swansea University, Professor Paul Boyle said: “We warmly welcome Professor Griffiths to our University community. We will no doubt benefit immensely from her expertise and experience in the coming months, to support our research activity and our forthcoming REF assessment.”