St Mary’s University, Twickenham (SMU) has announced the appointment of Professor Sara Spear as the new Provost and Chief Academic Officer.
Prof Spear joined St Mary’s in 2022 as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law. She has held the position of Interim Provost for the past three months, following the promotion of former Provost Prof Symeon Dagkas to Vice-Chancellor at Chichester University.
Sara has an extensive career in Higher Education, working at institutions including Anglia Ruskin University, the University of the West of England, and the University of Portsmouth. With a background in Management and Marketing teaching and research, Sara is focused on driving authentic approaches to teaching and assessment, to enhance student experience, learning, and graduate outcomes.
Since joining St Mary’s, Prof Spear has led curriculum and portfolio developments for the Faculty of Business and Law, developed successful Business and Law Clinics with industry and voluntary sector partnerships, and more recently launched the Academic Strategy in line with the University’s strategic plan, Vision 2030.
Speaking of the appointment, St Mary’s Vice-Chancellor Prof Anthony McClaran said, “I am delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Sara Spear to the position of Provost and Chief Academic Officer, effective immediately.
“As part of the University Senior Leadership Team, the Provost will lead all academic areas and holds a key role in determining and implementing university strategy. I welcome Sara to the Senior Leadership Team and look forward to working closely with her to deliver our plans for the University’s growth through education, research, and excellent student experience and outcomes.”
Prof Spear said of her new role, “I am thrilled to take on the role of Provost, and to continue working with the academic and professional services teams across the University. There are exciting developments in the pipeline for St Mary’s, as we continue to build on our reputation for excellence in teaching and student experience, and I am delighted to be leading on the academic aspects of these.
“I am also looking forward to continuing work with our partners, both in the UK and internationally, to deliver the experiences and opportunities that make St Mary’s an outstanding educational community.”