Earlier this week, Professor Nigel Seaton announced that the University have appointed four Faculty Deputy Vice-Principals. This completes the first stage of recruitment for senior positions of academic leadership for the four faculties.
In December 2025, students were updated that three new Vice-Principals had been appointed and that the restructuring changes would be fully implemented by the 2026/27 academic year.
We are starting to see more of the changes as we draw closer to the next academic year. The four appointments of Deputy Vice-Principals are all current staff of the University:
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Professor Trish McCulloch
Professor Trish McCulloch was formerly a Professor of Social Work and Deputy Dean in the School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, with responsibility for People, Culture and Performance. She joined the University in 2003 and is active in a number of external advisory, consultancy and charity roles.
Faculty of Health
Professor Jenni Harvey
Professor Jenni Harvey was formerly Associate Dean (People, Culture and Performance) within the School of Medicine and is specifically responsible for providing leadership and direction in relation to equality, diversity and inclusion. After obtaining a BSc honours degree in Pharmacology and receiving a Ph.D. she moved to Dundee to set up her own laboratory.
Faculty of Life Sciences
Professor Nicola Stanley-Wall
Professor Nicola Stanley-Wall was formerly Head of the Division of Molecular Microbiology and Interim Dean in the School of Life Sciences. Being a Professor of Microbiology, she was awarded her Ph.D. from the University of East Anglia and worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California. She was later awarded a David Phillips Fellowship to establish her own laboratory, and she moved to the University of Dundee.
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Business
Professor Susan Kinnear
Professor Susan Lilico Kinnear was formerly Chair of International Communication and Associate Dean (Education) at the School of Business. Being a former journalist who held senior communications roles in both the public and private sectors before moving into academia. She is a specialist in international and digital marketing, holding a PhD from the University of Manchester.
The Deputy Vice-Principals will all play key roles in the leadership of the Faculties and have now started in their new posts.
Professor Nigel Seaton updated that:
“We will have news soon on the other posts within the current round of recruitment, including Associate Vice-Principals for the Faculties and for the cross-University portfolios of Education and Student Experience, Globalisation and Future Students, and Research and Innovation.”
As part of the University’s continuing recovery and renewal, they have appointed Perrett Laver to conduct an international executive search for the next Principal and Vice-Chancellor.
Perrett Laver is a global executive search firm with extensive experience in higher education leadership appointments and a strong track record of supporting Vice-Chancellor recruitment processes across universities worldwide.
What does this mean for Students?
Perrett Laver is leading a programme of community engagement designed to gather views from students. This is being done through:
1) An Online Survey on Principal Recruitment is currently live and open until 12:00 (noon) on Tuesday, 7 April. The Responses are anonymous and will be analysed by Perrett Laver. The findings will inform the development of the candidate brief, shape the search process, and be shared with the selection committee.
2) A Student Open Session will also be held on Tuesday, 24 March, 14:00-15:00pm, at The Liar, DUSA. This is a drop-in session open to any student.
3) Students can also submit their views directly to Perrett Laver at dundee@perrettlaver.com. This can include reflections on the role, the skills and experience required and suggestions of potential candidates.
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