Kingston University appoints Professor Elena Marco as new Deputy Vice-Chancellor

Kingston University has announced the appointment of Professor Elena Marco as its new Deputy Vice-Chancellor. She will join the University’s Senior Leadership Team on 1 May.

Currently Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Arts, Technology and Environment at UWE Bristol, Professor Marco leads one of the UK’s largest science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics portfolios, with more than 18,000 students globally and 800 staff.  She also oversees its work on sustainability, with a particular focus on addressing climate change through education, research and practice. 

Internationally recognised as a strategic and transformational leader in teaching and learning, Professor Marco’s career bridges professional practice and academia. She worked as an architect in both Spain and the UK before transitioning to higher education in 2005. 

Professor Marco credits her background in design with shaping her approach as a leader. She has a strong commitment to student success, fairness and equity and is a fervent advocate for connecting higher education with the needs of society and professional practice. A widely published researcher and Principal Fellow of Advance HE, she is a previous recipient of a National Teaching Fellowship in recognition of her contribution to climate change education and practice.

“Supporting the advancement of women and global majority groups across science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics is central to my work. At the core of everything I do is a commitment to creating opportunity, addressing global challenges and ensuring students and colleagues can thrive in a fair, sustainable and collaborative environment,” she said.

Professor Marco is an influential figure across both the built environment and design professions. She serves on a number of organisations, including the Design Council and Architects Registration Board. 

The opportunity to join the Senior Leadership team at Kingston University was a particularly appealing one, she said. “Universities like Kingston truly change lives,” she explained. “Kingston University has positioned itself extremely positively in the higher education sector and wants to do things differently. With a strong brand proposition based on its distinct expertise in Future Skills education, its ability to make a real impact should not be under-estimated.”

Welcoming the appointment, Vice-Chancellor Professor Steve Spier said Professor Marco would play a pivotal role in supporting the University to achieve the ambitions set out in its Town House Strategy. “Professor Marco brings considerable drive, vision and a firm belief in the transformative power of higher education to the role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor,” he said. “These are qualities that will stand her in strong stead as she assumes her role at the heart of our institutional leadership and decision making.”