Joanna MacDonnell

Joanna joined Kingston University as the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education in July 2025, in this role she provides strategic leadership for all aspects of learning, teaching and educational experience.  She was previously the Director of Education and Students at the University of Brighton.

Jo has held several sector roles, these include the Office for Students TEF subject-level pilot assessment panel for Arts and Humanities, where she also served as the panel’s Widening Participation expert. She was a member of the Centre for Transforming Access and Student Outcomes (TASO)’s 'Gaps in the Student Experience' Theme Working Group for 6 years; and in 2021 was appointed to Advance HE Race Equality Charter (REC) Governance Committee, alongside selection as a REC Assessment Panel Chair.

Joanna is a National Teaching Fellow (NTF), a Principal Fellow of the Advance HE (PFHEA), and a Fellow of the Staff & Educational Development Association (FSEDA).  She is also on the Board of Trustees at the Arts Educational Schools (ArtsEd), a specialist Performing Arts institution. Her work reflects a deep commitment to equity, student success, and transformative education.

• Principal Fellow of Advance HE
• National Teaching Fellow
• Fellow of SEDA