Deakin appoints Professor Jessica Vanderlelie as its new Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic

Professor Vanderlelie will commence on Monday, 31 March 2025 and succeed Deakin Distinguished Professor Liz Johnson, who is retiring after 10 years of dedicated service to Deakin.

Professor Vanderlelie is currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic at La Trobe University, a position she has held since July 2023, following three years as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Students at La Trobe.

Before joining La Trobe, Professor Vanderlelie served at Griffith University from 2008 to 2018 in various roles, where she led innovation in biochemistry teaching and assessment and the embedding of employability across Health disciplines. Jessica is an Australian Learning and Teaching Fellow and was appointed as the inaugural Innovative Research Universities (IRU) Vice Chancellor’s Fellow, where she led cross-sector work in employability and learner analytics.

Deakin Vice-Chancellor Professor Iain Martin said Professor Vanderlelie is a nationally recognised leader in learning and teaching, student success and broadening participation.

“Professor Vanderlelie is a passionate advocate for equity and inclusive practice in higher education and is known for her strong commitment to collaboration and student partnership,” Professor Martin said.

“Professor Vanderlelie will ensure Deakin continues to inspire our students to reach their potential and achieve their goals. I look forward to Professor Vanderlelie’s contribution to the Academic Portfolio and as a member of the University Executive.

“On behalf of the university community, I am really excited to welcome Professor Vanderlelie to Deakin as our new Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic.”

Professor Vanderlelie said she was delighted to join a university that values innovation, equity and balanced excellence.

“Deakin is a leader in education in this country and I have long admired the achievements that have been made under Liz’s outstanding leadership,” she said.

“I am excited to join the Deakin team and to deliver on the ambitious vision set out in Deakin 2030.”

Professor Martin extended gratitude to Deakin Distinguished Professor Liz Johnson, who decided to retire after a successful term as Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic.

“Among Liz’s many achievements, she played a critical role in steering teaching and learning at Deakin through the disruption of the COVID pandemic, building from extensive projects in Deakin’s online learning environment, teaching innovation, course development and staff capability for learning and teaching, and responding to the challenge of Generative Artificial Intelligence, all while maintaining Deakin’s position as number one in Victoria for Overall Student Satisfaction,” Professor Martin said.

“Liz’s impact on Deakin’s teaching and learning endeavour and her commitment to our university over the last decade has been immense, and I am incredibly grateful for her service. I thank Liz for her leadership, and we wish her all the best for her retirement.”

Media contact:
Glen Atwell
Director, University Communications
M: 0428 597 468
E: glen.atwell@deakin.edu.au