Jan Thomas (academic)

Jan Thomas is a veterinary scientist and career academic. Thomas is currently the sixth vice-chancellor of Massey University, New Zealand.[1]

Professor

Jan Thomas
Born13 March 1962
Sydney, Australia
NationalityAustralian
OccupationAcademic
TitleVice-Chancellor, Massey University, New Zealand
Websitehttp://www.massey.ac.nz/?vcaff4821y

Thomas has stated she believes university education should be accessible to all and has been a supporter of indigenous and minority groups throughout her career.[2] Upon joining Massey University, she took up lessons in te reo Māori in an effort to become fluent in the language.[3]

Early career

Prior to her academic career, Thomas worked as a veterinary surgeon, diagnostic veterinary pathologist and a private laboratory consultant.[4] She decided to pursue a career in academia having seen the power universities have to transform lives.[2]

Academic career

Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science in veterinary biology (1981), a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (1983), both from Murdoch University in Perth, Australia; a Master of Veterinary Studies in pathology from the University of Melbourne (1986) and a Doctor of Philosophy from Murdoch University (1997).[4]

She has held a number of leadership positions at universities throughout Australasia. Prior to her appointment at Massey University, she was Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba, Australia, a role she had held since 2012. She has also served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Quality and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Fremantle at the University of Notre Dame Australia in Western Australia (2010–11) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic at Murdoch (2003–10).

In October 2016 it was announced she would be the sixth Vice-Chancellor of Massey University and commenced in the role in January 2017.

On September 18, 2018, it was revealed via documents released under the OIA New Zealand that Thomas used her influence as the Vice-Chancellor to silence Dr Don Brash the day before he was due to give a speech to Politics Society at Massey University.[5] [6] This caused a review by Massey University's council subsequently clearing her of wrongdoing.

Professional memberships

Honours, decorations, awards and distinctions
  • Recipient of a Murdoch University Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence in Teaching Award (1996) [4]
  • Recipient of the inaugural Australian Veterinary Association’s Excellence in Teaching Award for outstanding teaching in Veterinary Science (1998)
  • Recipient of the inaugural Catherine McAuley Award for Leadership to women aged 25 – 40 who have demonstrated outstanding leadership or potential to lead in their designated area (1999) [4]
  • Recipient of Murdoch University’s Vice-Chancellor’s Equity Award (1999) [4]
  • Women’s Achievement Award, World Education Congress Mumbai (2012)
  • Education Leadership Award, World Marketing Summit Kuala Lumpur (2013) [4]
  • Education Leadership Award, World Education Congress Mumbai (2014) [4]
  • Murdoch University Distinguished Alumni Award winner (2016) [4]
  • Finalist, Telstra Queensland Business Woman of Year award (2016) [9]

References
  1. "Leading academic appointed Massey Vice-Chancellor". The National Business Review. 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2018-07-17.
  2. CharlotteLam. "USQ Vice-Chancellor will leave legacy of excellence". Chronicle. Retrieved 2018-07-17.
  3. "Massey University vice-chancellor learns to speak te reo Māori". Stuff. Retrieved 2018-07-17.
  4. "Winners | Distinguished Alumni Awards | Murdoch University in Perth Australia". www.murdoch.edu.au. Retrieved 2018-07-17.
  5. "Massey University busted lying over Brash speech cancellation – Whale Oil Beef Hooked | Whaleoil Media". Whale Oil Beef Hooked | Whaleoil Media. 2018-09-19. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  6. "'Grossly misleading': Don Brash fires back at Massey vice-chancellor". Stuff. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  7. "QAC > About the QAC > Membership". www.ugc.edu.hk (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-07-17.
  8. "Governance". www.acu.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-07-17.
  9. "Telstra business woman finalist". Springfield Daily Record. Retrieved 2018-07-17.
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