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Professor and Higher Education Researcher, Charles Sturt University

Professor Sarah O' Shea is a senior academic leader with 30 years tertiary experience that includes leading a National Centre for Higher Education Research and Policy as well as an Academy of Tertiary Teaching and Learning Excellence. Currently, the Dean of Graduate Research at Charles Sturt University, Sarah is an expert in higher education systems and educational equity, she applies sociological framings to better understand how students from underrepresented groups enact success within university, navigate transition into and through this environment, manage competing identities and negotiate aspirations for self and others.

As a Higher Education leader, Sarah builds high performance teams whilst also managing multiple and complex stakeholder relationships (government, university and community) with exceptional influencing skills. Leadership impact includes developing pioneering educational programmes, securing national and international competitive funding ($3.8m) and forging collaborations across disciplines and sectors.

Sarah is also an award winning author and educator with an international reputation recognised by invitations to present keynotes, symposia, and workshops globally as well as providing contributions across media including print, television and radio. Her prolific publication record includes over 100 works in the last decade spanning books, book chapters, scholarly journal articles, media articles and commissioned reports.

Sarah has also been recognised for her work via numerous awards and is currently an Australian Learning and Teaching Fellow (ALTF), a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA), and a Churchill Fellow (CF).

Experience

  • 2023–present
    Dean, Charles Sturt University
  • 2020–present
    Honorary Professorial Fellow, University of Wollongong
  • 2020–2023
    Director and Professor, Curtin University
  • 2019–2020
    Professor, University of Wollongong
  • 2016–2018
    Associate professor, University of Wollongong
  • 2010–2015
    Senior Lecturer, University of Wollongong

Education

  • 2009 
    University of Sydney, Doctor of Philosophy

Publications

  • 2015
    Avoiding the manufacture of “sameness”: First-in-family students, cultural capital and the higher education environment, Higher Education
  • 2015
    Shifting the blame – academic staff, social inclusion and inclusive teaching practices. , HERD Journal
  • 2015
    ‘We are history in the making and we are walking together to change things for the better….’ Exploring the flows and ripples of learning in a mentoring program for Indigenous young people. , Education as Change
  • 2015
    “I generally say I am a Mum first… but I’m studying at uni”: The narratives of first in family, female caregivers moving into an Australian university. , Journal of Diversity in Higher Education.
  • 2015
    Arriving, Surviving and Succeeding- exploring the first year of university, Journal of College Student Development.
  • 2015
    “I ‘feel’ like I am at university even though I am online.” Exploring how students narrate their engagement with higher education institutions in an online learning environment. , Distance Education

Grants and Contracts

  • 2015
    “Engaging Families to Engage Students": Exploring how university outreach activities can forge productive partnerships with families to assist first in family students navigate their higher education journey.
    Role:
    Fellow
    Funding Source:
    Office of Learning and Teaching
  • 2014
    Mentoring and Indigenous higher education: Understanding how university students mentor Indigenous school students
    Role:
    CI
    Funding Source:
    Australian Research Council
  • 2014
    Breaking the Barriers: supporting and engaging mature age first-in-family university learners and their families.
    Role:
    Lead CI
    Funding Source:
    Office of Learning and Teaching

Honours

Principal Fellow, HEA; Churchill Fellow; Australian Learning and Teaching Fellow