Dr Annie Grant

National Teaching Fellow 2009 Before her retirement, Dr Annie Grant worked as the  Dean of Students at the University of East Anglia. She worked in student services for 18 years, five of them at UEA, following an earlier career as an archaeologist. She has taken an evidence-based approach to her work in order to ensure that the HE learning environment explicitly recognises the wide diversity in students backgrounds, circumstances and aspirations. Through her role Annie provided opportunities to help all students to achieve their academic potential and personal goals. Annie's job included responsibility for a wide range of central student services that provide professional information and guidance on matters that can impact, both positively and, if unresolved, negatively on students' wellbeing and success. These range from academic learning skills, finance and disability to physical and mental health. She takes a holistic approach to the student learning environment, ensuring close integration of central services with departmental learning and teaching, including the personal tutorial system. Annie has a particular interest in enhancing students psychological wellbeing. She is an active member of  AMOSSHE, the national student services organisation, and a founding member, and now Chair, of the  UUK/GuildHE Working Group for the Promotion of Mental Wellbeing in Higher Education. She has spoken at national and international conferences on a wide range of topics related to the enhancement of students experiences of higher education, and has written, or contributed to, several guidance documents for the HE sector as whole. Her most recent publication is an overview of UK approaches for an  edited book, published in the USA, on the internationalisation of student affairs. Annie loved her job which, although was very challenging at times, provided the opportunity to make a real difference at an individual and institutional level. No day was ever the same, and only very rarely did the course of the day match what the diary says! Her role would not be one to take on if you didn't enjoy both problem solving and responding to the unexpected as well as strategic planning and development. Annie retired from the University of East Anglia in December 2015.