Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that Professor Jane Stadler has been appointed as Dean of Graduate Research, leading the Graduate Research School working with me in the DVCR portfolio over the next five years. Professor Stadler has been acting in the role of Director Graduate Research since mid-2023. In consultation with the Vice Chancellor and colleagues, the leadership position has been changed to Dean in recognition of the important role the head of graduate research plays in guiding the academic attributes of UNE’s research agenda.

Professor Stadler has held leadership roles as Associate Dean Learning and Teaching, Head of the School, Department Chair, Major Convenor, and Director of Higher Degrees by Research at institutions including the University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, and Swinburne University of Technology. Earlier in her career Professor Stadler was Convenor of Film and Media Studies at the University of Cape Town, and Acting Chair of Mass Communication at Murdoch University, where she completed her PhD in 2000.

Recognition of outstanding teaching and supervision by Professor Stadler includes receiving the prestigious Australian Learning and Teaching Council National Award for Teaching Excellence (2011), and five institutional awards for excellence in teaching, learning, and PhD supervision at the University of Queensland, the University of Cape Town, and Murdoch University. Professor Stadler loves working with PhD and MPhil candidates and has a distinguished record of research higher degree supervision, administration, and examination including 25 successful HDR completions.

 Professor Stadler’s research expertise is in cultural studies, media studies, and philosophy, with a focus on ethics, phenomenology, and cognitive approaches to audience reception. She has published widely in these fields and been awarded competitive research grants by the Australian Research Council, the Ernest Oppenheimer Foundation, and the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (Science Communication). Professor Stadler has held fellowships and visiting professorships at Hong Kong Baptist University and the University of California, Berkeley.

I have enjoyed working with Professor Stadler over the last six months at UNE, but more importantly, Professor Stadler has stated how much she is looking forward to working with and supporting UNE’s HDR candidates and supervisors and enhancing excellence in research and research training over the next five years!

Regards,
Professor Chris Armstrong