Education and Student Experience
About Education and Student Experience
The Education and Student Experience team is part of the Principal’s Office and is headed by the Vice-Principal Education (Proctor) who has responsibility for all matters relating to teaching, learning and assessment across the University, as well as Student Services, the Graduate School, student discipline, and a range of student-facing areas such as the Chaplaincy and the Students’ Association.
The Proctor is supported by the AVP Dean of Learning and Teaching and Provost and the Director of Student Experience.
Ros Claase, Director of Student Experience
Email: dirstudexp@st-andrews.ac.uk
Location: Walter Bower House
Ros’s role is to coordinate a coherent student experience strategy across the University, enabling all our students to thrive and develop over the course of their studies. She works in close partnership with academic and professional services teams across the University to develop and deliver projects that enhance the student experience.
Ros joined the University in summer 2021, having spent a decade at the University of Edinburgh in a variety of student experience and change leadership roles. She started her career in financial services, working across the UK, Europe and further afield, having completed her undergraduate degree in Modern and Medieval Languages at the University of Cambridge.
Nicola Atkinson, Head of Education Policy and Quality
Email: nam6@st-andrews.ac.uk
Location: Walter Bower House
Nicola provides leadership on a broad range of educational and quality activities which enhance the student experience at the University. She works in close partnership with the Vice-Principal Education (Proctor), the decanal team and professional services teams to develop and deliver projects that enhance the quality of the student experience.
Nicola joined the University more than 20 years ago, having spent a period at the University of Dundee in a variety of management and HE roles. She started her career in public relations working in Edinburgh, after she completed her undergraduate degree in History at the University of Dundee.
Judith Shepherd, Deputy Head of Education Policy and Quality
Email: jas44@st-andrews.ac.uk
Location: Walter Bower House
In her depute head role, Judith manages Academic Policy Officers and ensures collaboration with academic schools. She works with senior University staff to develop and implement strategies, focusing on education, student experience, and digital initiatives. She contributes to University projects, monitors educational trends, drafts policy responses, and enhances postgraduate research frameworks. She also manages University-level committees, contributes to sector survey analysis, and oversees the team's development.
Judith joined St Andrews in October 2024, having been Deputy Registrar Academic Partnerships, Head of Collaborative Provision, and Learning and Teaching Portfolio Manager at Aberystwyth University in Wales. She received a BA (Hons) Politics and Modern History from the University of Strathclyde and MLitt Strategic Studies from the University of Aberdeen. She is currently a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) candidate at the University of Bath.
Dr Brian Ho, Academic Policy Officer (Taught Degrees)
Email: kth3@st-andrews.ac.uk
Location: Walter Bower House
Brian is responsible for the development and implementation of education strategy and policy with regards to the University's taught degrees. He is also Clerk for the University Learning and Teaching Committee, and line manages the Administrative Officer supporting Good Academic Practice.
Brian came to Fife from Hong Kong, where he grew up and did an undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Translation Studies at the University of Hong Kong. He completed his MLitt and PhD in Philosophy at the Universities of St Andrews and Stirling, lecturing in both institutions in law, politics and philosophy, and serving as Programme Manager (Undergraduate Degrees) at INTO University of Stirling, before returning to St Andrews in 2022.
Ros Campbell, Academic Policy Officer (Quality)
Email: rc42@st-andrews.ac.uk
Location: Walter Bower House
Ros develops policy and guidance and contributes to a range of review activities to enhance learning and teaching and the student experience. She provides advice, guidance and support to academic and professional services staff on matters relating to academic quality and standards.
Ros completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology with Business Management at Queen Margaret University before spending a year in Australia. She holds postgraduate diplomas in Information Technology and Human Resource Management from the University of St Andrews and Edinburgh Napier University, and a postgraduate certificate in Counselling Skills from Abertay University. Ros started her career in Human Resources, working as an HR Advisor in Edinburgh and an Academic Staff Developer at St Andrews before joining the team in 2017.
Karen Murphy, Academic Policy Officer (Quality)
Email: km105@st-andrews.ac.uk
Location: Walter Bower House
Karen has a key role in ensuring the University meets internal and external requirements for quality assurance and academic standards. She contributes to the management and enhancement of institution-led and external review activities and is the Clerk to the Academic Monitoring Group.
Karen studied as a mature student completing a BSc (Hons) in Psychology at Abertay University in 2019. She has worked with the University since 2012 and joined the Education Policy and Quality team in 2018.
Sandro Eich, Academic Policy Officer (Quality)
Email: se56@st-andrews.ac.uk
Location: Walter Bower House
Sandro's role is to lead and support projects which deliver and enhance the University’s Education and Student Experience strategic priorities. This involves ensuring the University meets its own and external education quality assurance requirements, as well as contributing to the development of policy. He is the Clerk for Academic Assurance Group and sits on the CELPiE Steering Group.
Before coming to St Andrews, Sandro graduated with a BA in English Studies and Linguistics and an MA in English and Comparative Studies from the University of Cologne. He studied at University College London and moved to St Andrews to start his PhD in 2020. Sandro also works as Interdisciplinary Education Research Assistant (Postgraduate) for the Graduate School for Interdisciplinary Studies, where he develops initiatives to support the academic development of interdisciplinary St Andrews PhD researchers.
Hazel Grapes, Administrative Officer
Email: hrg5@st-andrews.ac.uk
Location: Walter Bower House and St Leonard's College
Hazel’s primary role is that of St Leonard’s College Coordinator, working alongside the College’s Executive Officer to provide effective day-to-day functions and administration for the College and the Old Burgh School. She is the first point of contact for postgraduate-related enquiries from staff, students and stakeholders. Hazel is responsible for the College’s student experience activities and works alongside the Community Assistant to provide events and activities that benefit the postgraduate community intellectually and socially.
Hazel is also responsible for supporting the AVP Dean of Learning and Teaching with the processing of Stage 1 Academic Appeals and provides administrative support to the Associate Deans and Associate Provosts, including supporting groups reporting to the Education Strategy Management Group.
Hazel has a BA (Hons) in Business Management and joined the University's School of Management, now the University of St Andrews Business School, in 2018, moving to the College in 2021. She has a wealth of experience from both the private and public sectors with a specialism in people-focused roles.
Laura Palmer, Administrator
Email: lmp24@st-andrews.ac.uk
Location: Walter Bower House
Laura provides administrative support to the Academic Policy Officers, particularly relating to the University’s key quality monitoring and enhancement processes. Laura also supports the Academic Policy Officer’s (Quality) in all aspects of academic monitoring, in particular the administration of University-led Reviews of Learning and Teaching.
After graduating from Napier University with a BSc (Hons) Mathematics and Business Economics, Laura worked in Local Authority, and has extensive project management experience. Laura joined St Andrews as an Administrator in 2020.
Dr Kostas Zafeiris, Executive Officer to St Leonard's College
Email: kz1@st-andrews.ac.uk
Location: Old Burgh School, St Leonard's College
Kostas's role is to support the University in achieving its strategic aims for postgraduate provision across all levels. He advocates for the interests of postgraduates throughout the University and works towards the advancement of postgraduate education, research and student experience. As Executive Officer to St Leonard's College, he is dedicated in creating a vibrant and intellectually stimulating community for all postgraduate students, fostering both academic and social activities. Kostas also provides support to postgraduate students by overseeing the review and management of the University's scholarships and funding programmes related to postgraduate study.
Kostas was a postgraduate student at St Andrews and a member of St Leonard's College. After completing his PhD, he taught as a Lecturer at Queens University Belfast. Since re-joining the University of St Andrews, he has taught and worked as Academic Support Officer in the School of History and as Project Manager during the Senate Efficiency Review programme, leading the development of the Advising system. He then held the role of Registry Manager (Student Journey and Projects).