London Met's Pro Vice-Chancellor for Student Experience talks strategy, equity, and the power of mentorship
Date: 26 March 2024
Professor Marcia Wilson, who joined London Metropolitan University as Pro Vice-Chancellor for Student Experience and Institutional Equity at the end of last year, is an experienced academic leader. She gained national attention as the founding Dean of the Office for Institutional Equity at the University of East London (UEL), a trailblazing department that has become a model for educational institutions across the UK.
But Marcia's journey into senior leadership has been anything but conventional. "My early career began with a love of sport so I decided to pursue that area of study," she says, reflecting on a path that began in the London Borough of Newham and took her to the United States to earn a Master's from the University of Houston and a PhD in sport psychology from the University of Iowa. After a period of work teaching in South Carolina and working with athletes, she returned to the UK to leave her mark at UEL and the Open University before bringing her wealth of experience to London Met.
Lived experience
"I've never accepted the notion that our students' backgrounds determine their limits," She says. "I feel I can speak from experience because I lived in some of the same areas of London as our students. I know how hard it can be to thrive without the right support, especially when fighting structural and organisational barriers at every step."
Growing up in Newham, East London, a stone's throw from West Ham United’s famous football ground, inspired the start of her academic journey which began with an undergraduate degree in Physical Education and led to pioneering work in Sports Science and Psychology.
The competitive mindset and strategic approach she learnt through sport have significantly impacted many aspects of her career, especially her advocacy through initiatives like Athena SWAN and Race Equity.
Joining a great team
Only a few months into her role at London Met, she's already making a difference. "I've met loads of people here, and they're passionate and incredibly committed to making a positive difference for our students," she says. She's also collaborating closely with Mandy Bentham, the Dean of Students, on timetabling, student records, and student services.
Marcia is also building partnerships with London Met’s Students' Union (SU), particularly with the SU CEO Bethan Dudas, SU President, Awesome Olasope and the Sabbatical Officers Manpreet Kaur, Tamika Chambers and Mojahar Ali. "Their enthusiasm, determination and professionalism are palpable," she comments. She is particularly excited about establishing a foodbank for all London Met students that will be fully open in the coming weeks.
As part of her remit for institutional equity, Marcia is working closely with colleagues in the university's Centre for Equity and Inclusion. She is spearheading initiatives aimed at addressing institutional disparities affecting Global Majority students and staff. "It's not about student deficit; it's about what we can do to address institutional and structural deficits," she emphasises. “People need to understand, we have the power to ensure that every student reaches their full potential."
Courage, vision and data
Throughout her career, Marcia has leveraged data to propel her work forward. When making the case for creating the Office for Institutional Equity (OIE) at UEL, data helped her demonstrate how focusing on equality, diversity, and inclusion made a tangible difference across the institution. It transformed the initiative from a 'tick box exercise' to a core part of the university's mission.
Vision and courage are two words that resonate deeply with Marcia's approach. Establishing the OIE at UEL was pioneering, setting a benchmark for universities across the country. "If we're serious about social justice, we need to be radical," she asserts.
One example she cites is the work London Met has begun with several Historically Black Colleges and Universities group members in the US. "I think we can do some amazing work with HBCUs," she comments, highlighting this initiative, established by Vice-Chancellor Professor Lynn Dobbs, as just one example of innovative thinking which can challenge the status quo, build international collaborations, and enrich the educational experience at London Met.
Everyone has a voice
As the interview concludes, Marcia reflects on what students and staff can expect from her leadership style. "For me, it’s about having the courage to do something different and being prepared to be accountable if a strategy doesn’t work out. I want to ensure all voices are heard, and people are valued, respected, and seen. Everyone has something to contribute, and if we don’t listen, we miss out."
"For me, it’s about having the courage to do something different and being prepared to be accountable if a strategy doesn’t work out. I want to ensure all voices are heard, and people are valued, respected, and seen. Everyone has something to contribute, and if we don’t listen, we miss out."
Professor Marcia Wilson