Dr Kelly Coate, Vice Dean (Education) at the Faculty of Social Science and Public Policy, has been appointed as the new Pro Vice-Chancellor of Education and Students at the University of Sussex.

Kelly will work with academic and professional colleagues to develop a distinctive approach to curricula, embracing digitisation and encouraging experimentation in and outside of the classroom. This pivotal role will draw on Kelly’s experience at King’s, where she was also a Reader in Higher Education, School of Education, Communication and Society, and prior to that Director of the King’s Learning Institute.  

This appointment underlines the successes generated by the interplay of Kelly’s personal attributes and the wider King’s College London educational environment. Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sussex, noted her “open and expansive mindset” and “progressive approach”.

Commenting on her service to King’s, Frans Berkhout, Dean of Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy at King’s College said ‘Kelly brought a deep knowledge of higher education and the TEF to SSPP when she became Vice Dean last year. I have come to appreciate her as an engaged and effective colleague. We are really sorry to see Kelly go after such a short time in her current role, but also excited and proud that she is taking on a very senior role at Sussex.’

Kelly will start at Sussex in early July. King’s will begin to recruit for a new Vice Dean (Education) in due course.