Professor Debra Willison
Deputy Associate Principal
Pure and Applied Chemistry
Personal statement
Current Responsibilities
Seconded to the Office of the Vice Principal (2017-present)
Undertake duties to support the Vice Prinicpal's portfolio in Learning and Teaching.
Chair of Strathclyde Online (2017-present)
Committee which oversees the coordination and development of digital education activity across the institution with the aim of realizing opportunities, maximizing connectivity and support.
Vice Dean Academic, Faculty of Science (2015-present)
Responsible for the strategic development of teaching and learning in the Faculty of Science, playing a key role in the development of the Faculty academic plan and guiding departments in determining their academic strategy to support this plan.
Key areas of activity include:
- student recruitment
- curriculum development
- learning enhancement
- retention
- widening participation
- quality assurance
Prize And Awards
- Strathclyde Medal
- Recipient
- 11/10/2022
- Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- Recipient
- 2016
- Ist Prize Poster
- Recipient
- 2014
- Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- Recipient
- 2013
- Most Supportive Teacher Award
- Recipient
- 2012
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry
- Recipient
- 2008
Publications
- The Chemistry Clinic : authentic assessment in a student led environment
- Willison Debra
- Journal of Chemical Education Vol 101, pp. 2703-2709 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c01319
- Reflections on developing a collaborative multi-disciplinary approach to embedding education for sustainable development into higher education curricula
- Logan Louise, Strachan Scott, Willison Debra, Bain Roderick, Roberts Jen, Mitchell Iain, Yarr Roderick
- Emerald Open Research Vol 1 (2023)
- https://doi.org/10.1108/EOR-09-2023-0007
- ChemDiverse : a chemistry careers activity showcasing diversity
- R. Velasquez Sara T, Nimmo Roslyn, Pookayil Teena, Lydon Christopher, Willison Debra, Scott Fraser J
- Journal of Chemical Education Vol 100, pp. 3881-3887 (2023)
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00355
- Good Practice Guide for Micro-credentials and Small Qualifications in Scotland
- Willison Debra
- (2023)
- The Chemistry Clinic : collaborative teamwork to achieve innovative solutions
- Willison Debra, Ingram Sharon E, Liggat John J, McMillan Brian George
- Perspectives on Enhancing Student Transition Into Higher Education and Beyond (2023) (2023)
- https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-8198-1.ch008
- Perspectives on Enhancing Student Transition into Higher Education and Beyond
- Willison Debra, Henderson Emma
- (2023)
- https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-8198-1
Research Interests
My research interests centre on the enhancement of learning and teaching within the following areas of focus:
- Student Transitions in Higher Education
- Students as Partners in Academic Development
- Personal Development Planning
- Employability
- Widening Participation
Previously, my research profile centred on the synthesis of ferrocene derivatives and metal carbonyl complexes and their use as chiral auxiliaries in asymmetric synthesis.
Professional Activities
- Chemistry for All Grant Holders Seminar
- Participant
- 25/7/2024
- A Lifetime of Chemistry Outreach
- Speaker
- 5/7/2024
- An Institutional Approach to Employability Through Work Related Learning
- Speaker
- 2/7/2024
- From Trainee Technician to Deputy Associate Principal (and everything in between!)
- Speaker
- 22/5/2024
- Mathematics & Statistics Teaching Away Day
- Invited speaker
- 22/5/2024
- Abertay University
- Visiting researcher
- 21/5/2024
Projects
- A Scottish perspective on the barriers to progression into, and through, Chemistry HE for those from deprived backgrounds
- Willison, Debra (Principal Investigator) Scott, Fraser (Principal Investigator)
- 04-Jan-2023 - 03-Jan-2024
- A Scottish perspective on the barriers to progression into, and through, Chemistry HE for those from deprived backgrounds
- Willison, Debra (Principal Investigator) Scott, Fraser (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2023 - 31-Jan-2024
- Student Mental Health and Anxiety as a Hidden Disability in UK Chemistry Labs
- Thomson, Patrick (Principal Investigator) Scott, Fraser (Co-investigator) Willison, Debra (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2023 - 31-Jan-2025
- Enhancing Chemistry and Science Career Motivation in Scottish Primary Learners.( Outreach Fund - Large Grants 2023)
- Scott, Fraser (Principal Investigator) Walker, Sarah (Co-investigator) Willison, Debra (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2023 - 31-Jan-2024
- Decolonising the Science Curriculum
- Morrissey, Sean (Co-investigator) Carlysle, Felicity (Principal Investigator) Willison, Debra (Co-investigator)
- QAA Scotland funded project
- 01-Jan-2023
- A Success Infrastructure for a Diverse Student Community
- Willison, Debra (Principal Investigator) English, Rosanne (Principal Investigator)
- QAA funded research project for 2 student interns (£1000)
- 03-Jan-2022 - 30-Jan-2022
Contact
Professor
Debra
Willison
Deputy Associate Principal
Pure and Applied Chemistry
Email: d.willison@strath.ac.uk
Tel: 548 3281