Staff snapshot: Kevin Dunn

Professor Kevin Dunn is the Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Psychology and is based on the Kingswood campus.

When did you start working at UWS and what was your first role?
I started in 2008 as Professor of Geography and Urban Studies. My role was to establish a Geography and Urban Studies teaching and research group, and to reinvigorate the Urban Planning program.

Describe your current role in 100 words or less.
As Dean, School of Social Sciences and Psychology, my aim is to establish UWS as a national leader in the human services disciplines of the Social and Behavioural Sciences. We will move towards an alignment of teaching strength (load and quality) and research esteem and performance (ERA ranks, publications, research income) in our core disciplines of Urban Planning; Tourism Studies; Criminology and Policing; Human Geography; Social Work and Therapy Studies; Sociology; Psychology; Religion and Religious Studies; and Political Sciences (including Development Studies).

I’m also working to establish a diversity of admissions systems for the School’s programs and robust pathways from undergraduate into graduate programs.

What’s the best thing about your job?
Spreading confidence and building pride. Also, rewarding effort and witnessing progress and advancement.

What do you love most about working at UWS?
• The commitment to Greater Western Sydney and its people.
• The potential for improvement in teaching and research performance.
• The access mission to widen participation, provide opportunity and give a second chance.

What are you going to be working on in the next 12 months?
• New programs.
• Enhancing research esteem.
• Blended learning development.