60 seconds with Kevin Bell

Kevin Bell joined the University as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Digital Futures) (opens in a new window) in July 2016. Kevin leads digital innovation in learning and teaching and the integration of digital learning technologies, and is refreshing our online strategy. He is also leading an initiative on learning analytics and is conducting research in technology-enabled learning and analysing the impact and effectiveness of our digital learning strategy.

Kevin recently received the Nofflet Williams Service Award from the National University Technology Network in recognition of his thought leadership in online education and within the distance learning community at large.

Find out more about Kevin in 60 seconds below…

How long have you worked at Western and what's the best thing about working here?
I started in July 2016, so a smidge over six months now.

Which campus are you based on?
I am mostly at Werrington North but spend quite a bit of time at Parramatta.

What is your favourite place on one of the Western campuses?
When my family arrived, we stayed in a house at Hawkesbury and saw our first kangaroo, so that was special. I think the renovation work at the Whitlam Institute is remarkable and I enjoyed visiting there.

When you're not at work, what will we find you doing?
My family and I moved here from the US after over a decade there. I'm from the UK, my wife is Canadian and we have three US/UK/Canadian kids. They keep us busy with dance classes, swimming, movies etc.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Professional football (soccer) player for Newcastle United, which I haven't fully ruled out yet. Photographer for a while, the next Oscar Wilde for another while and a forensic scientist after seeing Jack Klugman's Quincy.

What was your first job?
I inherited my brother's paper round when around 12 or 13 years old and made 20p a day. After that I was a barman in Sting's brother's bar called Dunes in Whitley Bay (at the coast near Newcastle), a football coach in America then my first "proper" job was as a language teacher in Japan.

What has been your greatest success?
Overall I would say managing to not totally mess up the raising of three super kids. Professionally: I developed the concept of what became the College for America project (Google it) and was the only double distinction on my UPenn doctoral programme (there were some seriously brilliant people on that degree. And me).

If you could go to just one country in the world for a vacation, which country would it be?
I've been lucky to travel quite a lot. I lived in Japan between 1990 and 1999 and travelled the region from there (I came to Oz for the first time in '93). I have always wanted to get to Cuba and would love to go back to Japan to show my kids around the old neighbourhoods.

What is your favourite book, movie and album?
Book: Crime and Punishment
Movie: Beyond a Reasonable Doubt – original 1956 – Joan Fontaine, Dana Andrews
Album: This is a very tough call. I can't choose just one: probably New Order, Substance; ELO, Out of the Blue; and The Smiths, The Queen is Dead.
 
If you could invite anyone to dinner who would it be and why?
Across the board I'd go with my dad who isn't doing brilliantly health-wise in the UK.
 
Celebrity-wise, I was quite a Barack fan, my cousin recently hung out with Ricky Gervais who was "a blast" in person and I would bring Jeff Lynne (who I hope would bring O'Livvy NJ from their Xanadu period).