Current Students and Staff

Professor Rachel Thomson, Dean of the School of Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering, has been appointed as the University’s next Pro Vice-Chancellor for Teaching. She will take up her new role in the autumn, succeeding Professor Morag Bell.

Professor Thomson joined Loughborough in 1995 to take up a lectureship position within the Department of Materials. She made senior lecturer four years later and in 2002 was promoted to a Chair in Materials Engineering. After a period as Head of the Department of Materials, Professor Thomson was appointed as Dean of the School of Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering in 2014, becoming Loughborough University’s first female Dean within engineering.

Recently Professor Thomson has been spearheading the establishment of STEMLab, a £17 million development that will enhance the University’s teaching and learning facilities for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

She is also an active researcher, developing high temperature materials for power generation.

Of her appointment, Professor Thomson said: “I am honoured to be taking on the important role of Pro Vice-Chancellor for Teaching, building on the excellent work of Professor Morag Bell over the last few years.

“This is an exciting time for Loughborough as we continue to rise in the league tables, which is testament to the dedication of our staff and students, partners and alumni, and invest in new facilities to enrich the curriculum. There is also a unique relationship with the students and Students’ Union at Loughborough and I am always very proud of our students’ achievements.

“I am passionate about the success of the University and am very much looking forward to providing leadership for the future development of teaching, learning and the wider student experience at our campuses in London and Loughborough.”