Dr Eunice Simmons
Dean, School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences
Dr Eunice Simmons was appointed Dean of the School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences in August 2010. She brings significant experience of science and land-based education ranging from secondary school science teaching through to PhD supervisions, most recently at the University of Cumbria where she was Dean of Science and Natural Resources for three years.
A first degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Manchester included a dissertation in cereal physiology and the challenge of growing wheat and barley on the department roof! Following a PGCE at Roehampton, Eunice taught for two years at a rural comprehensive in Kent before obtaining a studentship on an innovative MSc in the Conservation of Soil Fertility - run jointly by the Universities of Kent and London at Wye. On achieving the Bayer industry award for best dissertation, Eunice taught on the MSc for a semester before embarking on a research post and PhD funded by the Forestry Commission. This focused on the impact of plantation systems on ancient woodland sites, accounting for environmental factors and tree species choice and it influenced the Commission's subsequent best-practice guidance for the restoration of these internationally important woodlands.
Two years into her PhD, Eunice was appointed Lecturer on the MSc in Landscape Ecology, Design and Management and Senior Warden at Wye College, University of London. Doing justice to these competing priorities gave Eunice useful insight into the pressures felt by part-time and mature students returning to study. After 12 years at Wye and Imperial Colleges in the University of London, Eunice moved north to Cumbria as Head of the National School of Forestry, a post she retained when promoted to Head of the School of Natural Resources in the University of Central Lancashire.
In 2007, on the formation of the University of Cumbria, Eunice created a natural resources faculty including the largest Outdoor Studies school in Europe. She brought the first PhD students to the Newton Rigg campus funded by the UK's Energy Research Centre and re-invigorated the use of the University's farms for teaching and research. This was recognised in her appointment as University Dean for Research, prior to her move to Nottingham Trent University.
At NTU Eunice plans to build on her experience of partnership projects to enrich the course portfolio and research activities at Brackenhurst campus. Her experience of managing a Department of Further Education and eight years as a College and School Governor have also deepened Eunice's interest in vocational education and she intends to seize the potential for NTU to innovate in addressing key skills shortages.
A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Eunice recognises the great challenge of changing society's attitude towards the use of the planet's natural resources but through her career has seen how powerful education can be in achieving this. On taking up her post at Nottingham Trent University, Eunice underlined that the School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences is very well placed to take a leadership role in promoting the sustainability of our environment, our agricultural systems and the land-based industries on which a thriving rural economy depends.
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