Role
Melanie oversees the undergraduate and postgraduate provision covering all things related to the fashion and lifestyle industry (excluding Design) covering the spectrum of the technical, logistical, commercial and communication aspects of fashion. Her department currently has over 1,200 undergraduate, post graduate and research students. Passionate about student satisfaction, course currency and employability, she works to ensure students have a personalised learning experience and are supported in both their personal and professional development.
Melanie is part of the School Executive team providing strategic leadership and professional development within the Nottingham School of Art and Design. She manages a large team of academics, researchers and practitioners providing opportunities for knowledge exchange, consultancy, research and pedagogic innovation.
Career overview
Prior to transitioning to academia, Melanie held the position of Global Head of Product for Pentland Brands.
With over 15 years of industry experience, Melanie has worked within the fashion and sports apparel, footwear and hard goods sectors.
Prior to becoming Head of Department at NTU, Melanie was Principal Lecturer for BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing and Branding responsible for the design, development and delivery of the course.
Melanie champions innovative curriculum design and collaboration working with students, businesses, HE institutions and various external bodies to ensure collective involvement in future-proofing the course portfolio.
External activity
Melanie is a member of UKFT, The Textile Institute and ASBCI. She also undertakes external examining and institutional reviews at other colleges and universities.
Sponsors and collaborators
Within the department we nurture strong collaborative partnerships with global businesses to provide student placements, live projects, consultancy, and knowledge exchange opportunities.