Mary Watkins

Senior Lecturer in Higher Education

Mary is a Senior Lecturer in Higher Education within the Centre for Academic Development and Innovation. She joined the University in 2005 on a fixed-term maternity cover contract with the Careers & Employability Service. She later transitioned to the Student Finance Centre as a Student Finance Officer where she enjoyed facilitating financial support workshops and helping students secure additional funding.

In 2008 Mary became one of the first Online Course Developers in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences designing online courses for government employees. Over the years she expanded her knowledge of educational technology and active blended learning. In 2021 Mary moved into a Learning Designer role where she had the opportunity to enhance students' learning journey by collaborating with course teams.

Mary’s academic background includes postgraduate studies at the University of Portsmouth and the Open University where she gained firsthand experience as a part-time and distance learner. She completed the Teach Well module in 2024 and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).

Mary's research interests focus on learning design frameworks and inclusive assessment strategies.