Dr Meghan McAllister-Hayward

Meghan is currently a Student and Academic Advocacy Officer within Student Experience and Management. Meghan assists students with understanding and navigating academic policies, procedures and supports students through their journey to becoming independent learners in Tertiary Education, while also undertaking reviews of the policies and procedures.

Meghan was a recipient of an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowship PhD Scholarship at Flinders (2020-2023). Meghan's PhD focused on the review and application of stable isotope and lipid biomarker Geochemistry to Pleistocene Southeast Asian archaeological sites, offering insights into past climatic conditions, as well as assessing if and how lipid biomarker preservation varies within cave sediments and the potential implications on palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. The PhD was successful, resulting in first-author publications and co-authorship on a Nature Communications paper during her 3.5-year candidature. Meghan received Letter of Congratulations from the University Higher Degree by Research Committee for Outstanding Thesis (exceptional examination results).

Meghan is an advocate of equity in Tertiary Education and a strong proponent of academic and research integrity. During her PhD program, Meghan was selected to undertake the 2021 Academic Internship Program for Doctoral Students to develop and expand her pedagogical skillset and how to better understand, respond to, and support the diverse needs of students. Alongside undertaking discipline-specific teaching and topic coordination, Meghan has been a Tutor on the Flinders Foundation Studies Program and a Learning Advisor with the Student Learning Support Service. Meghan has received commendations for her teaching and is passionate about assisting students with realising their academic potential and developing their self-confidence, allowing them to advocate for themselves.