Associate Professor Michelle Gander

I am an Associate Professor in Sociology and Dean (People & Resources) in the College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences. I have extensive experience in leadership, online learning and academic administration. As Dean (People & Resources), I am responsible for organisational culture, wellbeing, work health and safety, and workload, with overall accountability for all things people related. As part of the leadership team, I am also responsible for strategy development and implementation, domestic and international student recruitment, and business development including working with the Colleges’ industry advisory board.

I hold a PhD in Management from Murdoch University in Perth. I have two Masters degrees, one in environmental science (wastewater treatment) and an MBA in higher education management. My Honours degree was also in Environmental Science.

I have taught various management topics from foundations of management and governance to organisational behaviour, and organisational design and culture. I have also taught under- and post-graduate research methods.

I am a leading researcher and acknowledged expert in the field of career management within higher education in Australia and the UK. I apply a sociological lens to career theory to extend thinking on how individuals establish and manage their careers within organisational structures and power relationships. I publish in top career journals including Gender, Work and Organisation (Q1 and ACBD = A), Career Development International (Q1 and ACBD = B), and Australian Journal of Career Development (ACBD = B).

My current research projects include: 1) evaluating a joint innovative VET/HE course for student outcomes and areas for improvement, 2) investigating the continued under-representation of women in the most senior roles in universities with a colleague at ECU in Perth, 3) understanding factors related to women changing career track in universities, 4) evaluating a student-alumni mentoirng program for enhanced employability outcomes.