UWS honours its Vice-Chancellor Professor Janice Reid

Professor Janice Reid

Outgoing University of Western Sydney Vice-Chancellor, Professor Janice Reid, has been presented with an honorary doctorate from the University.

After 16 years at the helm, Professor Reid, retires at the end of the month. 

She presided over her last graduation UWS ceremony on Thursday, where she received a Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, and was also made an Emeritus Professor in recognition of her distinguished service and contribution to the University.

Professor Reid has been the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Western Sydney since 1998. In that time, the University has grown to become one of Australia’s largest universities, with 40,000 students and over 3000 staff.

Chancellor, Professor Peter Shergold, said that Professor Reid has demonstrated an unfailing commitment to making higher education more accessible to the people of Greater Western Sydney.  

“Professor Reid’s leadership has transformed UWS into one of Australia’s most progressive and innovative universities,” said Professor Shergold.

“Her leadership of UWS has ensured that this University has provided opportunities for hundreds of thousands of students in a region that has traditionally been known for social disadvantage, and low levels of educational opportunity and participation.

“She has championed a University that both makes a difference, and embodies the best of Australian values in promoting equity, excellence, compassion and social justice.”

Her other notable achievements include balancing UWS’s widening participation agenda with a commitment to excellence in students’ educational experiences; establishing the UWS School of Medicine with a view to improving the health care of people in Greater Western Sydney; advancing educational opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; and positioning UWS as a major centre for research and innovation - not only in one of Australia’s most significant and populous economic regions, but internationally.

In 1998, Professor Reid was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to cross-cultural public health research and the development of health services for socio-economically disadvantaged groups in the community.

In 2003 she received the Centenary Medal for service to Australian society in health and university administration.

Ends

19 December 2013

Photo: Sally Tsoutas

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