Professor Alison Koslowski appointed Pro-Provost (Equity & Inclusion)

As the senior academic champion for UCL’s equity and inclusion work, Professor Koslowski will work closely with Chief People Officer Donna Dalrymple, in whose portfolio the EDI team sits, to provide additional leadership for this high priority area, support for Vice-Deans (EDI) and day to day academic direction for UCL’s programme of EDI activities.

Professor Koslowski took up her role in the Thomas Coram Research Unit in November 2021, joining UCL from the University of Edinburgh, where she had been Professor of Social Policy and Research Methods, Head of Social Policy and founding director of the Edinburgh Q-Step Centre. She brings a significant record of data-informed EDI-related academic research to her new role, in particular in the context of the labour market, parental care and gender equality. 

She is taking up the role of Pro-Provost (Equity & Inclusion) on a 0.5FTE basis and will continue her academic leadership and research in the IOE alongside it, with the support of a new co-director of the Thomas Coram Research Unit, Mette Louise Berg, Professor of Migration and Diaspora Studies.

As part of the role, she will chair UCL’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and will deputise for President & Provost Dr Michael Spence on EDI matters internally and externally as required. 

Welcoming her appointment, Dr Spence said:

“This is such an important role, and I am really pleased that we have been able to appoint someone with Alison’s expertise, track record and, above all, huge passion for challenging prejudice and inequality. There are great opportunities for UCL to make significant improvements to our culture and environment and there are also challenges and complexities that we need to navigate together as a community. Alison brings a blend of academic insight and lived experience that will be invaluable. I am really looking forward to working alongside her.”

Chief People Officer Donna Dalrymple said:

“Evolving our institutional culture underpinned by the values we agreed together is a core part of UCL’s new Strategic Plan. The new Pro-Provost is going to play a pivotal role in developing that work in partnership with our committed, expert EDI team. It will be terrific to have Alison in a senior academic leadership role in this area.”

Professor Koslowski said:

“The most important over-riding objective for this role is to help increase the sense of belonging and inclusion at UCL for all students and staff. I am really excited about the huge potential we have to make direct, meaningful change and become a more accessible and inclusive place for everyone who works, studies and visits here, both physically and culturally. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to work with and support everyone who works so hard and effectively to that end in the EDI team and across UCL.” 

Professor Koslowski takes up the role of Pro-Provost (Equity & Inclusion) on 1 October 2023.