Pro Vice-Chancellor Education

Professor Gabrielle Finn is Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education at Northumbria University.

Gabrielle is responsible for shaping and delivering the University's education vision and strategy, providing strategic leadership across teaching, learning, assessment, student success, and educational quality. She works closely with academic and professional service colleagues to ensure Northumbria delivers an outstanding, inclusive, and transformative educational experience for all students.

As Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education, Gabrielle leads the development and implementation of the University's education strategy, driving innovation in curriculum design, assessment, digital education, student engagement, and educational enhancement. She provides executive leadership for key institutional priorities including student success, access and participation, graduate outcomes, educational quality and standards, and the University's response to national policy and regulatory developments.

Prior to joining Northumbria, Gabrielle held senior leadership roles at the University of Manchester, including Associate Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students and Vice-Dean for Teaching, Learning and Students within the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health. Throughout her career, she has led major educational transformation initiatives focused on assessment and feedback, curriculum innovation, student partnership, inclusion, and educational excellence.

Gabrielle is passionate about education as a driver of opportunity, social mobility, and individual transformation. She has championed approaches that improve student belonging, reduce differential attainment, enhance assessment practices, and strengthen student engagement, ensuring that educational excellence and equity are pursued together. At Northumbria, she is committed to advancing the University's ambitions for educational excellence, social mobility, and graduate success through research-rich, inclusive, and professionally relevant educational experiences.

An internationally recognised educational researcher, Gabrielle's work focuses on educational transformation, assessment, inclusion, differential attainment, student experience, and educational leadership. She has led major externally funded and commissioned research programmes for organisations including the General Dental Council, General Medical Council, Advance HE, and universities across the UK and internationally. Her research has influenced institutional strategy, professional regulation, and educational policy across higher and professional education.

Gabrielle has published extensively in leading international journals and is recognised for her expertise in qualitative, mixed-methods, and theory-informed research approaches. She serves on editorial boards, contributes as a reviewer for a range of international journals, and is a sought-after keynote speaker and advisor on educational quality, inclusion, and innovation. She has secured significant research funding throughout her career and has supervised doctoral researchers to successful completion, supporting the development of future educational scholars and leaders.

Alongside her role at Northumbria, Gabrielle serves as Chair of the Association for the Study of Medical Education (ASME), one of the world's leading learned societies in health professions education. Through this role, she provides strategic leadership for educational scholarship, research, and professional development across the UK and internationally.

Gabrielle sits on Northumbria University's Executive Board and Academic Board and works closely with regional, national, and international partners to enhance educational opportunities, influence policy, and strengthen Northumbria's reputation for educational excellence and innovation.

Gabrielle is a National Teaching Fellow (NTF) and Principal Fellow of Advance HE (PFHEA).

Contact the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education)