Keele University appoints new Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Student Experience

A senior academic leader with a distinguished track record in teaching excellence and student success has been appointed to Keele University's senior leadership team.

Professor Ruth Ayres will join Keele as Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Student Experience from January 2026, following a highly competitive selection process.

Qualified as a Biologist, Professor Ayres spent a number of years as an academic in Environmental Sciences. During this time, she developed a growing interest in pedagogy and began to progress her career in this field.

Professor Ayres is dedicated to delivering high quality learning and teaching, and providing an excellent student experience for all learners. She has held a number of senior leadership positions in pre-92, post-92, and Russell Group Universities. She brings a wealth of experience, having successfully led Aston University’s Triple Gold-rated 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) submission, and Derby University’s first TEF submission in 2017, which was also awarded Gold.

Professor Ayres said: "I am thrilled to be joining Keele University and to have the opportunity to work with colleagues from across the institution to further enhance the student experience. I am passionate about the transformational impact of higher education, and Keele has an outstanding reputation for high-quality teaching and for developing graduates who make a real difference in the world. I look forward to meeting you all and working together to deliver the next chapter of Keele’s success."

Professor Ayres has a strong record of leading institutional strategies that enhance learning, teaching and student outcomes. She has driven transformational change initiatives that have strengthened educational quality, innovated learning practices and delivered positive results for students across a range of disciplines.

In her new role, she will lead the creation and delivery of Keele's next Education Strategy, ensuring that the University continues to offer a distinctive and excellent student experience, built on high-quality teaching and strong graduate outcomes.

Professor Mark Ormerod OBE, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, said: "I am delighted to welcome Professor Ayres to Keele as our new Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Student Experience. Ruth brings a wealth of experience from across the higher education sector and a proven track record in leading and delivering teaching excellence and innovation, which will be invaluable as we develop our exciting and innovative future education strategy and continue to provide an outstanding learning environment for all our students."