27 February 2012 University career brought notable firsts in leadership

The first woman to be promoted to Assistant Vice-Chancellor rank at Lincoln University, Associate Professor of Exercise Science Dr Jenny Ross, has retired.

Dr Ross joined the staff at Lincoln University in 1993 as a Lecturer in Exercise Science and five years later became the first woman to head an academic division at the University - Human Sciences. Then, in 2001, she was the first woman to be promoted to Assistant Vice-Chancellor rank at Lincoln University, with responsibility in several areas from policy and planning to academic services.

Dr Ross says she enjoyed the management atmosphere at Lincoln University.

“The university’s culture fosters leadership and allows leaders to emerge. There is a ‘you can do it’ attitude with an expectation that senior academics should take on management responsibilities.  It is seen as part of our ‘duty’.

“It suited me because when in leadership positions I too regard it as part of the role to mentor staff coming through. It was good to see other women coming after me into senior management roles.”

Jenny Ross completed a science degree and a PhD at Otago University. From there she has spent the bulk of her career in teaching, research and tertiary institution management.

In 2001 Dr Ross and exercise physiology colleague Associate Professor Mike Hamlin published the first quantitative study showing that Kiwi children were becoming heavier and more unfit. It was benchmark material and highly useful for on-going work in the fitness area.

Beyond her university positions, Dr Ross has had key roles in helping set national policy on sport and recreation through six years of service on SPARC, the then Government body for sport and recreation. She also had a role in developing walking access policy for New Zealand as a member of the Government’s Walking Access Advisory Board. Other national and community roles have included membership of the National Council of Sports Medicine New Zealand and Christchurch City Council’s Recreation and Sport Strategy Steering Group.