Jan Thomas (academic)

Last updated

Jan Thomas
Thomas-Jan-2017-015.jpg
Thomas in 2017
6th Vice-Chancellor of Massey University
Assumed office
January 2017
Thesis Feline immunodeficiency virus infection in domestic cats in Western Australia: Prevalence of natural infection and association with clinical and morphological disease  (1997)
Doctoral advisors Wayne Robinson
Clive Huxtable

Jan Thomas is a veterinary scientist and career academic. Thomas is currently the sixth vice-chancellor of Massey University, New Zealand. [1]

Contents

She has been a supporter of indigenous and minority groups throughout her career. [2] Upon joining Massey University, she took up lessons in te reo Māori in an effort to become fluent in the language. [3] Thomas has stated her ambition for Massey University is to become a te Tiriti-led organisation and contribute to a socially progressive Aotearoa. [4]

Thomas is the first female veterinarian and only the second veterinarian to become a Vice-Chancellor in either Australia or New Zealand. [5]

Early career

Prior to her academic career, Thomas worked as a veterinary surgeon, diagnostic veterinary pathologist and a private laboratory consultant. [6] After graduating BVMZ in 1983 she spent a year working in a small-animal clinic in Perth, WA, then moved to Melbourne to do her master's degree, which she completed in 1986. Thomas returned to Murdoch University in 1987 to work in diagnostic veterinary pathology and was awarded membership of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists. [5] Thomas decided to pursue a career in academia having seen the power universities have to transform lives. [2]

Academic career

Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science in veterinary biology (1981), a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (1983), both from Murdoch University in Perth, Australia; a Master of Veterinary Studies in pathology from the University of Melbourne (1986) and a Doctor of Philosophy from Murdoch University (1997), where she gained a reputation for excellence in research and scholarship as a supervisor of PhD students. [6] Thomas has published widely on her veterinary research, including articles on feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection and clinical pathology, topics that were part of her PhD. [5] [7]

She has held a number of leadership positions at universities throughout Australasia. Prior to her appointment at Massey University, she was Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba, Australia, a role she had held since 2012. She has also served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Quality and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Fremantle at the University of Notre Dame Australia in Western Australia (2010–11) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic at Murdoch (2003–10).

In October 2016 it was announced she would be the sixth Vice-Chancellor of Massey University and commenced in the role in January 2017. Then-Chancellor Chris Kelly said Thomas was selected for her proven academic background and experience in senior management roles in university environments. [8]

Calls for resignation

On September 18, 2018, it was revealed via documents released under the OIA New Zealand that Thomas used her influence as the Vice-Chancellor to silence Dr Don Brash the day before he was due to give a speech to Politics Society at Massey University. [9] A review by Massey University's council subsequently cleared her of wrongdoing, with Chancellor Michael Ahie stating that the Council supported and had full confidence in Professor Thomas. [10] Massey University's Māori staff association Te Matawhānui publicly spoke out in support of Thomas, particularly due to her leadership of Massey as a te Tiriti-led university. [11]

In October 2023, Massey University was forecasting a $50 million loss for the year and has been taking actions to cut costs. There has been an outpouring of opposition to the proposed cuts from students, staff and the Tertiary Education Union, including calls for Thomas to resign. [12] [13]

Cost cutting proposed by Thomas include no longer offering engineering qualifications at any of Massey's three campuses, and the loss of 60 percent of staff in the schools of natural sciences and food and advanced technology. Radio New Zealand reported fears that plan puts the university into a 'death spiral', with the loss of expertise and courses meaning fewer people will want to study there. [14]

Professional memberships

Honours, decorations, awards and distinctions

Related Research Articles

Victoria University of Wellington is a public research university in Wellington, New Zealand. It was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a constituent college of the University of New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Massey University</span> University in New Zealand

Massey University is a university based in New Zealand, with significant campuses in Auckland, Palmerston North, and Wellington. Massey University has approximately 27,533 students, 18,358 of whom study either partly or fully by distance. Research is undertaken on all three campuses and people from over 130 countries study at the university. Data from the 2017 annual report shows that 42% of the domestic students are based in Auckland, 38% in Palmerston North and 20% in Wellington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Waikato</span> Public university in Hamilton, New Zealand

The University of Waikato, established in 1964, is a public research university located in Hamilton, New Zealand. An additional campus is located in Tauranga. The university performs research in numerous disciplines such as education, social sciences, and management and is an innovator in environmental science, marine and freshwater ecology, engineering and computer science. It offers degrees in health, engineering, computer science, management, Māori and Indigenous Studies, the arts, psychology, social sciences and education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mason Durie (psychiatrist)</span> New Zealand professor of Māori studies

Sir Mason Harold Durie is a New Zealand professor of Māori Studies and research academic at Massey University. He is known for his contributions to Māori health. In 2020, he was appointed to the Order of New Zealand, the highest honour in New Zealand's royal honours system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuart McCutcheon</span> New Zealand university administrator (died 2023)

Stuart Norman McCutcheon was a New Zealand university administrator. Until March 2020 he was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Auckland, New Zealand, at which point he was the longest serving current Vice-Chancellor in New Zealand, having served three five-year terms. He was previously Vice-Chancellor at Victoria University of Wellington, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Research) at Massey University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Te Wharehuia Milroy</span> Māori academic (1937–2019)

James Te Wharehuia Milroy was a New Zealand academic and expert in the Māori language. He was of Ngāi Tūhoe descent. Together with Tīmoti Kāretu and Pou Temara, Milroy was a lecturer at Te Panekiretanga o te Reo, which the three professors founded in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harlene Hayne</span> New Zealand academic

Vada Harlene Hayne is an American-born academic administrator who was the vice-chancellor and a professor of psychology at the University of Otago in New Zealand, before moving to Western Australia to take up the position of vice-chancellor at Curtin University in April 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cindy Kiro</span> Governor-General of New Zealand since 2021

Dame Alcyion Cynthia Kiro ; née Simpson; born 1958) is a New Zealand public-health academic, administrator, and advocate, who has served as the 22nd governor-general of New Zealand since 21 October 2021. Kiro is the first Māori woman and the third person of Māori descent to hold the office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grant Guilford</span> New Zealand veterinary academic

William Grant Guilford is a retired New Zealand academic, specialising in veterinary nutrition. He is currently Chair of the New Zealand Veterinary Association. He was previously Head of the Institute of Veterinary, Animal Sciences at Massey University, Dean of Science at the University of Auckland and Vice-Chancellor of Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington.

The following lists events that happened during 2018 in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacinta Ruru</span> New Zealand law professor

Jacinta Arianna Ruru is a New Zealand academic and the first Māori professor of law. Ruru is currently a professor at the University of Otago.

Mere Whaanga is a New Zealand writer, illustrator, historian, researcher and academic whose work includes bilingual picture books, history books and conference papers. Several of her books have been shortlisted for or won awards and she herself has received a number of awards, grants, fellowships and writing residencies. She lives in Māhia, Hawke's Bay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toby Morris (cartoonist)</span> New Zealand cartoonist

Toby Morris is a New Zealand cartoonist, comics artist, illustrator and writer, best known for non-fiction online comics that often highlight social issues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamatha Paul</span> New Zealand activist and politician

Tamatha-Kaye Erin Paul is a New Zealand activist and politician who is a Member of Parliament for Wellington Central. In 2018 she was the first Māori woman to be elected President of the Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association. Running as an independent Paul was elected to the Wellington City Council in 2019. She joined the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand ahead of the 2022 local elections.

David R. Murdoch is a New Zealand academic specialising in paediatric infectious diseases, especially pneumonia. He has also worked on Legionnaires' disease and has advised the Oxford University vaccine group and the New Zealand government on COVID-19. Murdoch served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago between February 2022 and June 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Priscilla Wehi</span> New Zealand ethnobiologist

Priscilla M. Wehi is a New Zealand ethnobiologist and conservation biologist. As at July 2021 she is an associate professor at the University of Otago and on the first of that month officially undertook the role of director of Te Pūnaha Matatini, a centre of research excellence in complex systems and data analytics. During the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand Te Pūnaha Matatini scientists have developed mathematical models of the spread of the virus across the country that influence the New Zealand government's response to the outbreak. In 2021 Wehi was awarded the Hill Tinsley Medal.

Tara G McAllister is a New Zealand freshwater ecology academic and is associated with Te Pūnaha Matatini at the University of Auckland. She is a Māori of Te Aitanga ā Māhaki, Ngāti Porou, and European descent.

Elisapeta Hinemoa Heta is a New Zealand Māori architect. She is affiliated to the Ngāti Wai and Waikato Tainui iwi (tribes). She also has Samoan and Tokelauan heritage. Heta was the recipient of a National Association of Women in Construction Excellence Award in 2018.

Tina Ngata is an advocate, author and researcher based in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Veronica Makere Hupane Tawhai is a New Zealand academic where she is an associate professor at Massey University.

References

  1. "Leading academic appointed Massey Vice-Chancellor". The National Business Review. 18 October 2016. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  2. 1 2 CharlotteLam. "USQ Vice-Chancellor will leave legacy of excellence". Chronicle. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  3. "Massey University vice-chancellor learns to speak te reo Māori". Stuff. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  4. Zealand, Massey University, New. "Opinion: Academic freedom and our commitment to diversity and inclusion – Massey University". www.massey.ac.nz. Retrieved 16 February 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. 1 2 3 Jones, Helen (2019). She's No Lady – She's the Vet! Stories from 100 Years of Female Vets in Australia. Fair Jo Publishing.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Winners | Distinguished Alumni Awards | Murdoch University in Perth Australia". www.murdoch.edu.au. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  7. Thomas, Jan (1997). Feline immunodeficiency virus infection in domestic cats in Western Australia: Prevalence of natural infection and association with clinical and morphological disease (phd thesis). Murdoch University.
  8. "Leading academic appointed Massey Vice-Chancellor". NBR. 18 October 2016. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  9. "'Grossly misleading': Don Brash fires back at Massey vice-chancellor". Stuff. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  10. "Massey University council backs under-fire vice-chancellor Jan Thomas". Stuff. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  11. "Māori staff back uni vice-chancellor amid controversy". RNZ. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  12. Heagney, George (18 October 2023). "'Open the books': students call for financial transparency from university". Stuff. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  13. "Massey University staff 'furious' about further cuts, union says". RNZ. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  14. "Cash-strapped Massey University proposing to slash science jobs". RNZ. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  15. "QAC > About the QAC > Membership". www.ugc.edu.hk (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  16. "Governance". www.acu.ac.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  17. "Telstra business woman finalist". Springfield Daily Record. Retrieved 17 July 2018.