The Board of Management of Dumfries & Galloway College is delighted to announce the new appointment of Joanna Campbell as Principal and Chief Executive of Dumfries and Galloway College who will commence the post early summer. Joanna is currently the Vice Principal of Student Experience at the City of Glasgow College, a post she has held since 2016. Joanna will follow the departure of Carol Turnbull who was successful in becoming the new Principal of Ayrshire College.
Speaking about her appointment, Joanna comments “It is an incredible privilege and honour to be given the opportunity to be the next Principal and CEO of Dumfries and Galloway College. I am delighted to be joining the college at such an exciting time for the region and the wider South of Scotland economy. Together with the Staff, Students and Stakeholders, I look forward to taking the college forward to the next stage of its development.”
Brian Johnstone, Chair of Dumfries and Galloway College’s Board of Management spoke of Joanna’s appointment “I am delighted to welcome Joanna to our college. I believe that she will bring renewed energy, expertise in education, and a vast experience to Dumfries and Galloway. Joanna is originally from Perthshire, and has worked across both rural and urban environments. She has also taken a leadership role in a number of national and regional projects. Her joining the college at this time will bring a boost to our strategic development. The Board and I look forward to working with her.”
Joanna is a former graduate of Dundee University and commenced her tertiary education career spanning 22 years as a lecturer in computing then progressed into senior management roles which gained her a wealth of experience in tertiary sector transformation, curriculum innovation, widening access, change management and performance excellence.
Prior to her current position with City of Glasgow College, Joanna was Assistant Principal for Learning and Teaching at Fife College where she was pivotal in establishing the first regional STEM Strategy and the award-winning ‘Girls into Energy’ programme with Shell UK, this followed her leading role to establish Forth Valley College as the first STEM Assured College in Scotland.
In addition to her current role with City of Glasgow College, Joanna also works as an Associate Assessor for Education Scotland, Chairs the Glasgow Regional STEM Hub and is Chair for the Digital Skills Partnership. She also represents Colleges Scotland on the National Articulation Forum and Scottish Funding Council Access Programmes Steering Group. Both groups support the implementation of specific recommendations from the Commission on Widening Access (COWA).
Joanna lives in Fife and when she is not working enjoys the arts, travelling with her family and is a keen cyclist and runner.
Joanna will join the College at an exciting time of digital transformation and the creation of a digital learning platform and infrastructure through a multi-million pound investment from South of Scotland Economic Partnership (SoSEP). The investment involves a partnership between Dumfries & Galloway College and Borders College to develop a network of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Hubs across the South of Scotland, to address the immediate skills gaps in areas such as Energy and Engineering, Construction and Care. These will be accessible to school and college students and employers wishing to try the latest technologies or upskill their current workforce. A number of digital spokes, located across the South of Scotland in schools, community venues and in local business premises will provide inclusive access. Joanna’s vast STEM experience and her knowledge of the concept of Industry 4 in teaching practice will contribute greatly to this project and its future development.
