Dr. Maria Allen has been appointed Associate Dean Academic for Quality Assurance and Enhancement at the University of Salford Business School starting September 2024. With over two decades of experience in higher education, Dr. Allen joins from Manchester Metropolitan University’s Business School, where she held various departmental and faculty positions in the past. She has a significant impact on enhancing students’ career prospects and graduate outcomes by spearheading strategic initiatives on work-related learning to transform their employability and achieve their ambitions.
Dr. Allen expressed her excitement about joining Salford Business School and the university’s local roots and global ambition, aligning with her own values and aspirations for students. Her research focuses on gender, employee voice, equal opportunity/diversity management policies, comparative capitalisms, and institutions. She has published her work in leading international journals, including the British Journal of Management and Work Employment and Society.
Liz Larner, PVC Interim Dean, Salford Business School, said that they were delighted to welcome Maria to the team, given her outstanding experience and career accomplishments, especially her work at MMU. She hopes that Maria’s leadership will enhance the School’s strategic work in learning and teaching, quality assurance, and graduate outcomes, aligning with the university’s priorities.
During her tenure at MMU, Dr. Allen collaborated with the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education to help deliver the University’s education strategy and held positions on the Faculty Executive Group. Dr. Allen is thrilled to get started and looking forward to identifying strategic opportunities to enhance students’ experience and prospects at Salford Business School.
She is also excited to contribute to the University’s dynamic and ambitious vision and work with a diverse and talented community to implement innovative strategies that enhance learning, teaching, and assessment. Dr. Allen believes in Salford’s high-performance culture by nurturing industry partnerships and real-world engagement, preparing students for life, and providing them with a positive and impactful experience.
