JOBS & CAREERS SPRING 2018 - 129

M Y J O B I N E D UCAT I O N

Maxine's tips on becoming
a successful associate dean

Associate
dean
Professor Maxine Lintern,
47, is the associate dean for
research and enterprise at
Birmingham City University's
Faculty of Business, Law
and Social Sciences
Science has always been my thing.
I completed a degree in medical
biochemistry at the University
of Birmingham and then a
PhD in medicine (physiology).
I've always enjoyed lab work,
and that led me to teaching.
I started working one-to-one
with students during lab classes,
before braving the lecture hall. I
was thrilled when I was offered
the chance to run a postgraduate
certificate in teaching and
learning in higher education.
There's nothing more challenging
than teaching people to teach,
and it sparked my interest in
the strategic side of the job.
My first senior management
role was as an associate dean at
Birmingham City University. I was
involved in planning research and
teaching and learning, and I was
able to bring in lots of innovative
practice. I'm now the associate
dean for the Faculty of Business,
Law and Social Science - not
even my field of expertise! I'm no
longer teaching - I'm responsible
for the strategic management
of research for our faculty.
I'm very ambitious and would
like to step up to dean in the near
future. Working at university
for me is all about pushing back
the boundaries of knowledge,
creating new understanding and
sharing that with your students
- that really is the fun bit!

Challenge students
You need to enjoy
interacting with and
challenging students.
Communicate in ways
others understand.
Be passionate
You've got to impart
your knowledge and it

needs to be exciting
- your passion for
your subject should
be genuine.

Love it!
You can change the
way people think and
blow their minds!

Organisation is key
You need good
planning skills. It's too
hard a job if you're
not on the ball.

Maxine's latest book,
Teaching & Learning
in Higher Education,
is published by Sage
in July 2018



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JOBS & CAREERS SPRING 2018

http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/jcspring2018
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/JobsandCareersAutumn2017
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/YourBusinessWithJamesCaan2017
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/Careers/Careers_with_Hayley_Taylor_2011
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