Jan Thomas (academic) explained

Jan Thomas
Order:6th
Vice-Chancellor of Massey University
Term Start:January 2017
Chancellor:Michael Ahie
Predecessor:Steve Maharey
Title1:Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Southern Queensland
Term Start1:January 2012
Term End1:December 2016
Chancellor1:John Dornbusch
Predecessor1:Bill Lovegrove
Successor1:Geraldine Mackenzie
Birth Date:13 March 1962
Birth Place:Sydney, Australia
Nationality:Australian
Occupation:Academic
Website:http://www.massey.ac.nz/?vcaff4821y
Module:
Embed:yes
Fields:veterinary science
Workplaces:
Alma Mater:Murdoch University (BS, BVM, PhD)
University of Melbourne (MVS)
Thesis Title:Feline immunodeficiency virus infection in domestic cats in Western Australia: Prevalence of natural infection and association with clinical and morphological disease
Thesis Url:https://researchportal.murdoch.edu.au/esploro/outputs/doctoral/Feline-immunodeficiency-virus-infection-in-domestic/991005540315807891
Thesis Year: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]

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. 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. 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. 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.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10]

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.[11] [12]

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.[13]

Professional memberships

Honours, decorations, awards and distinctions

Notes and References

  1. News: 2016-10-18 . Leading academic appointed Massey Vice-Chancellor . en . The National Business Review . dead . 2018-07-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180719024526/https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/leading-academic-appointed-massey-vice-chancellor-195581 . 2018-07-19.
  2. News: USQ Vice-Chancellor will leave legacy of excellence. CharlotteLam. Chronicle. 2018-07-17. en. 19 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180719024348/https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/usq-vice-chancellor-will-leave-legacy-of-excellenc/3099730/. dead.
  3. Web site: Massey University vice-chancellor learns to speak te reo Māori. Stuff. en. 2018-07-17.
  4. Web site: Zealand. Massey University, New. Opinion: Academic freedom and our commitment to diversity and inclusion – Massey University. 2021-02-16. www.massey.ac.nz. en.
  5. Book: Jones, Helen. She's No Lady – She's the Vet! Stories from 100 Years of Female Vets in Australia. Fair Jo Publishing. 2019.
  6. Feline immunodeficiency virus infection in domestic cats in Western Australia: Prevalence of natural infection and association with clinical and morphological disease. Murdoch University. 1997. phd. Jan. Thomas.
  7. Web site: 2016-10-18. Leading academic appointed Massey Vice-Chancellor. 2021-02-16. NBR. en. 19 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180719024526/https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/leading-academic-appointed-massey-vice-chancellor-195581. dead.
  8. Web site: 'Grossly misleading': Don Brash fires back at Massey vice-chancellor. Stuff. en. 2018-09-26.
  9. Web site: 2018-09-21. Massey University council backs under-fire vice-chancellor Jan Thomas. 2021-02-16. Stuff. en.
  10. Web site: 2018-09-28. Māori staff back uni vice-chancellor amid controversy. 2021-02-16. RNZ. en-nz.
  11. Web site: Heagney . George . 2023-10-18 . 'Open the books': students call for financial transparency from university . 2023-10-19 . Stuff . en.
  12. Web site: 2023-07-12 . Massey University staff 'furious' about further cuts, union says . 2023-10-19 . RNZ . en-nz.
  13. Web site: 2023-10-04 . Cash-strapped Massey University proposing to slash science jobs . 2023-10-19 . RNZ . en-nz.
  14. Web site: QAC > About the QAC > Membership. www.ugc.edu.hk. zh-Hant. 2018-07-17.
  15. Web site: Governance. www.acu.ac.uk. 2018-07-17.
  16. Web site: Winners Distinguished Alumni Awards Murdoch University in Perth Australia. www.murdoch.edu.au. 2018-07-17.
  17. News: Telstra business woman finalist. Springfield Daily Record. 2018-07-17. en.