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William Lauder
Professor of Nursing
School of Nursing and Midwifery

Billy is from rural South Lanarkshire and went to school in Carstairs and Lanark Grammar. He began his training as a psychiatric nurse at Hartwood Hospital, Shotts and has subsequently practised in South Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Kent and the Highlands.

He has been involved in nurse education since 1987 when he took up post as a Clinical Teacher with Highland Health Board and has since held academic appointments in the University of Stirling, Central Queensland University and the University of Dundee.

His research interests are in the areas of social capital, loneliness and severe self-neglect. He is on the editorial board and international advisory board of a number of international journals. He is currently researching self-neglect and loneliness with academics from the USA and Australia.

Richard Parsons and Ian Leith have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to the University and have been promoted to professorial-equivalent posts.

Dr Richard Parsons
Learning Enhancement Unit
Director of E-Learning

Richard studied initially at the University of Waikato, New Zealand and completed a PhD in plant sciences at the Australian National University.

He first worked at the University of Dundee in scientific research with Professors Sprent and Raven; next, lecturing in Biological Sciences from 1992 to 2001, then a move to the Centre for Learning and Teaching to help establish and develop the University’s central Virtual Learning Environment and Online Assessment systems.

Now, as Director of eLearning, this role continues as the electronic learning, teaching and administrative systems are integrated. Work involves liaison with many staff and many different systems, including the important sectors of the Library, IT Services, Registry and the Faculties. Staff education is a key activity for eLearning, and the outcome is to support student education at the highest level of quality.

Ian Leith
School of Life Sciences
Scientific Services Manager

Ian joined the University in 1996, after 13 years as a researcher at the University of St Andrews. He was appointed initially as Laboratory Manager in the Department of Pathology at Ninewells Medical School. In 1997, he became the Scientific Services Manager for the new £13 million Wellcome Trust Biocentre and subsequently in October 2000 expanded his role to encompass the newly formed Faculty of Life Sciences.

His main areas of responsibility are facilities/operations/project management for this high profile Faculty, which currently attracts more than £20 million per annum in external funds. He has created and manages a robust integrated technical/scientific support infrastructure to service the Faculty and has a key role in the financial management of major infrastructure and capital projects.

He is currently playing a leading role in the coordination of the £21 million CIR new build project and the consolidation of Life Sciences undergraduate teaching activity into a single site within the refurbished Old Medical School/Carnelley Building.