ProfessorJessica Vanderlelie

Professor Vanderlelie is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic at Deakin University, where she provides strategic leadership of the Education and Employability Plan and institutional programs that deliver an outstanding experience for students and foster a culture of academic educational excellence. Jessica is the co-chair of Universities Australia Women and is a passionate advocate for improving institutional and sector wide approaches to supporting diversity and inclusion. Professor Vanderlelie's portfolio includes Indigenous Strategy, Academic Governance and Standards, Graduate Employment, Faculty Services, Student Services, Student Success, the Deakin Library, Deakin Learning Futures, and the Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning (CRADLE). 

Jessica is a purpose driven leader who believes that strong organisational cultures are built on the foundation of psychological safety and realise their potential through fostering innovation and partnership with staff and students at all levels. Jessica has led a number of significant education transformation programs that reduced complexity and administrative burden for students and that directly respond to the challenges of supporting strong student outcomes for equity cohorts. As a result of this work Jessica's leadership was been recognised through her receipt of an AFR Emerging Leader Award in 2018 and more recently through her inclusion in the 2024 AFR Women in Leadership list. 

Professor Vanderlelie began her career teaching biochemistry at Griffith University.  Through her commitment to the development and implementation of practice-based curriculum, Jessica created an engaging learning environment, inspiring students to master the complexities of biochemistry. Jessica’s effectiveness as a teacher was recognised institutionally through a series of awards, including the inaugural Griffith University Vice Chancellor’s Teacher of the Year and nationally through an OLT citation for her work in biochemistry assessment design and an Australian Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Professor Vanderlelie is a recognised biochemistry scholar and has published in the fields of antioxidant biochemistry and maternal health and nutrition. Her research focuses on the role of micronutrients, particularly selenium, on endogenous antioxidants and the physiological capacity to regulate oxidative stress in conditions like preeclampsia. Throughout her career, Jessica has combined her discipline research with a demonstrated passion for higher education research and scholarship. She has published and contributed nationally to research and policy in the areas of student transition, student success, student equity, learning analytics, employability, student partnership, curriculum and assessment. 

Jessica has demonstrated sustained leadership in learning and teaching in Australian Higher Education, she is an Australian Learning and Teaching Fellow and led a national program of activities to ‘Revision Alumni Engagement for Graduate Success’. In 2016 Jessica was appointed as the inaugural Innovative Research Universities Vice-Chancellors' Fellow where she led a series of cross institutional programs with 7 universities in the areas of student success, employability and learning analytics. Jessica continues to advocate strongly for improved cross sector collaboration through her previous role on engagement Australia and ongoing roles as Deputy Chair of the Universities Australia DVC Academic Committee and the AdvanceHE Australasian Strategic Advisory Board.