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recruitment office, two - deliver
non-credit bearing courses, or three
- get our Charter and become the first
UK University to deliver degree
programmes in New York.
The University Court, on the back of
the London campus success, wanted us
to be ambitious so opted for the third.
The ambition was great, but it was
stressful. It took much longer to
navigate the process, we had to lobby
hard, and deal with a lot of negative
press which very much focussed on
this being my personal project. But we
did it. It is a big, brave ambition, and
success doesn’t happen overnight. It will
take time.
Personally, there have been three
main occasions. Consoling the parents
of Karen Buckley, a talented young
student who was brutally murdered. It
was a really difficult period. The family
were distraught, and the whole
University was just in shock.
More recently, we had the sudden
and tragic loss of Lisa Johnson, my
Executive Advisor. Julie Burns and I
spent time with her family, and that was
really tough.
And finally, undergoing major
surgery for breast cancer in November
2019. Whilst I know I am mentally
strong, you realise the importance of
your health. Luckily, I have a terrific
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, James Miller,
who stepped up and was a truly great
support. He, alongside Julie, knew that I
needed to quickly return to work,
probably too early in my treatment after
my operation. They supported me
through that process, and looked out for
me, as did other members of our
amazing GCU family. Coping with
difficult situations like these are made
possible by having strong, empathetic
colleagues around you.
GCU is the University for the
Common Good, a mission that
has been brought to life through
your leadership. How important
do you think this is to GCU’s
continued growth and success?
It is absolutely critical as it gives a
shared sense of purpose. What is
special about GCU is that we have clear
examples of how we have delivered for
the Common Good; from our Graduate
Apprenticeships, to Glasgow
Caledonian College of Nursing in
Bangladesh, and our multi awardwinning
widening access programme
the Caledonian Club.
Our shared sense of purpose is not
only among our staff, but with our
community of talented students,
wonderful alumni, generous donors, and
friends. The GCU community is
something very special.
What do you want your GCU
legacy to be?
That is impossible to say. I think that
should be for others to judge. But, I
would like to be remembered for leaving
the University academically and
financially secure – a sustainable
university, with a strong sense of
purpose, delivering for the communities
it serves locally and internationally.
What’s next for Professor
Pamela Gillies?
I want to continue my work in public
health, I have plans for a book with
Anthony Morgan, and also one with
Caroline Parker on values. There are
potentially several projects in the
pipeline, but there will also be some
time for relaxation. Whilst, the amazing
Fiona Stewart-Knight is a wild water
swimmer, for me swimming in the mild
Greek Mediterranean waters is my idea
of bliss!
Look out for our interview with
Professor Gillies in 2022 as she
talks to us about the important role
alumni and donors play in the
development of the University.