Dr Michelle Kennedy

Michelle is an accomplished leader, academic and healthcare professional with over three decades of experience in nursing and education. She began her career as a Registered Adult Nurse in 1991, building a strong clinical foundation through roles in general surgery, trauma orthopaedics, and anticoagulation. Her later clinical positions included senior leadership roles with a focus on education and quality improvement, notably as Teacher Practitioner and Practice Development Nurse.

Michelle joined the University in 2015 as a Lecturer in Nursing and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2023 and Deputy Head of School in 2024. She has extensive experience in teaching and assessment across undergraduate and postgraduate nursing programmes, bringing a wealth of practical and academic expertise to her students. Her commitment to advancing nursing education is reflected in her research and leadership contributions.

Academically, Michelle holds an MSc in Professional Practice, during which she explored registered nurses’ knowledge and experiences of clinical supervision. In 2025, she completed her Doctor of Education, focusing on student nurses’ experiences of social media within peer groups and its impact on wellbeing. Her research interests continue to evolve, currently encompassing a multi-university study on perceptions and experiences of apprentices on Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship programmes across the UK.

Michelle is passionate about widening access to nursing through innovative pathways. In 2022, she co-founded the MYE Nursing Apprenticeship Forum, a national network dedicated to collaboration and sharing best practice in nursing apprenticeships. This initiative reflects her commitment to shaping the future of nursing education and supporting diverse routes into the profession.

In addition to her academic and research achievements, Michelle has undertaken a number of leadership roles within the University, including Intake Lead, Programme Director, and Team Leader. She currently holds the position of Deputy Head of School for the School of Health Care in which she contributes significantly to the delivery of the School’s academic strategy across education, research, enterprise, and scholarship.

Michelle excels in strategic leadership, driving meaningful change to enhance performance, efficiency, and impact. To further strengthen her leadership capabilities, she is completing a Business Transformation Fellow apprenticeship, which will award a business analyst qualification upon completion, alongside a CMI‑recognised Advanced Leadership and Coaching programme designed to enhance her leadership impact even further.