Southern Cross University welcomes new Vice Chancellor

Southern Cross University has welcomed Professor Adam Shoemaker as the University’s fifth Vice Chancellor.

Professor Shoemaker commenced in the role on September 24, following the retirement of Professor Peter Lee.

Professor Shoemaker is one of Australia’s leading researchers in the area of Indigenous literature and culture. Prior to his appointment as Vice Chancellor of Southern Cross University, he held senior leadership roles at a number of other Australian universities including Academic Provost at Griffith University, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education) at Monash University and Dean of Arts at the Australian National University.

“I am delighted to be here at Southern Cross University and look forward to leading the University through the next stage of its development,” Professor Shoemaker said.

“My aim is to make Southern Cross University the most progressive, connected and student-focused regional research university. We play a significant role in transforming lives and the employability and the future career success of our students is a top priority.”

A former Commonwealth Scholar, Professor Shoemaker is the author or editor of nine books in the field of Indigenous literature and culture, and is also widely published in the areas of international and digital education; race relations; and cultural studies. His achievements in community engagement include founding the Oxfam-Monash Partnership and co-founding the Monash-World Vision Alliance, both of which encompassed action research, in-country projects in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, student-focused internships and curriculum change.

Canadian by birth, Professor Shoemaker holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from Queen’s University and a PhD from the Australian National University. He served as Chair of the Brisbane Writers Festival in the mid-1990s and edited a landmark anthology of Australian writing and photography which was published in association with the Sydney 2000 Olympics. For many years he chaired the Advisory Board of Monash University Publishing and was on the Advisory Board of Campus Review. Professor Shoemaker is a former Director of Open Universities Australia, is a trustee of the Brisbane Girls Grammar School and—most recently—was Deputy Chair of the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Photo: Professor Adam Shoemaker.