Meet our team

The team at SCU College invites you to contact us and talk about your future. Our staff can help guide you through your programs and courses, and map out the perfect path to help you reach your goals.

Professor Thomas Roche

Dean, SCU College - Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic Quality)

Thomas is an Applied Linguist with more than 20 years of university teaching and academic leadership experience. With a focus on higher education curriculum design, Thomas’ work has particularly empowered students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to gain access to and succeed at university study. He is a member of the University English Centres Australia (UECA) national committee and Australian Government’s TEQSA Register of Experts for ELICOS and international education.

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Associate Professor Suzi Syme

Associate Dean (Education) Academic Coordinator of Preparing for Success Program (PSP)

Associate Professor Suzi Syme is Associate Dean (Education) of SCU College and coordinates the award-winning Preparing for Success Program. With more than 30 years’ teaching experience, Associate Professor Syme’s focus is on student success and student voice. She specialises in curriculum and enabling pedagogies that empower students to reach their potential. She is an active member of the National Association of Enabling Educators - the peak body for enabling education in Australia.

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Ms Sharon Leslie

Director, English Language Programs

Sharon Leslie is the Director of English Language Program at Southern Cross University, Australia. She has worked for almost two decades in English language education and assessment in Australia. Sharon’s research interests include language assessment, international student engagement, online learning and teacher professional development. The latter is the focus of her doctoral studies. Sharon is also a member of the executive in two peak bodies for TESOL in Australia (QATESOL and ACTA).

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Dr Johanna Nieuwoudt

Senior Lecturer (Teaching Scholar), Coordinator of Diplomas and High School Pathways

Dr Johanna Nieuwoudt is an experienced Senior Lecturer in SCU College, where she helps students from diverse backgrounds and experiences gain skills and confidence to be successful in their future university studies. She specialises in the curriculum design and delivery of higher education pathway courses for students in high school (Year 11 & 12), pre-award programs, and diplomas. Johanna's primary research interests are in the identification of factors that may contribute to student success.

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Dr Rikki Quinn

Lecturer (Teaching Scholar) and Coordinator of Diplomas

Rikki Quinn is a Lecturer (Teaching Scholar) at SCU College, teaching in to mathematics and science units in the Preparing for Success Program (PSP) and Diploma of Health. Rikki is a passionate educator focused on providing students with a framework for success in their academic studies and future careers. Her current research is focused on how Diploma programs prepare students for future success.

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Dr Grant Andrews

Lecturer (Teaching Scholar)

Grant is a lecturer at SCU College. He currently teaches in the units Language and Learning in your Discipline and A Culture of Dialogue. He has worked extensively in academic development. His focus as an educator is on building supportive learning communities, fostering critical dialogue and valuing diversity of experiences, backgrounds and perspectives within curricula.

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Dr Sue Muloin

Lecturer (Teaching Scholar)

Dr Sue Muloin is a lecturer at SCU College. As well as coordinating the Diploma programs, Sue teaches the core unit across all the Diplomas that focuses on academic literacy. Sue’s research interests are in equity and diversity in pathway programs, particularly strategies to support students to successfully transition to a bachelor course. Sue’s current research focuses on the concept of Grit and the role it plays in fostering resilience, motivation, and academic success in pathway students.

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Dr Liz Goode

Lecturer (Teaching Scholar) and Coordinator, Transition to Uni program

Liz Goode is a Lecturer (Teaching Scholar) in the Preparing for Success Program in SCU College. Her focus as an educator is to prepare and empower students from diverse backgrounds for university study in both blended and fully online modes. She is the recipient of an Office for Learning and Teaching (OLT) Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning, and several Vice-Chancellor's Citations.

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Ms Zoe Hancock

Lecturer (Teaching Scholar)

Zoe Hancock has been teaching English for more than 20 years. After teaching in Japan, she returned to Australia to complete a MA in Applied Linguistics and then taught in a number of private colleges and universities in Australia. She has also worked in the area of teacher training at the University of New England. Her areas of interest include academic literacy development, teacher training and spending time with her children.

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Mr Richard Nakane Emmerson

Lecturer (Teaching Scholar)

As a teaching scholar at SCU College, Richard is involved in design and delivery of units within the English Language Program. Originally from Canberra, he completed undergraduate studies in human behavioural sciences and an M.Ed specialising in applied linguistics. In 15 years of delivering ELICOS and academic skills courses and support services within Australian universities, he has developed specific interests in psychological, cognitive and social aspects of learning.

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Dr Kerrie Stimpson

Associate Lecturer (Teaching Scholar)

Kerrie is an Associate Lecturer in SCU College and currently teaches in several science and mathematics units across the Preparing for Success Program (PSP) and Transition to Uni. Her focus is on helping students from diverse backgrounds to build the confidence and skills required to be successful in their future university studies. Her current research interests are focused on the empowerment of enabling education students, especially in the areas of STEM.

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Dr Michael Brickhill

Associate Lecturer (Teaching Scholar)

Originally from the north-west coast of Tasmania, Dr Brickhill trained as a marine biologist in Hobart before completing a PhD investigating the impact of artificial reefs on fish communities within residential canals on the Gold Coast. Dr Brickhill has more than 10 years’ experience teaching at secondary and undergraduate tertiary level and currently teaches in the SCU College’s Diploma programs with a focus on mathematics and science.

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Mrs Bronwen Graydon

Administrative Coordinator

The SCU College administration team plays an instrumental role in building positive relationships with diverse students. The teams encouraging and flexible approach helps students feel safe, valued and welcome, and focus on negotiating a work-study-life balance is crucial for students’ academic and ongoing success. Bronwen Graydon is located at our Lismore Campus

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Mrs Vicki Wood

Administrative Assistant, English Language Programs

The SCU College administration team plays an instrumental role in building positive relationships with diverse students. The teams encouraging and flexible approach helps students feel safe, valued and welcome, and focus on negotiating a work-study-life balance is crucial for students’ academic and ongoing success. Vicki Wood is located at our Lismore Campus.

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Mrs Jo Pethick

Administrative Assistant

The SCU administration team plays an instrumental role in building positive relationships with diverse students. The teams encouraging and flexible approach helps students feel safe, valued and welcome, and focus on negotiating a work-study-life balance is crucial for students’ academic and ongoing success. Jo Pethick is located at our Coffs Harbour Campus.

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Ms Yuki Irie

Administrative Assistant

The SCU College administration team plays an instrumental role in building positive relationships with diverse students. The teams encouraging and flexible approach helps students feel safe, valued and welcome, and focus on negotiating a work-study-life balance is crucial for students’ academic and ongoing success. Yuki Irie is located at our Gold Coast Campus.

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Ms Adriana Ikeda

Administrative Assistant

The SCU College administration team plays an instrumental role in building positive relationships with diverse students. The teams encouraging and flexible approach helps students feel safe, valued and welcome, and focus on negotiating a work-study-life balance is crucial for students’ academic and ongoing success. Yuki Irie is located at our Gold Coast Campus.

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Mrs Emily Pather

Assistant to Dean

Emily Pather provides a broad range of administrative support to the College’s Dean. In addition, the position provides administrative support to the College across a range of functions including providing advice and assistance to staff, students and members of the public, organisation of special events and workshops, secretarial support to various committees and meetings, and support to academic staff in the form of travel, contract development and maintenance.

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