Roehampton University Appoints New Director of Business School

As a doctor in Business Administration, Elaine intends to provide strategic vision and strong academic leadership, doubling the size and external recognition of Roehampton University Business School within the next five years.

Previously Professor and Head of Department of Accounting and Finance at De Montfort University for ten years, and Head of Leicester Business School’s Graduate Centre since 2002, Elaine has a track record of innovative project management and department growth under her supervision.

She will capitalise on current strengths of Business and Computing at Roehampton, with their innovative, commercially relevant curriculum in multi-media for undergraduate students and consultancy practice for postgraduates, augmented by small class sizes and strong student support systems.

Her vision to develop a distinctive and professional brand identity for Roehampton University Business School will enhance partnerships with business, franchise and enterprise bodies, developing work placements and opportunities for students.

Professor Harris’ formidable career achievements encompass a 1996 National Training Award for a PG Certificate in Management Programme, a doctorate achieved in 1999 in four years part-time at Brunel University, and an Excellent QAA report for Accounting at DMU in 2003 in addition to the publication of numerous academic journals, papers and books.

Her expertise focuses on project risk assessment using group-based cognitive mapping techniques, with recent publications, singly: Strategic Project Risk Appraisal and Management (Harris, E., Farnham: Gower) and jointly: Managerial Judgement and Strategic Investment Decisions (Harris, E., Emmanuel, C.R., and Komakech, S., Oxford: Elsevier), published in 2009.

As recent Chair of the British Accounting Association and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, with professional links in many external bodies, business and academic, including the Chartered Management Institute, (MCMI) in 2010, Professor Harris will present a positive breadth of business and academic experience to Roehampton.