Rachel Heeley

My career combines academic leadership, creative practice and industry experience. I graduated with a First-Class Honours degree in Fashion and Textiles from the University of Northampton in 2004. Following recognition at Graduate Fashion Week, I established my own fashion label, developing experience in design, production, marketing and retail.

I subsequently worked in events management before joining Gray's School of Art at Robert Gordon University in 2009, where I lectured in Fashion and Textiles and held course leadership responsibilities. I completed an MSc in Fashion Management with Distinction at Robert Gordon University in 2016. In 2017, I developed and launched BA (Hons) Fashion at Staffordshire University, leading the programme from initial concept through validation and subsequent curriculum redevelopment. The course achieved accreditation through The Textile Institute and membership of the Graduate Fashion Foundation. It also achieved significant national recognition, reaching 3rd in the UK for Fashion & Textiles in The Guardian University Guide 2020 and consistently placing within the top 10.

My professional and academic experience continues to inform my approach to creative education, particularly the importance of connecting academic learning with industry practice, enterprise and graduate employability. Academic Leadership and External Engagement I was awarded Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) in 2019 in recognition of my leadership and contribution to teaching and learning. I have subsequently supported colleagues in achieving professional recognition through mentoring and fellowship assessment activities.

I am currently an External Examiner for BA Contemporary Fashion Design at Liverpool Hope University and have previously held external examining appointments at the University of Hertfordshire and Glasgow Caledonian University. I have also contributed to external validation and periodic review panels across the higher education sector, including activity involving Ravensbourne University London and Liverpool John Moores University. These roles provide opportunities to contribute to academic standards, curriculum development and quality enhancement while learning from different institutional approaches to creative education.

Research

I am currently undertaking a PhD at the University of Birmingham, exploring the impact of coping strategies on dyslexic undergraduate students studying on coursework-based degree programmes.

As someone with dyslexia, I bring lived experience to my research and a personal commitment to understanding how educational environments can better recognise and support different ways of thinking and learning. My research interests include inclusive curriculum and assessment design, dyslexia in higher education, interdisciplinary creative practice and student success. I am particularly interested in how research and educational leadership can work together to create more inclusive, accessible and engaging learning experiences.