Louise Banahene awarded Principal Fellowship (PFHEA) 

Louise Banahene MBE, Director of Educational Engagement at Leeds, has been awarded Principal Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA) for her leadership and contribution to learning and teaching in higher education.  

Louise becomes the fifth colleague at Leeds to achieve Principal Fellowship in recognition of her work leading the University’s access and student success strategy, which includes outreach, contextual admissions and changes to structures and processes to close gaps in continuation and degree awarding gaps.  

 Louise said:

I am delighted to have been awarded Principal Fellowship which recognises a demonstration of impact at a strategic level, a commitment to academic practice and leadership in teaching and learning. It was a valuable process of reflection and review and I am very grateful for the advice and support I received along the way.

Professor Paul Taylor, Dean: Student Education (Experience), said:  

I am delighted to hear that Louise has achieved Prinicpal Fellow status, it is richly deserved recognition for her commitment and contribution to the student experience. I have personally seen and been inspired by the transformational impact Louise has had on inclusion and engagement at Leeds, now badged under our Access and Student Success Strategy, which was designed and led by Louise.

The work of Louise and her teams has an enormous, positive impact on individuals, the institution and the HE sector, by helping to minimise the barriers to access and student success experienced by many who are under-represented or disadvantaged.  Louise received recognition for this commitment when she was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to higher education. 

Her work also extends across the sector including in her roles as the institutional strategic lead for the Go Higher West Yorkshire Partnership and chair of a national postgraduate Diversity Group, both of which aim to provide fair access and student success across the sector.  

Principal Fellowship is awarded by Advance HE to those who demonstrate sustained and effective strategic leadership in academic practice and academic development as a key contribution to high-quality student learning.   

If you are interested in undertaking an application, find out more about applying for Principal Fellowship on the OD&PL student education development website or read more about Louise’s experience of becoming a Principal Fellow.