Rate My Professor Jessica Vanderlelie

Professor Jessica Vanderlelie is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic at Deakin University, providing strategic leadership for the university's education agenda, student learning experience, student support, and ambitious employability strategy, including premium digital learning. She commenced this role on 31 March 2025, succeeding Deakin Distinguished Professor Liz Johnson. Previously, she served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic at La Trobe University from July 2023 and as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Students there for three years prior. From 2008 to 2018, Vanderlelie held various leadership roles at Griffith University, leading innovations in biochemistry teaching and assessment and embedding employability across Health disciplines. She was also the inaugural Innovative Research Universities Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, spearheading national initiatives in employability and learner analytics. Vanderlelie is a nationally recognised leader in learning and teaching, student success, broadening participation, equity, and inclusive practices in higher education.

She earned her PhD from Griffith University (2002-2006) and a Bachelor of Health Science Honours (First Class). Her research focuses on placental biology, oxidative stress in pre-eclampsia, and selenium supplementation in pregnancy outcomes, with over 1,500 citations. Key publications include 'Increased biological oxidation and reduced anti-oxidant enzyme activity in pre-eclamptic placentae' (2005, 282 citations), 'Ozone therapy for the treatment of chronic wounds: A systematic review' (2018, 202 citations), 'Selenium status in UK pregnant women and its relationship with hypertensive conditions of pregnancy' (2015, 130 citations), and 'Selenium supplementation protects trophoblast cells from mitochondrial oxidative stress' (2013, 92 citations). Awards include the Australian Learning and Teaching Fellowship (2015), Australian Award for University Teaching (Early Career, 2012), Australian Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2011), Griffith University Vice-Chancellor's Teacher of the Year (2011), and AFR Higher Education Emerging Leader Award (2018). She co-chairs Universities Australia Women and holds senior roles in national higher education bodies.