Emma Rowsell

Emma has been interim Chief Student Officer since December 2024. 

Emma’s first graduate role was with a financial services company, Skandia, where she stayed for over 17 years. Ending up as a Programme Manager, Emma made a move to Higher Education in 2016, initially running large programmes of change work for the University of Southampton before eventually making the move to the Student Services leadership team. Emma has since worked as Director of Student and Campus Life at the University of Nottingham and as Director of Student life at Surrey. As the first in her family to go to University, Emma is aware of the difference the opportunity has offered her and is passionate about supporting all students to have a transformative higher education experience.

As Chief Student Officer, Emma is responsible for ensuring that our students get the experience they expect and deserve from their time at university. Emma has direct line responsibility for the student facing support services and academic administration functions within the Chief Student Officer portfolio. Emma also has institutional responsibility for the University’s Access and Participation Plan and is executive lead in our partnership with Learning Partners for Surrey Maths School.