Biography
Jenny is an Associate Professor in Computer Science based in the Edinburgh Campus, Heriot Watt University. In October 2025, Jenny was elected as Dean of the University (Pan-University Constituency) following a competitive election process. Jenny was elected by academic and research staff across all campuses, receiving the highest number of votes in a Single Transferable Vote ballot administered by Civica Election Services. The Pan-University Constituency Dean role is one of three elected Dean positions at Heriot-Watt, governed by Ordinance 1 under the University’s Charter and Statutes. Unlike the other two Deans who represent specific academic groupings, the Pan-University Dean represents the entire academic community across all campuses. The Dean role provides an independent voice on academic matters, ensuring consistency in the application of academic regulations, supporting student discipline processes and contributing to academic appointments and promotions. Jenny had previously been Associate Dean (Science and Engineering) from June 2024 - October 2025.
Jenny joined Heriot-Watt in 2005 following 2 years lecturing in Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. She started her academic career at Waterford Institute of Technology - now South-East Technological University (SETU) in Ireland in 2003 where she developed interests in design methodologies, HCI, Information Systems and educational pedagogies.
Jenny has held several leadership roles (Senior Programme Director, Director of International for MACS, Deputy Head of Computer Science and Director of Learning and Teaching) alongside her teaching and scholarship responsibilities.
Since being promoted to Associate Professor in 2014 Jenny has developed as an educational leader with a focus on improving the quality of teaching and the students experience through her work within the Global University setting. Jenny chairs the Global Working Group on Mitigating Circumstances and Temporary Suspension of Studies (MCATSS) and Chairs the School Discipline Committee (SDC) and represents the School on the University Discipline Committee (UDC). She is a senior member of the CS team and actively involved in the development of new programmes and articulations cross our international campuses and online.
Jenny has a focus on quality partnerships within the TNE field and has undertaken several panel events for provisions for both national and international offerings with a number of institutions.