Academic focus zones for 2025
News 11 DecemberThe 2025 Academic Timeline interactions and focus zones are now available to help prioritise the planning and delivery of learning and teaching. Sync the focus zones to your Outlook calendar now.
13 February 2019
Share
ACU thanks and farewells Associate Vice-Chancellor (NSW/ACT) Professor Marea Nicholson, who retires this week following 32 years of service to the University.
For more than three decades Professor Nicholson has played a key role in the development and growth of ACU in New South Wales and the ACT.
Through her continuing support for students and staff, her innovative ideas and her dedication, Professor Nicholson has made a big impact on ACU.
Professor Nicholson’s journey with ACU began when she became a Lecturer and Course Advisor at the Catholic College of Education Sydney at Castle Hill, which later became part of ACU.
She went on to become Senior Lecturer in the School of Education in Sydney and then, in 2005, was appointed Head of the School of Education.
Professor Nicholson continued studying and completed her PhD, with her thesis providing a base for later work in the area of child protection.
A prolific researcher, Professor Nicholson’s many projects and publications focused chiefly on improving educational outcomes for the marginalised and underprivileged.
In 2009 Professor Nicholson was appointed the inaugural Associate Vice-Chancellor (ACT/NSW).
Throughout her various roles Professor Nicholson has contributed in many ways to the development of the University.
She was instrumental in the introduction and delivery of targeted pre-graduate programs in child protection for students intending to work as teachers, and in 1991, received the NSW Police Commissioner’s Award for Contribution to Child Protection.
Professor Nicholson also initiated the Collaborate Plus project – a free co-working space and business incubator in North Sydney and Strathfield.
Professor Nicholson managed the project from the beginning, writing the proposal and securing a NSW government grant, steering the project through implementation and watching it grow from strength to strength.
She has also shown great persistence in leading the Strathfield Campus underground carpark project, which has been eight years in the making and is now nearing completion.
Among her many achievements, Professor Nicholson has always had a very strong focus on our students. Her dedication has ensured many of our students have gone on to have successful careers and have left ACU aiming to give back to the community.
Likewise, Professor Nicholson has been an advocate for staff development and life-long learning and has always had a strong sense of work community.
She quickly became involved with the Castle Hill social club when she began working at the Catholic College of Education Sydney and then did the same when she moved to Strathfield and North Sydney.
Professor Nicholson has been a trusted mentor, advisor and colleague to many staff.
Executive Assistants in the Office of the Associate Vice-Chancellor Mrs Anne Dacey, Mrs Anne Foubister and Mrs Victoria Hayman, Associate Vice-Chancellor (NSW/ACT) Professor Marea Nicholson and former ACU staff members Mr Nicholas Warren, Ms Belinda Lynch and Ms Colleen Malone.
Always willing to contribute, throughout her time with ACU Professor Nicholson has served as a member of Senate, NSW Chapter and Academic Board and has been a member of countless other boards and committees.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven said without Professor Nicholson’s dedication and leadership ACU would not be the University it was today.
“It is rare these days for people to stay working with one organisation for three decades. One suspects the reason this has been possible for Marea is that the University’s Mission is so closely aligned with her own personal values,” Professor Craven said.
Professor Craven thanked Professor Nicholson for her tireless work over the past 32 years.
“You will be missed for your professionalism, your enthusiasm, your wide-ranging interests within the University, the contributions you have made to teacher education and to the built environment at our campuses,” Professor Craven said.
“Most of all, you will be remembered for the care and compassion you have shown for all those around you.”
It’s expected Professor Nicholson will continue her good work in retirement, volunteering her time to boards and advisory committees, particularly in the not-for-profit sector.
She’ll also enjoy travelling with her husband Norm and spending more time with her children and grandchildren.
Congratulations to Professor Nicholson on 32 inspiring years of service to ACU. We wish you well for your retirement and thank you for your service and contributions to the University.
The 2025 Academic Timeline interactions and focus zones are now available to help prioritise the planning and delivery of learning and teaching. Sync the focus zones to your Outlook calendar now.
It has been a big year, and we understand that the festive season can be a different experience for each of us. Access a new resource from our employee assistance program, designed to help you prepare...
Limited services will be available via Service Central on 12 and 13 December, while the Service Central team attend a staff conference. The Service Central phone line and live chat will not be availab...
ACU's Co-Lab proudly announces Kyla Tucker as the winner of the $1,000 ACU Co-Lab Business Idea Pitch Award 2024, following careful evaluation by a panel of ACU judges.
ACU will move to the new EBSCOhost user interface on 4 February 2025. Find out what you need to do to prepare.
Please note the digests from Academic Board meetings 06/2024 held on 14 November 2024 and via circular resolution from 15-19 November 2024.
The 2024 Showcase of Teaching and Learning brought staff and students together to share innovations and collaborations from across the university. An online edition will be hosted in early 2025.
A message from Vice President Fr Anthony Casamento csma: Ok, let’s not kid ourselves. If you are like me, December can feel like chaos. Yet, amid this chaos, the Church gives us the Season of Advent -...
Associate Professor Grant Duthie from the SPRINT Research Centre and Professor Jo Ingold from the Peter Faber Business School have won a prestigious government grant that will see them work with the b...
Let’s reflect on our inclusive practices during International Day of People with Disability.
ACU’s Peter Faber Business School has earned accreditation from AACSB, the US-based organisation that accredits business schools worldwide.
A message from the Provost, Professor Julie Cogin: As we approach the end of the year it’s fitting to look back and reflect on everything we’ve achieved over the past 12 months.
Find out the end-of-year deadlines and operating hours for a range of staff and student services within Corporate Services including Service Central, People & Capability and Student Administration.
The popular medicines database MIMS Online is upgrading to a new platform and changing its name to eMIMSelite.
16 Days is a global campaign observed annually from November 25 to December 10 and serves as a critical reminder of the pervasive and often invisible violence that affects millions of people. Watch a ...
Include an additional survey item in the Student Evaluation of Learning and Teaching (SELT) survey for units that are offered in ACU Online Term 4 (202476).
With the end of the year approaching, it's time to ensure a smooth closure of the university’s 2024 accounting books and financial year-end work. Check the finance end-of-year deadlines for 2024.
ACU’s Graduation and Protocol team has been recognized at the 2024 Association for Tertiary Education Management (ATEM) Awards for Excellence for their innovative Reader Module project.
A message from the Executive Dean of Health Sciences Professor Suzanne Chambers: The Faculty of Health Sciences research space has seen colleagues come together in a spirit of shared learning and conn...
Role of Chair training is now available through the ACU Staff Learning Hub.
Visit Service Central to access Corporate Services.