Mark Erickson will make his mark on the lives of thousands of students, overseeing their university lifecycle from admission to graduation.
Born and raised in country New South Wales, Mr Erickson is once again laying roots in regional Australia, relocating to Toowoomba for the role.
“Up to now, having worked on metropolitan campuses, I never lost my appreciation of how important access to tertiary education is for regional areas,” Mr Erickson said.
“It is one of the truly transformative experiences a person can have for themselves and those around them.”
“And regional institutions are so impactful on their communities.”
With nearly 30 years’ experience in higher education, Mr Erickson has held positions at the University of New South Wales, the Australian National University and most recently, the University of Queensland where he worked as Academic Registrar for seven years.
The history-making appointment is only a second for the University of Southern Queensland, with the last Academic Registrar, Dr Kurt Timmins, holding the job title in 2001.
“I think there is great opportunity for UniSQ to not just cement a position as the best regional university in Australia, but also become a benchmark for the sector in the management and engagement of students,” Mr Erickson said.
“I want to see student’s maximising their opportunity for learning at UniSQ, and their interactions with the University’s administration are positive and effective.”
Mr Erickson will be a trusted source of advice for the institution. As well as being the custodian of the history and integrity of all the academic accomplishments of the University’s students and graduates.
“I’ve just completed my first week in the job,” Mr Erickson said. “But having been in the sector so long, I’ve built up collegial relationships all over the place, and I am fortunate that I already had colleagues at UniSQ that have made the transition easier.”
