Clare Saunders

Dr. Clare Saunders serves as the Head of Academic Professional Development at St Mary's University, leading the Learning and Teaching team within the Centre for Teaching Excellence and Student Success. Her roles include overseeing academic development programs, continuing professional development for teaching staff, and curriculum design initiatives. She is deeply committed to inclusion in higher education, particularly as a first-in-family graduate, and actively contributes to the University’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Board and Race Equality Charter Self-Assessment Team.

Her academic background includes a doctoral degree in Philosophy, which informs her ongoing research interests in questions of value and identity in education. Nationally, she co-chairs the Staff and Educational Development Association and represents the University on learning-and-teaching networks. She was recognized as a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy for her strategic impact on national education initiatives.

Clare advises on teaching excellence, promotes best practices, and celebrates academic achievements. Her work bridges philosophical inquiry with practical educational leadership, emphasizing equity and pedagogical innovation. No recent publications are listed, though her focus remains on institutional and national educational development.