Emeritus Professor
Citation delivered by Professor Patricia M. Davidson Vice-Chancellor and President at the University of Wollongong on the occasion of the admission of Paul Allan Chandler as an Emeritus Professor of the University on 3 November 2022.
Deputy Chancellor, I present Professor Paul Chandler.
A proud Bidjigal man, Professor Paul Chandler’s family and community instilled a love of learning that inspired his long and successful career. As a working student, Paul achieved a Bachelor of Science (in Psychology) with 1st Class Honours and Graduate Diploma of Education at the University of Sydney. Paul then completed his Master of Science (in Psychology) at UNSW where he went on to be the first Aboriginal person to be awarded a PhD.
Throughout his teaching and academic career Paul has made, and continues to make, an outstanding contribution to the lives of all Australians, from the earliest years of life, through schooling, higher education and beyond.
Joining UOW as Dean of the Faculty of Education in 2007, Paul served two terms in the role in his 13-year tenure. He was the intellectual architect and a key driver of UOW’s visionary Early Start project, leading the crucial planning and establishment stages as its Executive Director and remaining Foundation Chair.
Paul was appointed Pro-Vice Chancellor (Inclusion and Outreach) in 2017. He spearheaded the University’s inaugural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy and had strategic oversight of the UOW Reconciliation Action Plan and Woolyungah Indigenous Centre, the latter of which has inducted him as Uncle in Residence.
Under Paul’s leadership, UOW has transformed its approach to educating and supporting First Nations students and researchers. He led strategic improvements through UOW’s Aboriginal Advisory Committee, Aboriginal Advisory Group and Aboriginal Research Advisory Group. Paul oversaw the inception and development of the Jindaola teaching program and worked to create an enriching and equitable learning experience for all, First Nations students in particular. He established the award-winning UOW Homework Club and was Foundation National Director of the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience.
In a stellar research career Paul graduated over 60 students. Widely published, Paul remains among Australia’s most highly cited educational researchers. He has received numerous research and teaching awards and was named among the nation’s top 10 scientists in 2008 by the Australian Research Council (ARC). Following his retirement in December 2020, Paul remains a member the Advisory Committee of the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child.
Deputy Chancellor, in a stellar career as a researcher, educator and academic leader, Professor Paul Chandler has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to providing inclusive, equitable and exceptional educational opportunities for all.
It is a privilege to present Professor Paul Allan Chandler to be admitted as an Emeritus Professor of the University of Wollongong.