Professor Sam Nolan is an experienced higher education leader and scholar whose career spans curriculum design, digital education innovation, and institutional strategy. As Director of the Durham Centre for Academic Development (DCAD), he oversees a wide portfolio including digital learning, researcher development, foundation year programmes, international summer schools, student skills development, and the University’s strategic approach to generative AI in education.

Nationally and internationally, Professor Nolan has been a prominent advocate for education-focused academic careers, having chaired the Enhancing Student Learning Through Innovative Scholarship (ESLTIS) conference for over a decade and contributed to collaborative networks such as the Coimbra Group’s Educational Innovation Working Group. His research and leadership focus on the cultures of higher education, the role of teaching- and scholarship-focused staff, and sustainable models for educational change.

With a background as a researcher Physicist, Professor Nolan’s leadership style blends strategic foresight with a deep commitment to collaboration, fostering environments where staff and students can thrive. His current projects include developing Durham University’s next Education Strategy, supporting departments in rethinking assessment for the AI era, and strengthening partnerships across the global higher education community.