Professor Beverley Hawkins is Dean for Taught Students and Professor of Leadership and Organization Studies at the University of Exeter and has been a senior leader in higher education for six years.  She is sponsor of the University’s ‘Curriculum for Change’ transformation programme and leads many strategic education projects and governance groups at Exeter. 

An award-winning educator, Beverley has taught leadership at every level, from undergraduates to executives, and is known for her inclusive and innovative teaching methods. She is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and regularly advises on curriculum reform, employability, and widening participation.

Beverley is recognised internationally for her scholarship on leadership learning, organizational change, and education innovation, with a career that bridges academia, policy, and industry. Her research has shaped leadership education across sectors including financial services, defence, health, and the arts, generating two 4* REF Impact Case Studies (2014, 2021) that delivered multi-million-pound savings and new income streams for public services and cultural organisations. She has secured major research funding from the European Social Fund, Arts Council England, HEFCE, and ESRC, and co-authored the influential textbook Exploring Leadership (Oxford University Press, 2011; 2nd ed. 2023).

Beyond academia, Beverley serves as a Governor at Bridgwater and Taunton College, regularly undertakes work for the QAA, is part of several national Higher Education networks and collaborates widely with industry partners to connect cutting-edge research with real-world practice.