Dr Emily Danvers

Dr Emily Danvers, Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of Sussex has been awarded a prestigious National Teaching Fellowship from Advance HE.  

Dr Danvers is one of just 61 higher education staff from UK-based institutions to have received the award today, recognising and celebrating the outstanding impact she has made on student outcomes and the teaching profession. 

Emily has been at Sussex since completing her PhD here in 2016, and she is the course leader of the PGCert in Higher Education, as well as teaching on the MA in Education and BA in Childhood and Youth Studies. She has held a variety of diverse roles across the University, including: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion lead in the School of Education and Social Work (2021-2024), leading the School’s successful Bronze Athena Swan award; Access and Participation Plan (APP) representative for the Social Sciences, Writing facilitator for the Sussex Researcher School, creating inclusive retreats for researchers to write together, and Chair of the Centre for Teaching and Learning Research, Widening Participation Research and Practice network (between 2020-2024). In 2023, in partnership with Chris Derbyshire in the Widening Participation team, Emily led Sussex’s application for The Pledge, a national charter supporting Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showman and Boater (GTRSB) students.

Professor Kate O’Riordan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) said:

“What really stood out for me in Emily’s application for the award was her ethical commitment to ensuring every student, especially those from marginalised communities such as GTRSB backgrounds receives not only access to education, but also the support needed for success. Emily’s influence extends well beyond Sussex, and she is a passionate mentor who recognises that effective leadership is about sharing knowledge and nurturing growth in others. I am delighted that Emily’s exceptional commitment and hard work have been recognised with the awarding of this fellowship.”

Emily said: 

"It is a huge honour to receive this award and be among other Sussex and UK Fellows who are all, like me, passionate about teaching and supporting the learning of our students and colleagues. There is no such thing as a perfect teacher, and I certainly do not claim to be. But being attuned to that uncertainty, complexity and emotion in our classrooms, labs and lecture halls are essential parts of our praxis as educators. What I am certain about is the need to get the contexts, conditions and relationships right, or as right as they can be, to ensure everyone who I encounter in my teaching feels recognised, included and (hopefully) inspired. I am thankful to all those who supported my application and look forward to championing our next Sussex National Teaching Fellow."

About the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme and the Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence

Advance HE runs two national awards that recognise and celebrate the impact of UK higher education teaching across individuals, teams and institutions. The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) “recognises, rewards and celebrates individuals who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession”. The Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) “recognises and celebrates collaborative work that has had a demonstrable impact on teaching and learning.” The University has had great success with these awards, with a winner in one or both categories every year since 2019.

Kathryn Harrison-Graves, Deputy Chief Executive, Advance HE said:

“We are delighted to announce the 2025 awards to those with an unwavering commitment to teaching excellence. These newly awarded National Teaching Fellows and CATE teams represent the very best of UK higher education, demonstrating remarkable innovation, dedication and impact on student learning. Their achievements not only benefit their own institutions but inspire excellence across the entire sector. At a time when higher education faces unprecedented challenges, these awards celebrate the transformative power of outstanding teaching and collaboration."

Read more about the 2025 awards on the Advance HE website.