Rate My Professor Claire Gallop

Claire Gallop serves as the Director of Student Services at the University of Otago, having assumed the role in June 2022 following the retirement of Karyn Thomson. A long-standing member of the university community since 1998, when she arrived to pursue a PhD—yet to be completed—Gallop brings extensive experience in academic administration and student support. She earned her MA with Honours in Political Studies from the University of Auckland, where she began her university career, before transitioning to Otago. Over more than two decades, her positions have included Manager of the Graduate Research School (from 2011), Academic Manager in the School of Dentistry, Senior Manager of Client Services in the Faculty of Dentistry, Manager of Policy and Compliance in the Registrar’s Office, and Manager of Research Infrastructure for the Division of Health Sciences. In recognition of her contributions, she received the Award for Exceptional Performance by Professional Staff in 2018.

In her leadership capacity, Claire Gallop is responsible for a broad array of essential student services designed to foster wellbeing and success. These encompass the Proctor's Office and Campus Watch for student conduct and safety, Student Health and Counselling, Recreation Services, the Māori Centre – Te Huka Mātauraka, Pacific Islands Support, Disability Information and Support, the Career Development Centre including the Social Impact Studio, and Te Whare Tāwharau. She also oversees the allocation of the Compulsory Student Services Fee, nurtures the partnership with the Otago University Students' Association (OUSA), and works with the Chaplaincy Trust Board to provide spiritual support. Recent initiatives under her direction include the launch of on-campus food pantries to combat food insecurity among students, development of a central student wellbeing hub in the Information Services Building, the Disability Action Plan 2024-27 aimed at enhancing inclusivity, and the introduction of the Aonui student portal to streamline access to information and improve the overall student experience. These efforts highlight her dedication to creating a supportive environment for students at the University of Otago.