Rate My Professor Jackie Dean

Jackie Dean serves as the Manager of the Career Development Centre at the University of Otago. Passionate about career guidance and education, her professional journey began in 1987 and has focused on roles within schools, colleges, university careers services in the United Kingdom and New Zealand, and the disability sector. She holds qualifications in teaching and career guidance. In recent years, Dean completed a Graduate Diploma in Conflict Resolution and joined the volunteer team at Dunedin Community Mediation. Since taking on her current role in 2011, she has overseen comprehensive career services for students, including individualized advising, employer engagement, and employability programs tailored to diverse student needs.

Under Dean's leadership, the Career Development Centre has earned prestigious accolades, including being voted New Zealand's best career centre by the Graduate Recruitment Industry Awards in 2018 and recognized again in subsequent years for its outstanding employer welcome and student support. In 2024, she received the University of Otago Appreciation Award for her significant contributions to inclusivity, particularly in supporting students with disabilities through dedicated partnerships and services. Dean has delivered key presentations, such as 'Keeping up with the robots: The future of work' at the 2019 Professional Staff Conference, and addressed the centre's 50-year milestone celebration in 2023. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her team provided expert guidance to job seekers amid uncertainty. She has contributed to projects like a University Teaching Development Grant-funded initiative to develop and pilot a new qualification in career development, enhancing student outcomes across the university. Her work extends to promoting career readiness nationally and fostering inclusive environments as part of the Queer Friendly Staff Network.