Andy Shanks

Andy became the University’s first Director of Student Wellbeing in 2017, a key appointment in the University’s commitment to delivering an outstanding student experience. 

Andy’s remit includes responsibility for the Counselling Services, the Disability & Learning Support Service, the Chaplaincy and the Student Wellbeing Service, and for relationships with the University Health Centre. 

He also has responsibility within his portfolio for student mental health, access and inclusion and tackling gender-based violence on campus. He has extensive experience of managing and improving dispersed and large-scale services, and of working collaboratively across boundaries to deliver change and service enhancements.

Andy is currently a member of the AMOSSHE Executive Board. He has a degree from the University of Manchester in Russian and Social Policy, and he trained and then worked as a mental health social worker for many years in London. 

He was head of social care for the Older People’s Directorate at the South London and Maudsley Mental Health Trust. Prior to working at the university, he served as the South West Locality Manager for the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership. In this role, he was responsible for the delivery of high volume integrated health and social care services in that area of the city.