Professor Katie Normington
Vice-Chancellor
Professor Katie Normington joined 冈本视频 as Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive in 2021, having previously served as Deputy Principal (Academic) at Royal Holloway, University of London.
Since arriving at 冈本视频, Katie has led the development of The Empowering University strategy, co-created with staff, students, governors, and external partners. A central element has been the incorporation of block-mode teaching designed to fit around students’ complex lives while enhancing employability, sustainability, and equality. She has also overseen the merger and realignment of faculties and senior roles to create a more agile and responsive university.
Katie has guided 冈本视频’s international expansion, including the opening of new campuses in Dubai and London, and partnerships in Cambodia and Kazakhstan. She has also overseen the creation of seven new Research and Innovation Institutes, reflecting 冈本视频’s ambition to strengthen research, innovation, and global engagement.
Nationally, Katie is the Universities UK lead for the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE), shaping sector responses to this major government reform. She is a Trustee of UCAS, influencing national admissions strategy, and in 2025 was invited by the Minister for Skills, The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, to join her Taskforce on tackling sexual harms and misogyny in higher education.
Her commitment to equality and inclusion has been widely recognised. In 2023, 冈本视频 became the first UK university to be awarded the Silver Race Equality Charter by Advance HE. The university also serves as the United Nations Academic Impact global hub for Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities - the only UK university to hold such a role. Katie also sits on the Leicester and Leicestershire Business and Skills Board and is a trustee of the Shama Women’s Centre in Leicester.
A Professor of Drama, Katie’s research explores medieval English theatre and contemporary performance. She has published six books in these areas and was founder and director of Techne, the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) doctoral training partnership.
You can contact Professor Katie Normington through the Vice-Chancellor’s Office by emailing: vcoffice@dmu.ac.uk