Principal & Vice-Chancellor

Andrea graduated as a veterinary surgeon from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, and after a short time in veterinary practice, embarked on an academic career which led to her appointment as a lecturer in Veterinary Pharmacology, and ultimately, Professor at the University of Glasgow. She was Deputy Vice Chancellor for the University of Glasgow before taking up the role of Principal and Vice-Chancellor at Edinburgh Napier University in 2013.

In her academic career, Andrea established herself as a research leader in the field of animal pain, its recognition and management. She has published widely and has received awards for her work including the Pfizer Academic Award for Animal Health Research, the Amoroso Award from the British Small Animal Veterinary Association and the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare Companion Animal Award for contributions to animal welfare. She has contributed to educational development in animal pain management and welfare over many years and was a founding member of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association's Global Pain Council.

Andrea has contributed to the development of policy and strategy in Higher Education through work on a range of committees including for example the Scottish Funding Council Research and Knowledge Exchange committee, and the Scottish Science Advisory Committee and convenorship of the Scottish Higher Education Enhancement Committee. She held the Convenorship of Universities Scotland and Board membership of Universities UK between 2016 and 2020.

She currently chairs the Universities Scotland International committee and the Interface Strategic Board and is a board member of the Moredun Foundation. She is a Trustee of the Carnegie Trust for Universities of Scotland and the Medical Research Scotland - Scottish Hospital Endowment Research Trust.

Andrea is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh; a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies, and an honorary life member of the Association for Veterinary Teachers & Research Workers. She was awarded an honorary OBE in 2014 for services to Higher Education and Veterinary Science.​ Most recently, Andrea was elected as the Vice President Life Sciences for the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's national academy.

Contact Details

Professor Andrea Nolan, ext. 6400.

EA, Graham Short, ext. 6401.

​​​​​