Sam Macmillan

Student Support Manager

I am the Student Support Manager, and to oversee the student support services including Disability support, Safeguarding, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Sexual Violence Liaison Officers and the student support team.

I started my career for a research company, before transitioning into academia as a Registered University Teacher for the University of Plymouth. There, I lectured in Animal Science, specialising in Anatomy, Physiology, Behaviour, and Qualitative and Quantitative Methods. After five years, I moved into the Further Education (FE) sector, joining the management team of an Arts and Science department. In this role, I managed the student journey from a pastoral and intervention perspective and developed specialist academies to support students in accessing competitive universities and courses, including Oxbridge and Medicine.

After a decade, I transitioned to the charity sector as Head of Education for a hospice. In this capacity, I provided professional and academic training for regional NHS and private sector healthcare professionals in End of Life and Palliative Care, ranging from training days to Masters level study, and catering to a diverse audience from Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) to consultants.

With extensive experience in training staff to help individuals identify their priorities at the beginning and end of their adult lives, I decided to return to mainstream FE and Higher Education (HE). My commitment to helping others navigate life’s challenges and identify what is truly important motivated me to move into Safeguarding, alongside pastoral support and Executive coaching.

I advocate for the importance of self-care when supporting others, so in my spare time if I’m not with my children or three labradors, I enjoy singing for the Military Wives Choir, which has afforded me numerous exciting opportunities, including concerts and television appearances.

While supporting A-level students with their Higher Education applications, I became aware of the launch of the Dyson Institute and was inspired by its innovative approach to higher education. A fortunate move to Wiltshire coincided with an opportunity to join the Institute as a Student Support Advisor. My strong background in education, safeguarding, pastoral support, and coaching, combined with my belief in this educational model, made applying for the role an easy decision.

Since joining in June 2021, I have managed the student support provision at the Dyson Institute. I serve as the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Mental Health Lead, overseeing a team of student support advisors. Each team member is a qualified coach, bringing a wealth of expertise and diverse interests to enhance our services.