Melissa Jacobi
Academic Director for Academic Advising
Summary
My current role of the Academic Director for Academic Advising has the remit of developing academic advising practice across the institution.
I work with advising leads from each of the Departments to develop and share best practice in relation to delivering academic advising to students on all taught courses, with central services to support academic advising activities, deliver training workshops to upskill staff and develop tools and resources for use in delivery.
About
My background is in facility operations and management, both in terms of local authority sports centers and private sector leisure venues. I also have extensive experience in contributing to the delivery and provision of voluntary sector sports clubs.
In recent years, I have undertaken project management qualifications with the Association of Project Management and have contributed the new publication 'Managing and Developing Community Sport'. I have also written academic case studies which have been integrated into teaching practice at a range of levels.
I have a particular passion for enhancing student experience with a focus on student support. I have been the coordinator of the Sport Business Management Academic Advisor process for a number of years which provides structured support to students with their studies and career aspirations. Presented at the UKAT (United Kingdom Advising and Tutoring) conference in both presentation and poster form and I am also the Membership and Onboarding lead for UKAT as an organisation.
Specialist areas of interest
Particular areas of interest include student support and the co-ordination of the Academic Professional Advisor role for Sport Business Management.
Teaching
Academy of Sport and Physical Activity
College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences
Sport Business Management
BSc (Hons) Sport Business Management
Operational Facility Management. Project Management, Developing Management and Leadership Practice. Managing the Sport Business
Research
An investigation of student views on feedback on assessment, a collaborative piece of research with Northumbria University and SHAPE IVE in Hong Kong.
Publications
Journal articles
Gabi, J., Braddock, A., Brown, C., Miller, D., Mynott, G., Jacobi, M., ... Rawson, A. (2024). Can the role of a personal tutor contribute to reducing the undergraduate degree awarding gap for racially minoritised students? British Educational Research Journal. http://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3999
Conference papers
Norman, V., & Jacobi, M. (2017). A brain to pick, an ear to listen and a push in the right direction? In UKAT Annual Conference, Leeds, 1 July 2017. http://www.ukat.uk/conference/
Book chapters
Jacobi, M., & Peake, R. (2018). Managing community sport and physical activity centres. In Wilson, R., & Platts, C. (Eds.) Managing and Developing Community Sport. (pp. 145-160). London: Routledge: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781317201106
Peake, R., & Jacobi, M. (2018). Leadership and management in community sport organisations. In Wilson, R., & Platts, C. (Eds.) Managing and Developing Community Sport. (pp. 180-195). London: Routledge: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781317201106
Other activities
Membership and Onboarding lead for UKAT
Member of the Board of Trustees of King Edwards Swimming Pool.
Committee Member at Abbeydale Squash and Fitness Club