Appointed 2026

Sarah O’Shea is Distinguished Professor of Higher Education Equity and Dean of Graduate Research at Charles Sturt University. Over a career spanning three decades, she has combined senior university leadership with an internationally recognised program of research focused on educational equity, particularly the experiences of students who are the first in their families to attend university.

Her work on access, participation, belonging and graduate outcomes has been widely published and cited, with more than 125 scholarly and commissioned outputs, including seven books. She has secured over $4 million in research funding and is currently ranked first globally for scholarly output on social class and access in higher education within her SciVal topic area. Before joining Charles Sturt University, she directed the Australian Government-funded National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education.

Professor O’Shea is a member of the Australian Research Council College of Experts and series editor of the SRHE/Routledge Research into Higher Education series. Previously, Sarah was special issues editor for Studies in Higher Education and currently she sits on four editorial committees. Contributions to higher education have been recognised by national and international awards including a  Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to student equity.