Andy Shanks

Director of Student Wellbeing

Background

Andy Shanks became the University’s first Director of Student Wellbeing on 1 August 2017, a key appointment in our commitment to delivering an outstanding student experience. 

Andy’s remit includes responsibility for the Counselling Services, the Disability & Learning Support Service, the Chaplaincy and the Student Wellbeing Service, and for relationships with the University Health Centre. He also has responsibility within his portfolio for student mental health, and tackling gender-based violence on campus. He has extensive experience of managing and improving dispersed, large scale and high-volume services, and of working collaboratively across boundaries to achieve change and service enhancements.

Andy is also currently a member of the AMOSSHE Executive Board.

Andy trained and worked as a mental health social worker in London. He was Head of Social Care for the Older People’s Directorate at the South London and Maudsley Mental Health Trust, and more recently was South West Locality Manager at the City of Edinburgh Council, with responsibility for the delivery of integrated, health and social care services in that area of the city. 

He is a season ticket holder at Hibernian FC.

Project activity

- Student Mental Health Strategy

- Health & Wellbeing Centre at Bristo Square

- Gender-based violence on campus

-Implementation of new support team for survivors of sexual violence

-Fearless Edinburgh