Professor Deborah Jane "Debbie" Terry is an Australian university executive, and psychology scholar. She is currently the Vice-Chancellor and President of

The University of Queensland The University of Queensland is a public research university located primarily in Brisbane, the capital city of the Australian state of Queensland. Founded in 1909 by the Queensland parliament, UQ is one of the six sandstone universities, an i ...

. Professor Terry is also currently the Chair of

Universities Australia Universities Australia (formerly the ''Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee'') is an organisation founded in Sydney in May 1920, which attempts to advance higher education through voluntary, cooperative and coordinated action. After being ba ...

, the peak body representing Australia's higher education sector.

Early life and education

Terry was born in Western Australia but completed her secondary education at Canberra Girls Grammar School. She then studied at the

Australian National University The Australian National University (ANU) is a public university, public research university and member of the Group of Eight (Australian universities), Group of Eight, located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Its main campus in Acton, A ...

, graduating with a BA and then a PhD in 1989.

Career

Terry moved to Brisbane where she was employed in the School of Psychology at

in 1990. In 2000 she was promoted to head of school and 2008 saw her become deputy vice-chancellor of the university. In February 2014, Terry was appointed Vice-Chancellor and President of

Curtin University Curtin University (previously Curtin University of Technology and Western Australian Institute of Technology) is an Australian public university, public research university based in Bentley, Western Australia, Bentley, Perth, Western Australia. ...

. In August 2020, she returned to

and became the Vice-Chancellor and President. Her annual salary at the university is $1,213,402. In addition to her university role, Terry is a past president of the Society for Australasian Social Psychology. She has also been on the editorial board of the ''

British Journal of Psychology The ''British Journal of Psychology'' is a quarterly peer-reviewed psychology journal. It was established in 1904 and is published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the British Psychological Society. The editor-in-chief is Stefan R. Schweinberger ...

'' and the ''

European Journal of Social Psychology The ''European Journal of Social Psychology'' is a peer-reviewed academic journal covering research in social psychology, including social cognition, attitudes, group processes, social influence, intergroup relations, self and identity, nonverbal c ...

''. In May 2019 Terry began a two-year term as Chair of Universities Australia, having been a member of its board since 2015. In March 2021 she addressed the National Press Club.

Awards and recognition

Terry was appointed Fellow of the

Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA) is an independent, non-governmental organisation devoted to the advancement of knowledge and research in the social sciences. It has its origins in the Social Science Research Council of Aus ...

in 2003. She was awarded the

Officer of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...

(AO) in the

2015 Queen's Birthday Honours The 2015 Queen's Birthday Honours were appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours were awarded as ...

for "distinguished service to education in the tertiary sector through senior administrative roles, as an academic and researcher in the field of psychology, and as a mentor". She was promoted to

Companion of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...

(AC) in the

2024 Australia Day Honours The 2024 Australia Day Honours are appointments to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by Australian citizens. The list was announced on 26 January 2024 by the Governor General of Australia, David Hurley. The Australi ...

for "eminent service to tertiary education as an institutional leader and academic, to the strengthening of higher education through collaboration and innovation, and to the community". She is also a Fellow of the Australian Psychology Society.

Selected publications

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Terry, Deborah Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Companions of the Order of Australia Fellows of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia Australian National University alumni Academic staff of the University of Queensland Academic staff of Curtin University People educated at Canberra Girls Grammar School