Wendy Frsa

Research Scholar at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University

Wendy M. Purcell is a distinguished academic and researcher currently serving as a Research Associate at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her career has been marked by significant contributions to global health, education, and leadership, with a particular focus on sustainability and social equity.

Academic Background and Career

Before her tenure at Harvard, Purcell was an Academic Research Scholar at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health from 2016 to 2022, where she led important research initiatives, including the Culture of Health project in collaboration with Harvard Business School. This project investigated health and equity within business and community contexts.1 4

She has held various prestigious positions, including being the President and Vice-Chancellor of Plymouth University in the UK from 2007 to 2015, where she established new medical and dental schools and received the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher Education.2 4 Wendy has also been involved with the UK's National Health Service (NHS) in strategic roles, contributing to healthcare science policy and workforce development.1 2

Research Focus

Purcell's research interests encompass 21st-century leadership, governance for transformational change, and sustainability aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She is particularly focused on how educational institutions can adapt to global challenges through innovative leadership models.5 6 Wendy has authored over 100 academic publications and serves as the editor-in-chief of Merits, an international journal dedicated to workplace research.1 4

Professional Affiliations

In addition to her research role at Harvard, Purcell is a Visiting Professor at University College London’s Global Business School for Health and is actively involved with several organizations promoting leadership and sustainability in higher education.3 4 She is a Council Member of the United Nations University and has served on various boards related to education and public health.2 5

Wendy Purcell's career reflects a commitment to transforming lives through education, emphasizing the importance of leadership in achieving sustainable development goals globally.