Dr Maureen Rhoden

Professional biography

Dr Maureen Rhoden (PGCE, SEDA, FHEA) is a lecturer and student experience manager in the Business School of the Faculty of Business and Law (FBL). Maureen's professional work is concerned with advancing inclusive education by ensuring that all students, particularly those from marginalised and underrepresented groups, have equitable opportunities to succeed. 

Through evidence-based leadership and scholarship, Maureen has embedded inclusive, scholarship-informed practices that enhance staff and student engagement, progression, and satisfaction.  

Background

Maureen's academic expertise in the lived expereinces of tutors and students working and studying in the higher education sector is based on both teaching and research experience. After working as an Area Housing Manager in the public sector, she was appointed as a Course Director and Senior Lecturer on the MSc Housing policy and BSc Housing management programmes at the University of Greenwich. She taught housing management, housing policy, management principles and reseach ethics to undergraduates and postgraduates for 20 years and was an academic consultant/lecturer with the Chartered Institute of Housing on their distance learning courses for 10 years. 

Research Interests 

The primary focus of Maureen's work is enhancing the learning experiences of all students, including marginalised and underrepresented groups. Maureen has adopted an evidence-based approach to embed inclusive, research-informed practices that enhance staff and student engagement, progression and satisfaction. 

Current Scholarship Projects: Maureen is PI on three higher education research projects collaborating with colleagues at the OU and external independent researchers/consultants. 

1. Data-Driven Insights: Analysing complaints as a pathway to student retention - 2025
2. Creating inclusive environments for students with declared dyslexia studying online in Higher Education - Funded 2024-2025
3. Exploring the experiences of online tutors assessing the assignments of students with dyslexia at the OU Business School - Funded 2023-2025

Publication support

Maureen's expertise in the learning experiences of all students in higher education informs her work as a reviewer for wide range of international journals. This work was recognised when whe was awarded Editor's Choice Award for the quality of her reviews for the Journal of International Students. 

Teaching interests

Maureen was a member of the production team in 2022 that developed the badged OpenLearn Introducing Black Leadership course and the Level 1 module 'Making your Learning Count at Work' which both form part of the Minority Ethnic Leadership Empowerment Programme (MEL). MEL is a hybrid face-to-face and online leadership development programme that aims to develop workplace and community leadership amongst all ethnic and religious minority leaders. It is particularly aimed at people wanting to start their journeys in leadership but is also valuable to more experienced leaders looking to refine their approaches.