Award-winning filmmaker to lead education strategy at University of Essex

Professor Larra Anderson will join the world-leading East 15 Acting School as a Professor and will be the University’s next Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) when Professor Madeline Eacott steps down from the role at the end of September 2024.

Joining the University on 1 November 2023, Professor Anderson will focus on developing the University’s education strategy including the academic and extra-curricular experience for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Welcoming Professor Larra Anderson to her new role, Vice-Chancellor Professor Anthony Forster said: “Continuing to develop the vibrant and inspiring student experience we are renowned for at Essex is extremely important to us, so we’re delighted to be appointing such an outstanding and experienced university leader to this important role.

“Larra is a distinguished scholar working in the field of screen education who has won multiple awards for her work. She also brings a tremendous wealth of experience in senior academic leadership positions at the Northern Film School, University of the Arts London and most recently at Norwich University of the Arts.”

Professor Anderson said: “I am very pleased to be joining such an esteemed institution as Essex, and honoured to become a member of the East 15 Acting School. I am inspired by the University’s strategy to engage students in a deep research informed education encased in such a rich community experience; and during my tenure as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), I look forward to working with colleagues to further build upon the excellence of that education and the success of the overall student experience at the University.”

Larra joined Norwich University of the Arts in 2020 as Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic). She was previously Dean of Screen at London College of Communication, University of the Arts London, where she established and led the Screen School. Before this she was the Director of the Northern Film School at Leeds Beckett University.

She has produced, directed, and written material for film and television alongside her primary work as a cinematographer. Her award-winning films have screened in cinemas internationally, and at more than 65 festivals worldwide with screenings at Sundance, Sheffield DocFest, Venice, SXSW and BFI.

Professor Anderson holds an MFA in Film Production from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinema-Television (now known as USC School of Cinematic Arts).

She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce and a member of the European Film Academy.