Dr Dave Thomas
PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons), SFHEA
Associate Professor of Inclusive Curriculum
Education Office
Role at Solent
Dave is an Associate Professor and Academic Lead for Learning and Teaching at Solent University. He is Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), with over two decades of experience in leadership, management, teaching and research in the educational sector, as well as private and public sector organisations globally. 
Experience
As an inclusive thought leader, Dave's myriad intellectual contributions to public dialogues (academic and non-academic) and endeavours shapes contemporary discourses. He brings an intersectional and critical perspective to his teaching, research, scholarship and practice. His scholarly outlook grows from a deep understanding of contemporary and historical structural inequalities and ways in which they are manifested and sustained intersectionally in societies. He adopts a strategic, person-centered approach in supporting individuals, organisations and communities to operationalise transformational ontological positions and methodologies in creating and sustaining intersectionally diverse and inclusive ecosystems.
Dave has a range of publications pertaining to inclusive leadership, racial justice, equality and inclusion, educational psychology, occupational justice, and social justice. He is a co-editor of Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization: Practical tools for research and scholarship (2022) Bristol University Press; the lead editor of Doing Equity and Diversity for Success in Higher Education (2021) Palgrave Macmillan; and Towards Decolonising the University: A Kaleidoscope for Empowered Action (2020) Counterpress Oxford.
Dave conceptualised and developed the novel set of Culturally Sensitive Curricula Scales (CSCS) as quantitative tools to assess the extent to which higher education curricula are culturally, sensitive and support curricular enhancement. He has also developed the Culturally Sensitive Curriculum (CSC) Educator Self-Reflection Tool to support educators to reflect on their curriculum then develop SMART actions to effect curricular changes to make them more culturally sensitive.
Dave is a co-developer of the esteemed collaborative Santander Universities and Open University anti-racism course Union Black: Britain’s Black Cultures and Steps to Anti-racism.
External bodies
Dave is also an occupational therapist (remit in social justice) and public health specialist. He is a Board member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists in England and a member of the Health and Care Professions Council Diversity and Inclusion Forum.
Dave is also a member of the Office for Students (OfS) Blended Learning Review Panel.
