People features

Emma Potts joined Sussex as Interim Chief Operating Officer (COO) and University Secretary on 5 February. Emma has been appointed for a year in order to give sufficient time for the recruitment of the permanent Chief Operating Officer and University Secretary. 

Emma is well known to many across the University, having served in senior interim roles at Sussex between 2020 and 2023, including as Interim Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Deputy University Secretary, and as Interim Director of Research and Enterprise Services. 

We caught up with Emma to find out more about her and what she will bring to Sussex in the year ahead.

Music was my favourite subject at school. It was while studying music in Manchester that I realised I probably wasn’t going to pursue a career in that area. Instead, I got very involved in the running of my university Hall of Residence and, through that, as a representative on university committees. That was my introduction to university administration and what led me to start working in higher education.

What I particularly enjoy about working in universities is the opportunity to improve processes and systems for the benefit of students and staff. I started my career as a clerical officer working with the Exams team at UCL (University College London). I saw my job as trying to remove the administrative burden from academic colleagues – to make it easier for all of us to make things happen. Having worked my way up in the sector, I appreciate what it’s like working in different areas and how every role contributes to the running of the University. 

I like the breadth and variety of the Interim COO role. I get to work with brilliant people doing a wide range of activities, helping to join up different areas. We are working on projects ranging from capital estates projects like West Slope, to the Student Information System, while looking at how we can enhance the applicant and student experience. I’m trying to bring experience from other universities and from having worked at Sussex before, to help make progress and improvements. 

Outside of work, I spend quite a lot of time playing sport. I live in Hertfordshire with my husband. Our daughter is now 23 and a teacher in north London. While she was growing up and I was working full-time, I focused on family time at weekends. Around 12 years ago I went back to playing hockey. In the winter my Saturdays are spent playing with a local club, and I join training on Wednesday nights if I can get back from campus in time. I also started playing cricket around eight years ago, so that takes up my Sundays in the summer. I enjoy walking in the beautiful countryside close to home too. I live in a market town on the edge of National Trust land. I also like heading into London to go to the theatre whenever I can – I especially like musical theatre. 

The best piece of advice I have been given helps me to maintain perspective during challenging times. During the very challenging implementation of a student system across UCL in the early 2000s, a Programme Manager colleague said that sometimes it’s helpful to remember, “It’s just a job”. I’m committed to doing the best work possible and I know that colleagues across all the universities I have worked at, and particularly here at Sussex, feel similarly. Still, it can be useful to create a slight separation, to allow you to step back and focus on solutions.  

My favourite places on campus are the Meeting House, especially upstairs, and the Student Centre, which is a real asset to Sussex. I don’t walk around campus enough – maybe I should try some more walking meetings during the day. It’s great to have the boundary walk on our doorstep, and to be able to head into Stanmer Park.  I think I’ve only done the boundary walk once but I’m definitely planning to do it again when the spring weather arrives!