Sandra Harding (sociologist)


Sandra Lee Harding is an Australian economic sociologist and university administrator. She has been Vice-Chancellor and President of James Cook University since 2007.

Education

Harding received a BSc from the Australian National University. She was later awarded a MPubAdmin by the University of Queensland and a PhD by North Carolina State University.

Career

In 1987 Harding was appointed a lecturer at Queensland University of Technology and was later promoted senior lecturer and professor. She was dean of the Business faculty from 1998 to 2003. She became Deputy Vice-Chancellor from 2004 and has been Vice-Chancellor and President of James Cook University since 2007.
Harding was one of three commissioners appointed in 2012 to the Commission of Audit into state of Queensland's finances, which was led by Peter Costello.
Harding has been a member of the Leadership Council of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia since 2013–14.

Honours and recognition

Harding was awarded an honorary doctorate by Japan's Josai International University in 2010. She was appointed honorary fellow of the Australian College of Educators in 2012 and is a fellow of the Queensland Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Harding was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2019 Australia Day Honours for "distinguished service to education at the national and international level, and to the community of Queensland".