People and Offices

A native of Madison, Wisconsin, Jerry attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and spent his junior year at the Institut d’Études Politiques in Aix-en-Provence. This study and travel experience – including his first visits to London, Florence, and Paris - set the direction for Jerry’s academic and professional life. While writing his dissertation at Stanford, he lived in Paris for a year as a pensionnaire étranger at the École Normale Supérieure. In Paris, Jerry spent inspiring days in the manuscript room of the Bibliothèque Nationale researching the works of Chrétien de Troyes, the great twelfth-century author of the first vernacular romances of King Arthur and his knights.

Jerry began his career as a faculty member at the University of Evansville, where he taught French and World Cultures and chaired the Department of Foreign Languages (1997-2000). He also taught three summers at Harlaxton. Before becoming Harlaxton’s seventh Principal, Jerry was Associate Dean of Faculty at Lawrence University (2000-2006), and Vice President and Dean of Faculty at Ripon College (2006-14), serving as interim President in 2011-12. At Ripon, Jerry was Professor of Romance and Classical Languages and occasionally taught French and a popular seminar on J.R.R. Tolkien.

Jerry resides in the Principal’s Lodge with his wife Patricia Vilches and their boys Mario and Riccardo.

Megan joined the Harlaxton community in the summer of 2016. A native of Tallahassee, Florida, Megan began her university experience as a Communications major and British Studies minor at Florida State University. She studied abroad with the FSU London program in the spring semester of her sophomore year. She began her professional career in higher education by earning an M.A. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Indiana University. She went on to work for the University of Georgia, Emory University, and Florida State University. Megan is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Georgia and will finish her dissertation while at Harlaxton.

With excellent skills both in his trade and as a manager, Chris Meadows leads the "Estates Teams" of Harlaxton Manor. He is direct day-to-day manager of the maintenance team, and he oversees the transport, housekeeping, gardens, and security teams as well. The integration of these service units under Chris as manager has allowed for maximum flexibility and efficiency.

A native of Grantham, Chris attended local schools before undertaking four years of apprenticeship as an electrician. He worked with the East Midlands Electricity Board, then set up his own electrical contracting business and built a strong customer base, including part-time work at Harlaxton Manor. Harlaxton ultimately persuaded him to come full time as maintenance manager, where he has built a superb team of skilled workers, and then to assume responsibility for all estates functions.

Chris lives in Grantham with his wife Carol.

With an MBA from the Nottingham Business School, Professor Welsh has taught a popular introductory course in marketing for the last 14 years. His academic interests include the development and effects of consumerism in higher education, service marketing in general, and Britain's political relationship with Europe. In addition, he serves as the college's Vice Principal, a varied and interesting role which keeps him busy!

Professor Welsh served as Chairman (2012-2015) of the Association of American Study Abroad Programs in the United Kingdom (http://www.aasapuk.org/) and remains on its Executive Committee. AASAP/UK was established in 1991 to represent the 120 or so American study abroad programs in the UK. It provides a forum for program directors and administrative staff to discuss and respond to common issues, in order to meet the needs of the present and anticipate the demands of the future for US study abroad in the UK.

Before Harlaxton College, Professor Welsh began his career in data processing management at a large London based group of Builders Merchants, at a time when computers were only just being introduced into the mainstream business arena. This was an exciting time to be 'in computing' and he has maintained a passion for technology ever since. He continued to develop his career and, via sojourns in operational and financial management, progressed to the financial directorship of a Midlands based retail group.

As a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, Linda has managed the college Library since June 2011. Originally graduating from Nottingham University with a BA (Hons) degree in Geography, she studied for a Postgraduate Certificate in Library and Information Studies by distance learning from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, whilst employed as a School Librarian at The King’s School, Grantham.

For 15 years, Linda worked at Nottingham Trent University as a Resource Centre Manager and Cartographer, during which time she undertook research into cartographic communication for a M.Phil thesis. Here at Harlaxton, Linda also manages the manor Archives and is fascinated by the history of the manor and its occupants, particularly Gregory Gregory.

Anne has worked at Harlaxton College since 2010 after nearly 25 years in UK higher education. She has wide experience of HE administration having worked at Plymouth Polytechnic, De Montfort University in Leicester and finally at the University of Lincoln where she was Deputy Academic Registrar with particular responsibility for student assessments, examinations and academic regulations.

Graduating from the University of Hull with a BA (Hons) in Geography she subsequently studied for a masters’ degree in Human Resource Management; studies that she feels helped significantly in her work within higher education.

In her free time Anne enjoys classical music, playing the oboe and piano and singing with several local choirs. She also has a great interest in gardening and textiles, particularly sewing and making bobbin lace.

Nicola joined Harlaxton College in 2017, having previously worked at Stoke Rochford Hall (a Hotel and Conference Centre) as Head of Finance and Resources.

A graduate of London University, Nicola enjoyed a year studying in Paris as part of her BA Hons degree in French & Latin. Following graduation she started her career as a Stock Market Analyst in London, before eventually choosing to study for a Masters degree in IT.

Having taken time out to raise her daughters, Nicola retrained in accountancy and enjoyed several years working in schools finance both in Surrey and Lincolnshire.

Nicola lives locally and enjoys spending time with her daughters and grandchildren.