An award-winning former TV news anchor will present a glimpse into her career at a free public lecture next month.

Professor Sarah Jones will present a unique look at life in both the media and higher education, in her inaugural lecture as pro vice-chancellor at University of Gloucestershire.

Professor Jones, whose research focuses on future education and technology, including virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), holds a PhD in immersive storytelling and has published extensively on VR and AR, while continuing to create immersive experiences.

Before moving into education, Professor Jones won awards for investigative and immersive reporting during her career in television news, which included a year seconded to New York to cover the 2008 US election for GMTV. During this time, she travelled extensively with the candidates, as well as appearing in the Sex and the City film.

She has since been named among the top virtual reality innovators in the world, speaks at conferences across the world on imagining future technology and was invited to work with the UK Government to advise on immersive technologies.

A strategic leader in the sector, Professor Jones is committed to the transformation of higher education through pedagogy, technology and future practice, with her motivations rooted in creating excellent educational experiences.

Reflecting her varied and successful career in the media and education, Professor Jones' inaugural lecture will focus on opportunities to take new approaches and strategic risks, introducing research projects and key ideas which have emerged, focused on future methods of storytelling, media and education.

The lecture takes place on May 15 between 4.30pm and 5.30pm at the university's Park Campus in Cheltenham. Tickets are free but must be booked in advance.