Associate Professor William E. Donald

I am disabled and housebound with diagnosed conditions including Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), and Vestibular migraines. I am also dyslexic.

Despite these significant challenges, I conduct research in the areas of sustainable careers and human resource management with a specific focus on United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3: Good Health and Well-being; 4: Quality Education; 5: Gender Equality; 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth; and 10: Reduced Inequalities.

The ScholarGPS Ranking Analytics place me in the top 9.45% of academics across all fields for productivity, impact, and quality of research over the last 5 years (top 7.06% for higher education and 3.68% for career development).

I developed Sustainable Career Ecosystem Theory (2023), edited the ‘Handbook of Research on Sustainable Career Ecosystems for University Students and Graduates’ (IGI Global, 2023), and authored the book ‘Strategic Opportunities for Bridging the University-Employer Divide’ (IGI Global 2024).

I am also the co-creator of the Employability Capital Growth Model (2024). One of the key aspects of the model is that one of the dimensions is ‘Health Capital’, which explicitly captures how (i) physical health, including disability; (ii) mental health, including disability; (iii) healthy lifestyle choices; and (iv) access to healthcare can impact employability and wellbeing outcomes. I am currently writing a book ‘Developing Employability Capital for University Students: A Practical Guide’ (Routledge, 2025).

I advocate on behalf of various scholars who, like me, cannot attend in-person only conferences. I am in constant dialogue with conference organisers pushing for inclusive access to these valuable spaces of knowledge exchange, have advised conference organisers on inclusive practices, and have published on the topic in the journal ‘Disability & Society’ as well as in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion section of ‘Times Higher Education’. I am currently sole editing ‘How to Organise Inclusive Conferences and Workshops’ (Edward Elgar, 2026).

I also mentor early career scholars from across the world, have judged various national and international awards, and sit on the Editorial Board of various journals and practitioner publications.

I will continue to strive for greater inclusion across academia and broader society.