Professor Fiona Devine CBE FAcSS will be the next Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, the University has been announced.
She will succeed Professor Keith Brown, who is stepping down from the role at the end of the current academic year. The role overlooks over 20000 students including, among others, the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures (SALC), the Law School, Social Sciences, and the Alliance Manchester Business School.
For the last ten years, Professor Devine has been the Head of the Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS). The school is ranked 36th out of European Business Schools by the Financial Times. Its full time Masters in Business Administration (MBA) was ranked 11th in 2020.
Professor Devine studied at the University of Essex. She joined the University in 1994, teaching Sociology. She became head of the department in 2004, and then was Head of the School of Social Sciences from 2009-13.
She is best known for work in social stratification and mobility. She is currently a Fellow of the Centre for the Study of Poverty and Inequality at Stanford University in the USA.
She will take over the role from Professor Keith Brown. Professor Brown studied Modern and Scottish History at the University of Glasgow, and joined the University as Dean of the Faculty of Humanities in 2010.
Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester said: “The role as Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities has generated an exceptional field of candidates, both external and internal.”
“After a very competitive process, Fiona Devine was the agreed candidate to take on this significant role and she will help to continue to shape the future of a Faculty which is absolutely at the heart of the University’s success. I am delighted that Fiona has agreed to take on this role.”
Professor Fiona Devine said: ‘It is a privilege to be selected as the next Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities starting in Summer 2023, succeeding Professor Keith Brown after 13 years in his role. Keith has done a fantastic job and I look forward to working with the Faculty Leadership Team on the new opportunities and challenges ahead.’
