Reflecting as Head of Humanities

Today, after four years as Head of Humanities, I am coming to the end of my extended term. This role involves strategic, planning, and operational line management for the Humanities at King’s. My portfolio includes ~200 academic/administrative staff, ￡23 million annual budget, and 2,200 students (29% overseas) across the departments of History, Philosophy, Classics, and Theology and Religious Studies.

Here is the message I shared with my colleagues today as a very fond thank you to them all. I am taking a year of research leave to develop exciting project ideas (watch this space).

Dear colleagues,

Today, I will finish my term as Head of Humanities. Starting Monday, your new Head of Cluster will be Stuart Dunn, who I know will do an excellent job.

I am blessed to have worked so closely with so many of you. Your commitment to our students, colleagues, and your scholarship is a constant inspiration. If I remember anything from my time as Head of Humanities, it is that you are a very caring and considerate community. This was so much in evidence during the Covid years when I first started my role four years ago. Even in the midst of contentious MAB activity, people looked out for and sought to be kind to one another. I appreciate all the times folk were considerate to me and fair-minded even when I was not able to say yes, was in disagreement, or was on the other side of an issue of contention.

Thank you to all the HoDs in my term who have been a joy to work with every day. I have thanked each of them in person for their specific contributions. I should also reflect here that their leadership is making our departments and the faculty a better place for you and our students. Caring for colleagues and student needs, addressing dozens of micro-tasks every week and contributing so fully to the strategic future and vision of the department and faculty is no mean task. Together, we have weathered storms and plotted paths to clear blue waters with our eyes ever lifted to the sun-warmed horizon.

Catherine Bennett, as Head of Cluster Administration, has been my saviour on more than one occasion and is the best colleague I could ask for. I will miss our mutual support more than I can adequately express. The often unseen, unheralded, work of our Professional Services colleagues is not acknowledged enough. Please remember to value Cath, and all the PS team, and remember they keep our ships afloat and pointing in the right direction - we sink without them.

Our departments in Humanities are in their best ever shape. We are more sustainable, growing when the sector is most definitely not, leading the world, and succeeding in rising by any measure you might care to choose: including student numbers, research excellence, university ranking, PTES/NSS, etc. We have done this together, well done everyone.

People matter more than anything else. My memories will be filled with all those I've helped appoint, the promotions and probations passed and the help given to those in need, whether of colleagues or students. Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your story.

I exit, for my year of study leave, buoyed by memories of you all.

Thank you,

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