The University of Aberdeen has appointed Professor Beth Lord as the new Head of its School of Divinity, History, Philosophy and Art History.
A leading academic with over twenty years’ experience as a researcher, educator, and PhD supervisor, Professor Lord has held a range of leadership positions within the School since her arrival at Aberdeen in 2013.
A graduate of the University of Toronto and University of Warwick, where she gained her Masters’ and PhD degrees, Beth started her academic career at the University of Dundee.
She is currently a Trustee of The Royal Institute of Philosophy and has served on the Executive Committees of the Society for European Philosophy and the British Society for the History of Philosophy. She also served as a Philosophy sub-panel member and interdisciplinary research adviser for the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.
Beth is a specialist in the philosophy of the 17th and 18th centuries, working on themes including freedom, equality, democracy, and the relationship between human beings and nature.
She is interested in how the ideas of the past illuminate the problems of the present, and has written and presented on climate change, inequality, and housing. Much of her work is outward-facing, involving collaborations with charities, museums, and filmmakers, as well as students and academics in disciplines such as art, architecture, and politics from around the world.
Commenting on her appointment, which begins in September, Professor Lord said:
“I am delighted to take up the role of Head of School as we emerge from the pandemic and consider our priorities afresh.
“I look forward to working with colleagues to support our School’s outstanding teaching and research, to ensuring that our students have a world-class experience, and to leading new initiatives, both within and outside the University.
“I am particularly keen to build on our School’s links with cultural organisations in the city and region, and develop new collaborations.”
University Senior Vice-Principal Professor Karl Leydecker added: “I am looking forward to working closely with Beth, who brings a wide range of experience and expertise to the role. I look forward to the School continuing the very strong progress it has made in recent years under Dr Paula Sweeney.”