Message to staff from Karl Leydecker, Senior Vice-Principal
Dear colleagues,
I am delighted to inform you that following a competitive external recruitment process we have appointed Professor Beth Lord as the new Head of School of Divinity, History, Philosophy and Art History.
Beth will commence the role on 12 September 2022. She has worked at Aberdeen since 2013, holding a range of leadership positions including Head of Philosophy, School Director of Postgraduate Research, and Chair of the Ethical Review Board. She served as a Philosophy sub-panel member and interdisciplinary research adviser for REF 2021, is 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 has led research teams on two AHRC-funded projects and has over twenty years’ experience as a researcher, educator, and PhD supervisor.
Beth holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto, and Masters’ and PhD degrees from the University of Warwick. She started her academic career at the University of Dundee where she worked between 2004 and 2012, including several years as Head of Department. Much of her work is interdisciplinary and outward-facing, involving collaborations with charities and filmmakers as well as academics from art, architecture, literature and politics.
Commenting on her appointment, Beth said
“I am delighted to take up the role of Head of School of DHPA 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 and to leading new initiatives and collaborations, both within the University and in the community more broadly.”
I hope you will join me in welcoming Beth to the role and I look forward to working closely with her.
I would also like to extend my thanks to Dr Paula Sweeney for her excellent service as Head of School over the past five years.
Best wishes
Karl
Karl Leydecker
Senior Vice-Principal