Name: Sarah Richardson

Job title: Professor of Modern British History

Department: History

Number of years at Warwick: 30

There’s no such thing as a typical day, but, in brief, my job involves...

A fantastic mix of teaching, research, administration, writing for and speaking to many different audiences from school children to politicians. At the moment, I combine my position as Deputy Head of the Department of History with chairing the Arts Faculty Education Committee and enjoy the challenges the two roles bring.

In my time at Warwick, the biggest change I’ve seen is...

I was the first ever woman to be appointed to the Department of History, so have witnessed dramatic change in the Department and in the University as a whole. I teach a course on Gender, History and Politics and like to think that I am part of the story of advancing opportunities for women in all sectors.

At the moment I'm really enjoying working on...

Curriculum reform in the Department of History – the first major overhaul of assessment and the curriculum since I joined the University. I’m also completing a book on the five daughters of Richard Cobden MP which is shedding light on politics and culture in the age of women’s suffrage.

I recently learnt that...

In the 1970's the university contemplated building a tunnel beneath Gibbet Hill Road to connect different parts of the campus, which makes me wonder what the campus could have looked like if this and other ambitious development plans had come to fruition.

Warwick's unique because...

It combines a top class research and teaching environment with the calm and tranquillity of its rural setting.

The best thing about working at Warwick is...

The people!

If I could change one thing at the University, it would be...

To include more social spaces for staff and students to mingle.

I've made use of...

Too many campus services to mention and I am grateful for the support of all of them.

My favourite place on campus is…

The Modern Records Centre – who doesn’t love an archive.

Enjoyed hearing from Sarah? Hear from some of our other Long Service Award recipients

"I was the first ever woman to be appointed to the Department of History, so have witnessed dramatic change in the Department and in the University as a whole. I teach a course on Gender, History and Politics and like to think that I am part of the story of advancing opportunities for women in all sectors."