Professor Seán Hand has been appointed as Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Europe) with effect from Friday 1st December 2017. In his new role, Seán will work closely with Warwick’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Stuart Croft, and Professor Simon Swain, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (External Engagement), to extend and deepen our relationships with European university partners, and to pursue opportunities for funding, student mobility, and European research and teaching collaboration.

Seán was previously the first Head of the School of Modern Languages and Cultures from 2014 to 2016. He joined Warwick as a Professor of French Studies in 2005, and was Head of the Department of French Studies from 2008 to 2011. He has a B.A. (M.A. Oxon) and a D. Phil. from the University of Oxford, and an MBA and a D.Litt. from the University of Warwick. Among his publications, he has written, edited or translated nine books, acted as general editor of a series of ten critical collections, and guest edited four special journal issues.

Seán has an impressive and geographically wide-ranging set of international credentials. He was made a Chevalier des Palmes Académiques by the French Government in 2004, and he is an invited member of the Academia Europæa. In addition to being Dean of the University of Warwick in California, he has been an Honorary Professor of Monash University in Australia, and a Visiting Fellow at the National University of Singapore. He has been an assessor for the Irish Research Council, the Israel Science Foundation, and the South African National Research Foundation. He sits on several international advisory and editorial boards and is a recognised European Commission expert evaluator. He has regularly been interviewed and consulted by press, radio, television and professional associations about contemporary French society and culture, and international capability. He is also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He speaks several European languages.

Seán said:

As a committed internationalist I am naturally very pleased to have been asked to undertake this new role at Warwick. Our future academic and research relations with European partners are clearly an urgent and crucial issue for us all. It is important for us to secure as much continuity as possible; but we also have the opportunity to build a coherent and dynamic set of key relationships with our opposite numbers across Europe.”

Commenting on the new role, Professor Simon Swain said:

This is a vital and timely appointment. Seán’s profile and skills make him the ideal person to lead this fundamental aspect of Warwick’s future. His pivotal role will further our European strategy, reaffirm our commitment to European ideals and values, and demonstrate support for all our staff, colleagues and students from and in Continental Europe. It is particularly apposite that Seán is spending the very first day of his appointment in Venice, as part of the University delegation celebrating the 50th anniversary of the University’s programmes of teaching in that iconic European city.”