Dear All

This is my final message of the academic year, and I shall keep it short and sweet! Writing this message is my final task before I head off on holiday for some much-needed rest and relaxation.

The end of July marked my second year in post. Each is different although they are always busy. The last 12 months has seen the arrival of Duncan Ivison as President and Vice-Chancellor and the launch of the Manchester 2035 strategy consultation exercise. I would like to thank everyone who participated in the workshops and sprints in which I was involved. They were interesting and fun.

July has been a bittersweet month. Graduations were full of joy as always and the pride of students and their families, friends and supporters was readily apparent.

The death of Lord David Alliance was very sad news. Along with Duncan, Director of Development and Alumni Relations Kate Cambden, and Rabbi Eli Simon, I had the privilege of attending the last night of his shiva in a beautiful synagogue in London. Speeches by his family including his granddaughter, son-in-law, and finally his son Joshua, were very moving. Joshua is an alumnus having completed an undergraduate degree in Sociology here.

I hope we retain links with the family. I remember the very special time, now 10 years ago, when Lord Alliance made a substantial donation to AMBS which we named in his honour.

This email is the opportunity to thank some special colleagues. On behalf of the Faculty Leadership Team, I would like to thank Juup Stelma for his superb contribution as Head of SEED this year. As ever, SEED did very well in the NSS and it is a model of good practice for us all. He tells me he has enjoyed his time in post and has now agreed to be Deputy Head of the School.

I will look forward to working with new Head of School Khalid Nadvi, whose first day in post starts today. With considerable experience in leadership roles, he will surely step into the role with ease.

In addition, I would like to thank all the Heads of Department who have now completed their tenure. These are Antony Potter in Management Sciences and Marketing, Felicia Chan in Drama, Larissa Fast in the HCRI, Philip Hughes in Geography, Chris Wallace in Economics, and Arek Wisniowski in Social Statistics. Thank you also to Anne McBride for covering the People, Management and Organisations Head of Department role.

I am looking forward to working with the new Heads of Department. They are respectively Michelle Carter, Kate Dorney, Nicholas Lemay-Herbert, Will Fletcher, Akos Valentinyi, and Todd Hartman. Welcome also to Sheena Johnson, who will act as interim PMO Head of Department.

My holiday is in northern Spain. I will enjoy swimming in the sea, visiting national parks and visiting the Picos de Europa mountain range (which will be scary as I do not have a head for heights!) My academia tome to read this year will be Power and Progress by Darren Acemoglu and Simon Johnson (our most recent Nobel Prize Winner). I plan to finish Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo too.

I hope everyone has a good break sometime over the summer. It is very important to have the opportunity to unwind and return refreshed. Stay safe and well. Thank you.

Regards Fiona

Professor Fiona Devine, Vice-President and Dean, Faculty of Humanities