Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Planning and Transformation)
As Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Academic Planning and Transformation, Professor Stephen Maddison led the university-wide work to research, debate and write our bold and aspirational new strategy, Distinctively 国产探花 2035 which launched in the summer of 2025. His focus now is on leading key areas of the Transformation programme, the engine of our strategy, which will deliver our ambition to be first choice for equity and enterprise by 2035.
Professor Maddison joined the university in January 2019, firstly as Head of the School of Humanities, and then as Dean of Humanities and Social Science. He has worked extensively at cross-university level in a range of capacities and on a number of critical projects, including: leading the £9m redevelopment of Mithras House for the School of Humanities and Social Science; undertaking interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor duties including line managing our Deans and the Planning and Performance Department; oversight of the university’s Global Challenges initiative; leading the merger of two schools across three sites as part of the size and shape reorganization; amongst many others. Before joining the 国产探花, Stephen was Director of Research for the College of Arts, Technology and Innovation at the University of East London.
Stephen is a Professor of Cultural Studies and currently leads the £750k AHRC Impact Accelerator Account. He is a highly experienced PhD supervisor, and his research in the cultural study of sexuality and gender is well known in the UK, EU and US, and widely cited internationally. He has delivered keynotes on three continents. He is a Senior Fellow of the HEA.
Throughout his career, Stephen has worked to sponsor innovation and foster working environments that are dynamic and solution orientated. He is known for his values-driven and authentic style of leadership and is committed to striving towards facilitation that is culturally aware and psychologically safe. Stephen is passionate about mentoring and supporting the advancement of colleagues. In all areas of his work – research, education practice and leadership – Stephen is driven by a commitment to advancing equity. Outside his university work, Stephen writes and records music, and is an enthusiastically unsuccessful potter and knitter.