Professor Nigel Harkness

Nigel Harkness took up his post as Deputy Vice-Chancellor in September 2024. As DVC, Nigel has a remit to support the implementation of the University's Vision & Strategy and to ensure that our ambitions are met and our core values are evidenced in all that we do, promoting a positive institutional culture. He is responsible for academic leadership of strategy, planning, budgeting and resources across all of our core missions, and leads on strategic projects that span the portfolios of other members of Executive Board.

Nigel joined Newcastle University in 2014 as Head of the School of Modern Languages, and became Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in September 2018. In these roles, he led on the enhancement of the School and Faculty’s education portfolio and its research profile, with a particular focus on strengthening collaboration across Schools and Faculties. As one of the key budget holders in the University, he oversaw significant growth in student numbers in the Faculty, and investment in infrastructure including the refurbishment of the Faculty’s largest building, the Henry Daysh Building.

Prior to joining Newcastle, Nigel was at Queen’s University Belfast where he was Director of Education in the School of Modern Languages.

Nigel completed his MA and PhD at the University of Edinburgh, and has published widely on nineteenth-century French literature and culture, in particular the work of George Sand. Current research projects include a monograph on Literature and Sculpture, for which he received research funding from the British Academy, and an edition of one of Sand’s novels for the Champion edition of Sand’s Œuvres completes.

A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy since 2001, he has held numerous External Assessor roles in Modern Languages with universities across the country. He is a former president of the Society of Dix-Neuviémistes, the UK scholarly association for nineteenth-century French studies. Current roles include membership of the British Academy’s Strategic Committee on Modern Languages, and the Research England Advisory Group for the School of Advanced Studies at the University of London.

Email: nigel.harkness@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: 0191 208 5769

Executive Assistant: claire.marley@ncl.ac.uk