Professor Nigel Harkness

Nigel Harkness took up his post as Deputy-Vice-Chancellor in September 2024, and prior to that was the Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Humanities and the Social Sciences.

He 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.

Prior to becoming Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Nigel was Head of the School of Modern Languages, having joined the University in 2014. During his time as Head of School, he oversaw an increase in student enrolment by 25% against a national backdrop of decline in Modern Languages, as well as significant enhancement of the School’s research profile, with Newcastle Modern Languages researchers securing significant funding from both UK Research Councils and European Research schemes.

Nigel was previously Director of Education in the School of Modern Languages at Queen’s University Belfast. 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 also the current president of the Society of Dix-Neuviémistes, the UK scholarly association for nineteenth-century French studies.

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

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