August 2013 sees a new Head at the School of European Culture and Languages (SECL). Professor Laurence Goldstein, who has been in post for six years, will hand on the baton to Professor Shane Weller.
Laurence will be taking well-earned research leave in autumn 2013. In addition to his new role as Head of School, Shane will continue to teach in the Department of Comparative Literature, but is handing over his duties as School Director of Postgraduate Studies (Research) to Dr Antonio Lázaro-Reboll.
As incoming Head, Shane praised Laurence’s achievements as Head of School: ‘During Laurence’s six years as Head of SECL, the School has gone from strength to strength. Our departments now regularly achieve top-10 rankings in the National Student Survey, and in the most recent The Guardian University Guide Classics at Kent was ranked 8th in the UK, Archaeology 11th, and Modern Languages 14th. Laurence’s tireless efforts as Head of School have played a major part in making these achievements possible.’
And Laurence endorsed the new Head of School when summing up his time leading SECL: ‘Shane is admirably well organised and efficient, and these are invaluable assets to bring to the complicated job of being Head of a multi-disciplinary School. I have found the School to be an interesting and happy environment in which to work, and, under Shane’s guidance, we are set to proceed onward and upward.’
So thank you, Laurence, and welcome to Shane.