Announcement: Head of School, Social Sciences, Professor Simone Dennis

Professor Dennis will bring 20 years of experience to the School in her discipline of Anthropology, particularly in everyday understandings of and responses to public health messaging and legislation, and the microscopic and mundane operations of power and governance in everyday life.  

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics Executive Dean, Professor John Williams, said he was overjoyed to welcome Simone to the faculty and school. 

"Simone is an expert in her field. Our students will benefit greatly from her exceptional background in social sciences,” he said. 

“I look forward to welcoming her to our wonderful university.” 

As the current ANU Associate Dean for Research Engagement, Impact and Innovation, and former Head of the School of Archaeology and Anthropology Professor Dennis is well experienced for the role. She holds degrees in Modern Asian Studies (Economics), Fine Arts (Art History and Painting) and a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Adelaide. She also brings a passion for involving students in research practice and is an advocate for bringing public imaginations of the future into academic view, so they can be worked on in concert to produce a better present.     

Simone said she is pleased to be joining the School. 

I’m thrilled to be returning to Adelaide, where I earned my PhD in Anthropology, and began my academic career as a tenured staff member in the Department. I’m really looking forward to bringing everything I’ve learned back to Adelaide and investing my energy into this role with colleagues old and new.  
 
Professor Dennis will commence her role on August 1 2022.