New head for School of Humanities

The University of Adelaide has appointed a new Head for its School of Humanities.

Professor Mark Harris is currently a Professor of Historical Anthropology at the University of St Andrews, Scotland.

“After a worldwide search, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Mark Harris as the new Head of School of Humanities,” said the University of Adelaide’s Professor John Williams, Executive Dean, Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics.

“The School of Humanities is critical to the University of Adelaide and I am thrilled with Mark’s appointment.

“Mark will bring his diverse experience across the humanities to benefit the School as well as the whole University.

“I look forward to working with him closely to ensure our students and staff in the humanities continue to succeed.”

Professor Harris’s research is with the diverse kinds of people of the Brazilian Amazon and aims to connect with their struggles for social justice, territory and land rights, and environmental balance. His wider interests include ethnohistory, environmental anthropology, and political ecology.

“I am eager to focus on the distinctive contribution the Humanities at Adelaide can make to the lives of future generations."Professor Mark Harris, Head of School of Humanities, University of Adelaide.

The School of Humanities comprises a number of different disciplines to innovate, create and revolutionise the world. Students graduate with the knowledge and experience to analyse historically, philosophically and politically about the world, societies and cultures.

“As Head of School I will aim to raise the profile of the outstanding humanities research and teaching in the Faculty, University and beyond,” he said.

“I am eager to focus on the distinctive contribution the Humanities at Adelaide can make to the lives of future generations.

“I am thrilled to be joining the University at this important moment in its history. Most of all, I look forward to working with my new colleagues in the School and the wider Faculty and to taking the School forward to a new and exciting period.”

The School of Humanities is made up of five departments: English, Creative Writing and Film; Media; Philosophy; European Languages and Linguistics and Historical and Classical Studies.

Professor Harris was Head of the School of Philosophical, Anthropological Film Studies at St Andrews from 2017 to 2022.

He will commence his role in May 2023.