This week, we get to know Professor Matthew Humphreys, Executive Dean of the School of Law and Social Sciences and Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Quality & Standards). Matthew joined Royal Holloway in 2017, and is currently working towards more in-person research creative spaces. Read on to find out more about Matthew and his work.
1.) Please tell us more about yourself and your role
I’ve been at Royal Holloway since 2017 – having previously worked at UEL, Kingston and Surrey Universities. I joined a number of people I’d previously worked with, including Robert Jago, Jane Marriott and Bob O’Keefe all of whom I’d known from Surrey. The Executive Dean role – in Law and Social Sciences at least – facilitates the bringing together of subjects which explore equalities, the systems that hold society together and social relationships. We are very people-focussed and it is an interesting school with very interesting people – I really enjoy my interactions with student and staff in the School. The Quality and Standards role is one that ensures student outcomes and our courses are what they should be. It is a privilege to work with those leading the education offer across this institution’s subject mix.
2.) What do you enjoy most about working at Royal Holloway?
For a smaller institution, we have a remarkable variety and there is always something new going on. In my various roles I spend a lot of time prompting people to do things differently or asking what are probably annoying questions, so people may be surprised to know I actually think the quality of what we do is really good. And I like things being done well!
3.) What are you looking to achieve in your role over the next six months?
In Law and Social Sciences we have a challenge around consistent and high student satisfaction. We are focussed on this and it is broader than the National Student Survey (NSS) action plans because it is about the sort of academic environment we want to be. I am also interested in bringing people back together in research creative spaces – something about the pandemic is still impacting on collaboration. Some colleagues in Economics recently organised a really interesting event around the thinking in subjects where there are Nobel prizes and it struck me that we have not done enough of this bringing people together to talk about their academic work. In the Quality and Standards space we are going to tackle our over complicated taught course regulations and there will be lots to do on the curriculum and portfolio as we take forward the work Professor Zainab Khan has been leading on.
4.) What or who inspires you inside and/or outside of work?
I think we should all aspire to be Seven of Nine. In the real world, I am not sure this counts as inspiration, or is just calming, but I do like gardening and messing about with plants. The planting schemes at Royal Holloway are always stunning and I always enjoy looking at what the grounds people are doing with plants and their design ideas to make things better for everyone on campus.
5.) How do you like to spend your free time outside of work?
I enjoy paddleboarding and kayaking – the sea is just at the end of the road where I live and I love being out on the water. In winter I adore skiing on a bright clear day, particularly if we can get there for first tracks. My husband isn’t exactly an early riser so this can take a bit of negotiation!