Congratulations to Professor Simon Gilson who will take up the role of Chair of the Faculty of Arts from 1 September 2015.

Simon Gilson has been a Professor in School of Modern Languages and Cultures since 2010, and served as Head of the Italian Department from 2006-09 and then Head of the Sub-Faculty of Modern Languages from 2012-14. He studied at Leeds and Cambridge, and held an academic appointment at the University of Leeds prior to joining Warwick in 1999.

Professor Gilson has been involved in a number of major collaborative research projects in the fields of Dante and Renaissance studies. He is joint Senior Editor of the journal Italian Studies and the General Editor of the monograph series 'Italian Perspectives' (Legenda). He has been an elected council member of the Dante Society of America, Harvard (2005-07) and is an nominated honorary member of the Italian Dante Society in Florence (2008-).

The role of the Faculty Chair

In addition to Chairing the Board of the Faculty, Chairs of Faculties serve on a range of University committees and are responsible for promoting the policies, programmes and procedures within their respective Faculty. Faculty Chairs are also a source of support and act as ‘first port of call’ for Heads of departments and research centres in the relevant Faculty and act as an advocate for the interests of the Faculty within the University and with external parties. Faculty Chairs also advise, inform and influence the Faculty on key decisions affecting it and the University, including, through negotiation on behalf of the Faculty, the prioritisation of requests for academic resourcing and supporting the University Strategy.

Faculty Chairs are also engaged in the appointment processes for key academic posts within the Faculty. Chairs serve ex officio on the following formal bodies: Senate, Steering Committee, Research Committee, Honorary Degrees Committee, Academic Quality and Standards Committee, Information Policy and Strategy Committee, Capital, Space and Amenities Group, the Academic Resourcing Committee, and may also act as Chair of the Investigating Committee and Appeals Committee.