John Connolly appointed Director of Glasgow Caledonian University London

The public policy professor takes charge of Glasgow Caledonian University’s London campus after serving as Interim Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Vice Dean

Professor John Connolly began his role as Director of GCU London in July 2026

Glasgow Caledonian University has appointed Professor John Connolly as Director of GCU London, placing an academic with more than 20 years of higher education experience in charge of the university’s London campus.

Connolly began the role in July 2026 following a selection process led by the Scottish university. He moves into the position after serving as Interim Pro Vice Chancellor for Research from July 2025 and as Vice Dean from January 2024.

The appointment gives him responsibility for a campus operating within a university community of more than 22,000 students and 1,600 staff. Glasgow Caledonian University has campuses in Glasgow and London, as well as transnational partnerships in China, South Africa, Oman, Bangladesh and Mauritius.

Professor Mairi Watson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University, described the appointment as central to supporting staff in London and developing the campus’s work with the wider university and external organizations.

In the university’s LinkedIn announcement, Watson said: “This is a pivotal appointment in supporting London-based colleagues and driving the future success of GCU London, working in collaboration with the wider GCU community and external stakeholders.”

She added that Connolly’s “skill set, experience and wider GCU perspective made him the stand-out candidate for this important leadership role.”

Research leadership and public sector experience

Connolly’s route to the London directorship combines university management, research leadership and work in Scottish public services.

Before becoming Vice Dean, he held interim responsibility as Vice Dean and Associate Dean for Research from September 2023 to January 2024. He had previously served as Glasgow Caledonian University’s Head of Department of Social Sciences.

His academic work covers crisis management, policy analysis, evaluation, public administration and multi-level governance. Alongside the GCU London position, he is Chief Editorial Adviser for Routledge Open Research and an Expert Adviser to the Cabinet Office’s Evaluation and Trial Panel.

Connolly was previously Editor in Chief of Contemporary Social Science, the Academy of Social Sciences’ journal, after serving as its Associate Editor. He is also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Earlier in his career, he worked at the University of the West of Scotland as Professor of Public Policy and held an interim Assistant Dean role covering research and enterprise. His teaching experience also includes associate lecturer positions at the Open University, the University of Strathclyde and Glasgow Caledonian University.

His work outside higher education included positions as a Policy and Evaluation Adviser for NHS Health Scotland and an Educational Standards Adviser for Strathclyde Police. He has also led public sector capacity-building programs and worked on evaluations of health programs.

Connolly said he planned to work across the university’s two UK campuses, with partnerships and the experience of staff and students among his priorities.

“I am delighted to take on the role of Director of the GCU London and looking forward to working with colleagues in both London and Glasgow to strengthen our partnerships and to enhance the staff and student experience while supporting the significant ambitions of the University now and into the future,” he said in the LinkedIn announcement.

Connolly succeeds Professor Andrea Nelson, who had led GCU London over recent months. Watson thanked Nelson for her leadership and acknowledged London-based staff for their continued focus on supporting students.