Richard Grayson to join Birkbeck as Executive Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences

Oxford Brookes academic will join the University of London institution in September and oversee a faculty move into a newly refurbished home.

Professor Richard Grayson will join Birkbeck, University of London as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in September 2026

Birkbeck, University of London has appointed Professor Richard Grayson as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, with the Oxford Brookes University academic due to take up the role on September 1, 2026.

The appointment gives Birkbeck a new faculty leader across humanities, social sciences, creative arts, culture, communication, historical studies and counselling. Grayson will lead teaching, research, student recruitment and retention, while also overseeing the Faculty’s move into a newly refurbished home.

Birkbeck says the move will bring the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences under one roof for the first time since it was formed in 2023.

Grayson joins from Oxford Brookes University, where he was initially Head of the School of Education, Humanities and Languages and is currently Interim Dean of Research, Knowledge Exchange and Innovation in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

He said in a LinkedIn post that he had worked with “many excellent people” at Oxford Brookes over the past three and a half years, but was “delighted” to be moving to Birkbeck.

Faculty spans 16 subject areas

As Executive Dean, Grayson will lead a faculty spanning 16 subject areas across the School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication, the School of Historical Studies, the School of Social Sciences and the Birkbeck Centre for Counselling.

Birkbeck says Grayson brings experience in higher education leadership, teaching and research, alongside a commitment to widening participation.

Before joining Oxford Brookes in 2023, Grayson spent 18 years at Goldsmiths, University of London, where he worked first in the Politics Department and then in History. He headed both departments at different points, for a total of 10 years.

He has also taught at the University of East Anglia, the University of Oxford, the University of Buckingham and the Open University.

Research and education policy background

Grayson’s research focuses on twentieth century history. His publications include work on inter-war British foreign policy, Ireland’s First World War and the Irish Revolution, with studies focused on West Belfast and Dublin.

Birkbeck says a fifth monograph, focused on County Cork, is due to be published in the autumn. His research and writing have also covered subjects including Mods and Rockers in the 1960s and the history of the Channel Tunnel project.

His co-authored research on education policy in the Netherlands led to the introduction of the pupil premium for disadvantaged children in schools in England, according to Birkbeck.

Before academia, Grayson worked in national politics, including as director of a think tank and in policy development and speechwriting. He completed undergraduate study at the University of East Anglia and his doctorate at The Queen’s College, University of Oxford.

Birkbeck points to widening participation

Professor Grayson says: “I am hugely excited to join Birkbeck as Dean, particularly given its 200-plus year commitment to widening participation. I am strongly committed to excellence in teaching and research, and I am looking forward to developing the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences’ already thriving teaching and research environment.

“I am also relishing the chance to work in London again, which I believe to be the world’s greatest city. I know that Birkbeck is at heart of the London’s educational and cultural life, and I want it to grow as part of that.”

Professor Sally Wheeler, Vice-Chancellor of Birkbeck, University of London, adds: “I am delighted that we have appointed Professor Richard Grayson to head up our Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Birkbeck is proud of its long history of and expertise in teaching and research in the humanities and social sciences, which form a critical part of our offer as a multi-faculty university providing a high quality, University of London education, that students can fit around their busy lives.

“I look forward to welcoming Richard to Birkbeck and working with him to help ensure that Birkbeck’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences continues to be one of the best in the country.”