Professor Cornel Sandvoss

The University of Sussex has appointed Professor Cornel Sandvoss as the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Media, Arts and Humanities from Monday 2 September.

Professor Sandvoss is currently Head of School of Arts at the University of Bristol. He has previously led schools and departments in Media, Humanities and Art and Design at the universities of Huddersfield and Plymouth.

Cornel began his research career with a Master of Arts in Media and Cultural Studies at the University of Sussex in 1995/96 and returned the following year to commence his doctoral studies under the supervision of Professor Roger Silverstone. After moving to the London School of Economics with Roger, Cornel held lectureships at the University of Cambridge, DeMontfort University, and the University of Surrey.

Cornel’s research focuses on fans, audiences and users across and beyond the spectrum of popular culture. His recent projects, which continue to draw on a rich network of fellow Sussex alumni as co-authors, explore forms of fandom in politics, as well as the ways in which audiences discover and select content in changing screen environments.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil, said: “Cornel’s love of Sussex and his enthusiasm to be part of the future development of the University were palpable in the interview process. His excellent interdisciplinary leadership skills will be of great benefit to the Faculty and the wider University community.”

Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, Professor Michael Luck, to whom the new Executive Deans will report, said: “Cornel’s appointment as our new Executive Dean of Media, Arts and Humanities is great news for the University. He brings a great depth of leadership experience and is already well connected with the Sussex community. Huge thanks to Professor Liz James for her excellent leadership of the School of MAH as Interim Dean, a role in which she will continue until Cornel arrives in September.”

Cornel said: “I am fantastically excited to be joining this excellent faculty with its rich and diverse range of disciplines and proud tradition of progressive, paradigm-shifting and discipline-shaping research and education that have impact far beyond academia.

“I had the good fortune of working closely with scholars in all but one of the subjects in the Faculty of Media, Arts and Humanities in previous leadership roles and I am looking forward to meeting colleagues across the Faculty in the coming months as we begin to meet the current challenges to our sector – and our disciplines in particular – together.

“Studying at Sussex – and meeting many great future colleagues while doing so – was deeply inspiring and the foundation of my academic career. The University continues to feel like my intellectual home and I could not be more delighted at the opportunity to contribute to its future success!”

What is the role of Executive Dean of the Faculty of Media, Arts and Humanities?

From September, the current School of Media, Arts and Humanities will become the Faculty of Media, Arts and Humanities (FoMAH), to align with the new Faculty model for the University. The School was created in 2020 by combining the Schools of Media, Film and Music; English; History, Art History and Philosophy; and the Sussex Centre for Language Studies. 

The Executive Dean will provide academic leadership and management of the Faculty to deliver the University’s vision, mission, and strategic aims. The Executive Deans of all four Faculties will also take responsibility for substantial University-wide change activities that may impact all academic areas. They will work as part of the University Executive Team to deliver the academic mission of the University, assuming collective responsibility for its strategic direction, development, and performance.