Professor Elizabeth (Buzz) Harrison

Professor Elizabeth (Buzz) Harrison has been appointed to a key leadership role supporting the University's new strategy - Sussex 2035: Creating Progressive Futures: Flourishing, Sustainability and Progress for the Whole World. 

Professor Harrison, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Experience) and formerly the Head of the School of Global Studies, has been appointed as the inaugural Dean of the new Sussex School for Progressive Futures (SSPF). She will start this new role on 1 March 2025.

The SSPF will be a flagship hub to catalyse and coordinate a distinctive, world-changing programme of interdisciplinary education, research and innovation, and global and civic engagement in relation to the Sussex 2035 strategic themes of environmental sustainability, human flourishing, and digital and data futures.

Buzz has been at Sussex since completing a Masters at the University in 1988. She is Professor of Anthropology and International Development in the School of Global Studies. Between 2018 and 2023 she was Head of School for Global, and Social Science representative on the University Executive Group. Prior to this she was Head of International Development over a six-year period and she also held the role of the School's Director of Recruitment and Admissions for three years.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Sasha Roseneil said: “The new Sussex School for Progressive Futures will grow exciting new interdisciplinary programmes of teaching, research and external engagement that build on long-standing Sussex strengths – and I cannot think of a better person to lead this than Buzz, whose commitment to, and passion for, the future of Sussex and our students is second to none.

“The new School is key to our new University strategy, Sussex 2035: Creating Progressive Futures – flourishing, sustainability and progress for the whole world. We will be embarking on this new path for Sussex in the context of a challenging external landscape for universities, and in challenging times for our students. They are facing a world of rapid technological change, environmental crisis, and global conflict. We feel a keen sense of responsibility to enable our students to flourish in uncertain times, and SSPF will help equip our young people for global citizenship - speaking up and being heard in a world that needs their creativity and critical thinking more than ever. SSPF will also provide a locus for interdisciplinary research and external engagement in relation to environmental sustainability, human flourishing, and digital and data futures. Buzz has exactly the track record of academic leadership that is needed to establish SSPF, and I am delighted to have appointed her to this critical role.”

Buzz said: “I am very excited to be taking on the role of inaugural Dean of the new Sussex School for Progressive Futures. The vision that is set out for the School in our Sussex 2035 Strategy is ambitious, but I strongly believe that it is what Sussex needs to enable it to be more than the sum of its parts - and to help us to regain our distinctive identity. Developing new ways of supporting and nurturing excellent interdisciplinary teaching and research, with global and civic citizenship at its heart, the SSPF has enormous potential to reshape Sussex’s identity as an institution that makes a positive difference globally.

“Having been at Sussex for most of my academic life, I both love and understand the University, including both its immense strengths and current challenges. In my role as Dean, I will work with colleagues and students from across the University to find the best model to realise the School’s vision.”

Buzz will hold the role until 31 August 2026, after which Professor Graeme Pedlingham, who is currently Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience), will take over as Dean for a period of three years.