New Vice-President and Executive Dean for Humanities and Social Sciences

Over the last twelve months, Professor Todman has been the Acting Vice-President for the Faculty. In that time, he has delivered change within the Faulty and beyond, which promotes the University’s key objectives, particularly in relation to the Teaching Excellence Framework 2027 and Research Excellence Framework 2029.  

Professor Todman joined Queen Mary as a Lecturer in 2003. In 2019 he was made Head of History, and in 2023, was made Deputy Vice-President for the Faculty, before taking up the role of Acting Vice-President last year.  

Professor Todman said: “I am incredibly proud to have been appointed to this role. Having worked at Queen Mary for over 20 years, I have had the privilege to see it go from strength to strength, provide a world-class education to students from around the world, and to work and carry out research with some of the brightest minds around.  

“In this role, I am excited to lead the Faculty into the future by building on our past successes and ensuring we continue to keep students at the heart of what we do, while also working with colleagues across the University to support Queen Mary in achieving its strategic aims.” 

Speaking on the appointment, Professor Colin Bailey, CBE, President and Principal of Queen Mary said: “I am confident that Dan’s passion and pace will deliver vibrant long-term sustainability for humanities and social sciences at Queen Mary. His inspiring vision of the Faculty making ‘a positive difference at scale’ for our students, colleagues and the wider community, aligns exactly with our mission of opening the doors of opportunity through excellence.” 

As Vice-President and Executive Dean for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor Todman will continue to work with Heads of School and the wider community of colleagues to drive the required change in the Faculty and, as a member of the executive team, across the University, so that Queen Mary will continue to thrive and be relevant at a time when universities across the UK face deep challenges and uncertainties. 

Professor Todman’s research focuses on the history of the two world wars and their remembrance. His most recent book, Britain's War 1942-1947: A New World, is available now.  

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