I am absolutely delighted to announce the four exceptional academic leaders who will lead our new Faculties and help drive forward the next phase of our transformation. Each brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment and vision to build on our excellence in teaching and research and deliver a more connected and collaborative culture.
The Executive Deans and their Faculties are as follows:
Professor Beth Lord – Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Beth comes to the role with a 20-year record of academic leadership, most recently as Head of the School of Divinity, History, Philosophy, and Art History. Previous roles include Head of Discipline and School Director of Postgraduate Research at Aberdeen, and Head of Department at the University of Dundee.
As Head of DHPA Beth has played a key role in discussions about the strategic configuration of the arts and humanities disciplines in the University’s organisational redesign. She has led the School to success in teaching and research, achieving outstanding results in NSS and research grant income and sustaining the University’s largest community of PGR students. She serves on cross-institution committees including REF Strategy Group, Race Equality Strategy Group, and the Interdisciplinary Institute steering group.
Beth’s teaching and research are in Philosophy, with a focus on early modern and recent continental thought. She is an internationally recognised expert in the work of 17th-century philosopher Baruch Spinoza, on whom she has published widely, led two UKRI-funded projects, and undertaken extensive public engagement and impact work.
Her research leadership is recognised nationally: she has been appointed Deputy Chair of the Philosophy sub-panel for REF 2029 and is a Trustee of the Royal Institute of Philosophy. She has extensive links with the arts and heritage sectors. She represents the University externally on Aberdeen City Council’s Cultural Industries Working Group and was instrumental in bringing two Cultural Entrepreneurs in Residence to the University.
Beth said:“I am excited to lead a Faculty that consolidates our outstanding research and teaching across arts and humanities. I care deeply about our disciplines and look forward to working with colleagues to create a collaborative and inclusive environment and a culture of intellectual endeavour that allow us to face the future with confidence.”
Professor John Skåtun – Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences
John has been Head of the University of Aberdeen Business School (UABS) since 2023.
Working with the School Executive, he has strengthened the School’s financial position to support its long-term sustainability.
John is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in both his leadership and research. His work includes publications relevant to gender equality, and he played a key role in recruiting the first female Professor of Economics at the University of Aberdeen. He has also promoted diversity within the School, reflected in a multicultural and gender-balanced executive team.
A committed researcher, John’s work spans gender equality, labour economics, health economics, corporate governance, and economic history. He has published in leading journals including Oxford Economic Papers, Economic Inquiry, British Journal of Industrial Relations, and the Journal of Health Economics. From 2014 to 2021, he served as Managing Editor of the Scottish Journal of Political Economy, increasing its impact factor from 0.286 to 1.017.
John said:“I am honoured to become the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences. I look forward to working with colleagues across the three Schools. Together I hope to enhance our combined strengths in a faculty built on excellence in teaching and research. The next few months will be a period of discovery as members and disciplines of the new Faculty come together to explore the synergies between the three Schools.”
Professor David Blackbourn - Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
David Blackbourn is a virologist and academic leader who became Head of the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition at the University of Aberdeen in July 2024.
His research has focused on understanding how viruses interact with and influence the human immune system, and how these insights can advance our understanding of human health and disease.
After eight years in the United States researching HIV and related viruses, he began his independent academic career at the University of Glasgow in 1999 before moving to the University of Birmingham. In 2013, he was appointed Head of the School of Biosciences and Medicine at the University of Surrey, and in January 2022 he became Director of the Institute of Medical Sciences at the University of Aberdeen.
In 2015, David co-founded Ducentis Biotherapeutics to develop innovative therapies for inflammatory diseases based on discoveries from his virology research. Drawing on his work in virus biology, he identified a molecule that was subsequently developed by Ducentis into a potential new medicine. The treatment is designed to reduce excessive immune responses and could help people living with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), psoriasis and eczema.
David said: “I am thrilled to be appointed Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences. I look forward to working closely with colleagues across the University to shape an exciting future and ensure the Faculty reaches its full potential.”
Professor Dave Muirhead - Faculty of Science and Engineering
Dave takes on the role of Executive Dean for the Faculty of Science and Engineering after nearly seven years as Head of School of Geosciences. During this time Dave led the School through significant success in NSS with several disciplines reaching first place and often maintained in the top five. He has also overseen diversification in education and research portfolios while creating a School-centred culture that has maintained discipline identity.
Dave started his full-time academic career as a Teaching Fellow and has won awards for teaching approaches in the University, developed pedagogic outputs and continues to coordinate a range of courses, both lab and field-based.
Dave’s research continues to be inter-disciplinary, from a pure geology background to applying Raman spectroscopy to a range of scenarios: understanding how hot rocks got in the geological past; the implications of modern and ancient peatland and forest fires; tentative work on microplastics; through to work with colleagues in Medical Sciences and Dentistry.
Dave said: “I’m delighted to take on this role and steward the Faculty in this next, critical stage for the University. Our Schools and Disciplines all have outstanding historical footings, with significant global reach with our teaching, research and commercialisation, leaving the Faculty well-placed to lead the discussion in many of society’s current challenges. I look forward to working creatively and collaboratively to provide an inspiring, collegiate and inclusive atmosphere in the Faculty of Science and Engineering.”
The Executive Deans will formally move into post on 1 October 2026. They will soon begin succession planning for the Head of School roles they will now vacate, and Schools will be updated as these plans develop.
I would like to congratulate all four Executive Deans and look forward to working closely with them as they join our new University Executive Board, which succeeds SMT. This is a key milestone in our transformation and further updates will follow shortly.
Best wishes
Peter Edwards
Principal and Vice-Chancellor