City, University of London has appointed Professor Anna Whitelock to be Executive Dean of its new School of Communication & Creativity

By City Press Office (City Press Office), Published

Professor Anna Whitelock has been appointed as Executive Dean of City, University of London’s newly formed School of Communication & Creativity.

The appointment follows Professor Whitelock’s successful spell as Interim Dean of the former School of Arts & Social Sciences, which now splits into two new and more agile Schools – the other being the School of Policy & Global Affairs.

Prof Anna Whitelock

Professor Anna Whitelock is an eminent public historian and broadcaster, as well as an accomplished leader, having previously led the biggest History department in the UK at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Professor Whitelock is an international media commentator on modern monarchy, public history and heritage, and the Tudors and Stuarts.

She is the Principal Investigator on a major international AHRC project: The Visible Crown: Queen Elizabeth II in the Caribbean: 1952-present which is hosted at City.

Professor Whitelock said:

“I couldn’t be more excited by the opportunity to create a world leading School of Creativity and Communication. Creativity and Communication are the keys to innovation and transformation. Creativity makes global communities more vibrant, more innovative and more human. Communication inspires action, promotes understanding and challenges us to think in new ways.

Based in the heart of London, the School will be a leading centre for practice, performance and critical conversations among scholars, industry leaders, performers, journalists and the general public. We want to welcome artists and creatives for periods of residency, to offer masterclasses and to develop innovative, interdisciplinary practice-led research.

I am committed to creating a School which offers an excellent, transformative, inclusive home for exceptional talent from all backgrounds. We will be a diverse community of journalists, storytellers, musicians, performers, truth tellers, artists and activists, who want to change the world and have fun while we are doing it.”

Under Professor Whitelock’s stewardship, the School will align related academic disciplines for the benefit of students and our staff, with a clear external orientation towards, practice and the professions

Professor Sir Anthony Finkelstein, President, City, University of London said:

“I am delighted that Anna has taken on the important role of Executive Dean in our new School of Communication & Creativity. Anna is bold, creative and boasts a strong record of success both within and beyond academia that makes her a great fit for the School.

“The new School and Anna’s appointment builds on our commitment to expanding our creative and performing arts offer, as evidenced by our recent acquisition of leading dance and musical theatre conservatoire, Urdang.”

About the School of Communication & Creativity

City’s School of Communication & Creativity is a socially engaged and politically conscious centre of educational excellence and world-changing interdisciplinary research which shapes and influences professional practice.

It supports and develops the next generation of practitioners and entrepreneurs who work across the cultural, creative, music, heritage and media sectors. The School is deeply committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and is working to transform these sectors by educating and empowering students from under-represented backgrounds, and supporting them to excel.

The School brings together its renowned Department of Journalism, with two new Departments: a Department of Media, Culture and Creative Industries; and a Department of Performing Arts – which incorporates the recently-acquired Urdang, one of the UK’s finest performing arts colleges, specialising in musical theatre and dance.

The School’s students come together from around the world, and diverse educational and cultural backgrounds. Their talent and practical skills are nurtured in the School’s outstanding facilities, with first-class teaching and student-centred support.

London is a global hub for culture and creativity, and City’s location promises an unparalleled student experience, with world-leading cultural institutions and creative organisations on the doorstep. This not only enriches student learning, but also helps the School to build strong links for internships and employment pathways in these sectors.

The School boasts sector-leading facilities. Its Journalism studios and newsrooms were developed in consultation with experts from the BBC and ITN, and its specialist music studio spaces are fitted with the latest industry-standard equipment. As a result, students gain unrivalled experience of real-world workplaces, developing practical skills which enhance their employability after graduation. The School’s graduates have the skills and vision to transform their industries and change the world.

The School’s mission is:

  • To build understanding through education, practice, and discovery
  • To prepare students to lead, to adapt, and to share their voices in a transformational media world
  • To create creative entrepreneurs who want to find their own voice and forge their own path
  • To generate knowledge through research and practice
  • To nurture a culture that is rich in diversity, critical thinking, and creative expression
  • To champion communication grounded in truth, authenticity, effectiveness, and purpose.

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