News

John Ashworth to take over as new Dean of Colleges

(11 July 2006)

Mr John Ashworth, Principal of St Aidan’s College, Durham University, is to take over from Professor Tim Burt as Dean of Colleges in 2007.

John Ashworth, who is also a Reader in the Department of Economics, graduated from the University of Manchester in 1975 with a First Class Honours degree in Economics, and was awarded an MA (Econ) the following year. Following a year at the University of Stirling as Research Fellow, he took up appointment at Durham in 1977 as a Lecturer in Economics. He was promoted to Senior Lecturer in October 1996. He was appointed Principal of St Aidan’s College in 1998, continuing to hold his Senior Lectureship on a part-time basis. He was subsequently promoted to a Readership in 1999. He has been a QAA subject review specialist, for England (2000-2001) and Scotland (2002-2003). He was also President of Durham AUT from 2004 to 2005. In addition to these roles, he is currently Deputy Dean of Colleges and Student Support Services. His research interests include Public Choice, the Economics of Education and the Education of Economists. He was a member of the Executive Board of the European Public Choice Society from 2002 to 2005. The Dean of Colleges is appointed from among the heads of the colleges, and represents the Colleges Division of the University on the University Executive Committee and other senior bodies. The Colleges Division covers all aspects of college activity ranging from student support, admissions, and the student experience, to important commercial activity such as conference trade. Mr Ashworth, who will hold the title of ‘Dean Elect’ until the handover date, said that he was “delighted and looking forward to the challenges.” Professor Burt is staying on as Dean for one further year, having already served for an extra year beyond the normal three-year term, before returning to his post as Master of Hatfield College and Professor of Geography.