The University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Russell Bentley to the new role of Assistant Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education).
Congratulating him on his appointment, Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Alex Neill says: “I am delighted that Russell is taking on the new role of Assistant Pro Vice-Chancellor. He has an exceptional record of providing educational leadership in the University, and will take a leading role in the development and delivery of our education strategy, particularly with regard to the enhancement of the curriculum.”
Dr Bentley is appointed to the post after working as Director of Programmes in Social Sciences and, previously, as Deputy Head (Education) in the School of Social Sciences.
Dr Bentley began his academic career as a Teaching Fellow at the London School of Economics before taking up a lectureship at Keele University. At Southampton, he has taken lead roles in curriculum design, innovations in assessment and delivery, and in developing new approaches to engagement and student recruitment. Prior to his academic career, Dr. Bentley held positions as Consultant and Senior Consultant with Deloitte, Arthur Young, and Booz Allen.
In addition to his management roles, Dr Bentley has maintained an active research career. His research interests are in theories of persuasion and deliberation in ancient and contemporary political thought and, more generally, the reception and transformation of Classical theories in the modern world. He has published articles and chapters on citizenship, political argument, and the moral psychological foundations of democratic theories. Commenting on his work, he says: “I am delighted to take on this new role and honoured that I have been asked to do so. The University of Southampton has always exemplified for me a civic community built on the excellence and integrity of our approach to research-led education. I look forward to advancing those values in my new role.”