“I am delighted and honoured to be appointed as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Humanities at King’s. I look forward to working with colleagues across the Faculty and University, and to championing a positive vision for our research and teaching. At a time of considerable challenge across the sector, it has never been more important to demonstrate the ongoing value of arts and humanities in contemporary society.”
Professor Abigail Williams, incoming Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Humanities (A&H)
24 June 2025
New Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Humanities
Professor Abigail Williams has been appointed as the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Humanities
Professor Abigail Williams has been appointed as the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Humanities, effective from 1 January 2026.
A Professor of English Literature, Abigail is joining us from the University of Oxford where she is currently the Associate Head of Research and Innovation for the Humanities Division and leads on strategic oversight of research and innovation activity across nine faculties and departments.
Abigail’s research interests have generated a number of collaborative projects, in the museum and heritage sectors and in creative industries. She writes and presents on cultural topics for BBC Radio 4, and her most recent BBC Radio 4 series include, Pride or Prejudice: How We Read Now (2022) and I Feel Therefore I Am (2023). She is a non-executive director of Oxford University Innovation, a trustee of the St Peter’s College Foundation from 2016-2021, and a trustee of the Museum of the Home in Hoxton from 2015-23.
This is an exciting appointment for King’s and I’m delighted that Professor Abigail Williams will be joining us at the start of 2026. Abigail brings valuable experience in knowledge sharing, innovation, impact, and building partnerships. Her leadership will help drive the Faculty’s vision, combining tradition with fresh thinking in shaping the future of the UK Arts and Humanities disciplines as we deliver King’s Strategy 2030 and enter our third century as a University.
Professor Rachel A. Mills CBE, Senior Vice President (Academic)