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University announces two more Executive Deans

5085 / JA 6th June 2008

• Latest senior appointments confirmed
  
  
• Prof Dan Howard to lead Performance, Arts and Media
  
  
• Prof Christopher Prince heads Business School

Birmingham City University has announced two more appointments to the position of Executive Dean.

Professor Dan Howard has been chosen to lead the new faculty covering Performance, Arts and Media, including Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham School of Acting, Media and Communication and English. Dan will commence his employment with Birmingham City University on August 1, 2008.

Dan is currently Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Media, Art and Communications at the University of Gloucestershire. 

In his four years at Gloucestershire, his faculty secured Skillset Media Academy designation with FE partners from the sub-region. Other initiatives included the re-launch of the Viewfinder Film Festival, the establishment of the Cheltenham Illustration Awards, a significant expansion of the course portfolio and achievement of Investors In People status. 

Dan was also a founder board member of the Cheltenham Screenwriting Festival.  Following a ten year career in industry, he worked at Plymouth Polytechnic and subsequently Bournemouth University, rising to become Deputy Head of the Bournemouth Media School.

Professor Christopher Prince has been appointed to the post of Executive Dean for the Business School.  Chris has a provisional starting date of September 1.

Chris is the Head of The Derbyshire Business School and Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Business, Computing and Law at the University of Derby, having previously held senior academic posts at Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University.

He has over 18 years experience of designing and delivering in-company education and training for a wide range of private and public sector organisations in the UK and overseas.

He has spoken at numerous conferences and events on management education and training and has published extensively in these areas.  Chris acts as an advisor to a number of leading blue chip companies, and is a member of the Association of Business Schools’ Executive Committee, and the Chair of the Management, Organisation and Community Development Steering Committee. 

He has served as a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Strategic Change, and sits on the Advisory Board of the Annual Conference of Management and Executive Development in the USA.  

Earlier this week the University announced that Chris O’Neill would take over as Executive Dean of Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD).

Professor David Tidmarsh, Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham City University, said: “I am delighted to be able to announce these latest appointments. Both Dan and Chris bring with them enormous experience and a shared ambition to put this university at the forefront of educational excellence.”

Meanwhile Professor Ian Oakes, Acting Dean in the Technology Innovation Centre (tic), Millennium Point, will leave the University at the end of July.  He has accepted an offer from the University of Wolverhampton to become Pro-Vice-Chancellor Regional Development.

Professor Tidmarsh added: “This is an excellent opportunity for Ian and one that is well deserved.”

For further information please contact Birmingham City University Media Relations Office on 0121 331 6738, email press@bcu.ac.uk or out of hours on 07967 271 532.

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