I was educated at a northern comprehensive school before receiving a first class degree in history at Christ’s College. This was followed by a PhD in American history and two years as a visiting scholar at the Johns Hopkins University. After a period as a Research Fellow, I was appointed to a post with the Board of Extra-Mural Studies (now ICE) where I served until 2018. During my time there I was the founding Course Director for the very successful MSt degree in International Relations, run in collaboration with POLIS. My academic interests and teaching have mainly centred around the history of the United States, its foreign relations and the history of international relations. I have been Senior Tutor of Selwyn College since 2016 and before that had been successively Dean, Tutor for Postgraduate students and Admissions Tutor as well as having been a Director of Studies since 1990. During my time as Admissions Tutor I served as Chair of the intercollegiate Admissions Forum and then as Director of Admissions for the Cambridge Colleges. In my current role I am a member of the STC Business Committee, the Standing Committee on Student Finance and Welfare and of the Examination Access and Mitigation Committee.
My main interests as a member of Council include contributing to a harmonious and productive relationship between the Colleges and the rest of the University, widening participation at both undergraduate and postgraduate entry, ensuring fairness in appointments and promotions, and support for postgraduate students and early career scholars.