Dr Ben Middleton

I have 18 years of teaching experience, research, and leadership in higher education.

I returned to the University in 2023 as Head of School of Social Sciences and was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Education, Society and Creative Industries in 2024. I lead a Faculty with over 200 academic staff across a range of academic disciplines in Education, Social Work, Criminology, Policing, Arts, Media, and Creative Industries.

Prior to this, I have led a multidisciplinary department across Economics and Law at Glasgow Caledonian University and held a position at Teesside University as Head of Department for Criminology, Law and Policing. At Teesside, I set up the Professional Policing degree and worked alongside the College of Policing to provide training for senior officers.

I completed my PhD at Sunderland in 2012 and spent 11 years teaching and then leading the law provision. My PhD examines the way in which terrorism suspects can be dealt with in the UK and the USA. I have published in the UK and USA. My principal research interests are terrorism, human rights, and public law. I have also spent three years working in business.

I am excited to be leading the multi-disciplinary Faculty of Education, Society and Creative Industries, having joined such an outstanding team.