The BSA is delighted to announce that Professor Susan Halford has been elected to serve as the BSA’s next President. Susan is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Web Science Institute at the University of Southampton. As Professor Lynn Jamieson’s successor, Susan begins her term of office in January 2018. On hearing the news, Professor Halford said “I am thrilled and honoured to be elected and very much looking forward to the next three years”.

In nominating Susan, Professor Mike Savage (London School of Economics) said, “Professor Susan Halford has been a loyal BSA member and activist since 1992. She sat on the Work, Employment and Society Editorial Board from 2001-4; and was a BSA Trustee from 2004-7, serving as co-Chair of the Publications Committee which oversaw crucial renegotiation of the SAGE contract, the establishment of Cultural Sociology and the wider management of sometimes difficult relations between stakeholders in BSA publication activities. In 2015 she convened the Digital Sociology study group contribution to the BSA Guidance on Research Ethics. She is a regular at BSA conferences.”

“As President, Susan would be a committed and passionate spokesperson for British sociology who will command respect within and beyond the discipline, in the UK and internationally. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Science (2007) and the Royal Academy of Arts (2016).  Her recent work on digital data, artefacts and methods has been highly influential (winning the 2014 BSA/SAGE Sociology prize) and has established the value of sociological expertise in computational education and research. A recent Head of Department, Susan has first-hand experience of the challenges of REF, student recruitment, teaching, and other performance metrics. Grounded in her experience as an organizational sociologist, she has a strong track record of supporting equality, inclusivity and participation, understanding that these drive productive and forward looking organizations. Her extensive record in doctoral supervision and programme direction makes her perfect for engaging younger sociologists. Susan is a consummate professional who would be an outstanding ambassador and advocate for the discipline.”