Professor Manali Desai appointed new Head of the School of the Humanities and Social Sciences

We are delighted to announce the important appointment of Newnham's Professorial Fellow Professor Manali Desai as the new Head of School of the Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Cambridge, effective from 1 October 2025. 

A Professorial Fellow of Newnham College, Desai was Head of the Department of Sociology at Cambridge between 2020 and 2024. She received her PhD in Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she specialised in comparative and historical sociology. She has taught at universities in the US and UK, most recently at the London School of Economics. 

Much of her work has focused on Indian politics and social movements, focusing on the transformation of identities and interests during the long transition from the colonial to post-colonial periods. Alongside this she examines ethnic and gendered violence, theories of crisis, with current research examining the persistence and transformation of caste in India in historical perspective.

“I am committed to raising the global profile of the humanities and social sciences at Cambridge, supporting cutting-edge cross-departmental initiatives that build on our vast and diverse expertise,” said Desai.

"This is a challenging time for universities, but equally there are opportunities to build and excel. There is much that we can do to increase the influence of our research locally, nationally and globally, drawing on the range of outstanding and innovative scholarship across the School.

"We have the resources to become a leading voice in discussions around pedagogy for the 21st century, harnessing the power of technology while remaining committed to the core values of a Cambridge education, namely, inclusive, globally relevant, research-led teaching.

“I will work to ensure that barriers to excellence in research and teaching are reduced, while ensuring that Council remains a site of collective and cooperative decision-making and deliberation.”

Professor Desai will succeed Professor Tim Harper, who has held the role since 2020, on 1 October 2025.

 

This article was first published by Ellie Hall on 3 July 2025 on the School of the Humanities and Social Sciences webpage.