Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Election

“Being a member of the university’s Senate has been a privilege and an incredibly meaningful experience for me. It has given me the opportunity not only to contribute to important discussions but also to represent and amplify the views of colleagues and communities across the university. I have particularly valued being able to bring my experience of teaching and of EDI into these conversations helping to advocate for a socially just and inclusive university."

- Dr Ioanna Kapantai, Senior Lecturer Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Professor Greta Bosch

Thank you for considering my statement. I have worked for our institution for 25 years. During this time, I have developed a deep understanding of our institution’s strengths, values and the challenges it faces. I feel this understanding and my dedication to education places me well to serve colleagues effectively at Senate level, particularly considering the government’s post-16 education and skills white paper (October 2025).

I bring institutional memory and sustained experience in governance and strategy. I have consistently contributed to departmental, faculty and institutional decision making through a wide range of committees and boards. Such institutional memory is particularly valuable at a time of change. I will support measured, evidence-based innovations that strengthen teaching and research strategy.

From my profile you can see that collaboration runs through all my work. I have collaborated widely across departments, beyond the institution and across all career stages. I will represent colleagues fairly, and will ensure that a wide perspective contributes to Senate discussions.
I would hope that I am known for my strong sense of integrity, duty, responsibility and balance. I will contribute this to serve our community, our strategy and continued success.

Dr Tiago de Melo Cartaxo

As an academic working in Environmental Law and Justice, I am standing for Senate to ensure that our academic strategy remains ambitious, inclusive, and deeply connected to the global challenges we research and teach. Since joining the University, I have led several endeavours focusing on promoting a vibrant, inclusive, sustainable and interdisciplinary community, such as the Exeter Centre for Environmental Law, my work as Associate Director in the Environment and Sustainability Institute, or as Department Director of PGR.
My candidacy is built on three core pillars:
1. Campus Integration and Representation: My work across both Exeter and Cornwall campuses gives me a unique perspective on the diverse needs of our academic community. I will advocate for equitable resource allocation and ensure that the voices of colleagues at all our campuses (Streatham, Penryn, St Luke’s, and Truro) are central to Senate deliberations.
2. Lived Experience in EDI: As an immigrant, a person living with Type 1 Diabetes, and a parent of small children, I bring a first-hand understanding of the invisible barriers to progression and wellbeing that can affect staff and students in their everyday lives. I will be a tireless advocate for a university culture that is truly accessible, internationally minded, and supportive of health and wellbeing for everyone.
3. Governance and Strategic Oversight: My experience with international, EU, national and local governments has equipped me with the strategic skills required to scrutinise complex policies with effectiveness, and I intend to contribute to this area in the Senate.
Within my focus on Social-Ecological Justice in all that I do, I am dedicated to a Senate that champions sustainability, social-ecological resilience and fairness. I am asking for your vote to help sustain and build a strong, transparent, diverse, and world-class academic environment for everyone across all our University’s different campuses.

Professor Maria Fusaro

I joined Exeter twenty years ago during a time of collective intellectual excitement and hard work towards achieving Russell Group membership. Today it strikes me that this energy has dissipated and academic staff are feeling increasingly demotivated and disenfranchised.
Universities are undergoing a profound structural transformation in response to challenges which are truly epochal. On the one hand the problems caused by the shrinking financial support provided by the state to higher education, on the other hand the unprecedented challenges posed by AI to critical thinking and intellectual property rights.
My efforts in Senate would be dedicated to reinforcing the role of academic staff as crucial stakeholders and informed agents of change. The University is re-establishing proper communication with staff, and it’s crucial that this effort does not just produce ‘consultation fatigue’, but results in effective synergies regarding reforms. As teachers or researchers, we are the ‘qualified professionals’ on whose work the University reputation is built. Our work makes it a viable business entity. Our opinions about the scope and scale of change are rooted in our varied experiences, and we need to be more effective in explaining that ‘one size does not fit all’ when it comes to reforms. This is paramount to the democratic nature of education and to the maintenance of the research and teaching quality which underpins the whole enterprise.
To the role of senator, I would bring my considerable experience at the highest international level both in research and in its governance. I can further draw on my background and experience of teaching in different educational systems across the UK, Europe, and the US. More than anything I want to be an effective conduit, actively listening to colleagues concerns and suggestions and making sure that these are effectively communicated to the executive. 

Professor Kirsty Martin

I’m an Associate Professor in English Literature, in the English and Creative Writing department, and I’ve held various admin positions: Admissions, Senior Tutor, EDI officer. I have also just taken on a newly created role, related to our Athena Swan application, which supports staff in English and Creative Writing in relation to pregnancy-related experiences (incl. pregnancy loss and infertility), and menopause. I’ve been at Exeter since 2012, and I have seen huge changes in how academic roles have been conceptualised in that time.  Before Exeter, I held various precarious short-term roles at Oxford. My work focuses on literature and emotion, and I’ve just finished a book entitled Writing Happiness.  

I would like to become part of Senate as I believe strongly in representing academic viewpoints in university decision-making.  It’s a difficult time to be in HE, and I think it is important to preserve space for academic autonomy and creativity, and to work to ensure the job security needed to do our work well.  I have always spoken out clearly at meetings when I felt key principles were at stake (most recently, in relation to C4C and TERS).  I would seek to understand colleagues’ concerns, and I would be a brave and forthright advocate for HASS on Senate.  

Professor Konstantinos Sergakis

As a Law academic specialising in governance and Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global) HASS, I am standing for election to the Senate to contribute my expertise in institutional governance, strategic oversight and global engagement. My goal is to help shape our university’s strategy in collaboration with the other Senate members, ensuring that our collective ambitions are both visionary and grounded in robust governance principles.

My research experience and non-academic roles have deepened my understanding of the importance of accountability, transparency, and evidence-based decision-making at all levels. I am committed to collaboratively contributing to the Senate’s dual role: to scrutinise and challenge proposals constructively, and to endorse strategies that advance our academic mission. 

Like all academic institutions, our university has entered a transformative phase, shaped by developments in AI, opportunities in transnational education, and (geo)political challenges. Together, we can ensure that the Senate continues to play a leading role in securing the sustainable success and resilience of our university in line with the profound changes of the years to come.

I would be honoured to have your support and your vote. 

Professor Umut Turksen

I am standing for election to the University of Exeter Senate to contribute my extensive academic leadership experience, commitment to educational excellence, and strong track record of research and impact. With decades of pedagogical expertise and international experience, and a career dedicated to strengthening academic communities, I am ready to support the University’s future ambitions.
Throughout my career, I have led transformative initiatives that enhanced teaching quality, research culture, and student experience. I led REF submissions through person centred, skills based, sustainable and rewarding teaching and research environments, a model closely aligned with Exeter’s commitment to exceptional education, digital innovation and inclusive student success. My experience as Associate Head of School, research centre co founder, school governor and chair of professoriate has equipped me with the governance insight and collaborative mindset essential for Senate.
I have consistently secured major research funding, including coordinating multi million euro EU projects such as TRACE and PROTAX, demonstrating my ability to build high performance teams and deliver impactful outcomes. My work with international organisations, including the EU Commission, OECD, Europol and NATO, reflects a career grounded in integrity, evidence based policy and societal contribution. This resonates strongly with Exeter’s vision to be a truly global institution and an internationally recognised leader in human health and wellbeing, sustainability and social justice.
As a Senate member, I will champion:
•    Education & Student Experience: supportive, inclusive, digitally enabled learning environments that empower students to thrive and become global citizens.
•    Research & Innovation: a vibrant, ethical, interdisciplinary research culture with strong national and international partnerships.
•    People: a compassionate, fair and empowering academic community where colleagues and students can flourish.
•    Place & Partnerships: growth of mutually beneficial regional and global partnerships, and support for diversifying our international student community.
I believe deeply in the University’s mission and values. With my experience, energy and commitment to collaborative leadership, I would be honoured to represent colleagues and contribute to shaping Exeter’s academic future.