The BSA is pleased to announce that our next President will be Professor Rachel Brooks, of the University of Surrey.

Professor Brooks, who is Associate Dean, Research and Innovation, in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Surrey, will begin her term in January 2024 and serve for two years until December 2025. She succeeds Professor Gurminder Bhambra.

On hearing the news, Professor Brooks said:

“I am delighted to be appointed as the next president of the BSA. I have been closely involved with the association throughout my career, in various capacities, and am very much looking forward to taking on this new role. Sociology has a key part to play in helping us both understand and tackle the challenges that we face in the world today, and I hope I will be a strong ambassador for the discipline.”

Professor Brooks is an editor-in-chief of the BSA journal, Sociology, an executive editor of the British Journal of Sociology of Education, a co-editor of the ‘Research into Higher Education’ book series, a member of Governing Council of the Society for Research into Higher Education, and a member of ESRC Council. She was also a member of the education sub-panel for REF 2021.

The Presidency of the BSA is an honorary position, held by a respected member of the Association. The President acts as an adviser to the Board of Trustees, hosts the annual conference, sits on prize judging panels and presides over award ceremonies. The President can represent the Association at high profile events and helps the BSA respond to matters affecting the discipline of sociology.

The BSA thanks Professor Bhambra for her invaluable service over the last two years.