Fellows celebrate University promotions

St Catharine’s is delighted that three Fellows have been promoted by the University of Cambridge from 1 October 2024, in recognition of their world-class teaching and research in the humanities. These promotions are on top of the five Fellows appointed to professorships in the sciences in 2023.

Professor Katharine Dell (1996) is Director of Studies in Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion at St Catharine’s and has served as the College’s President since October 2022. Professor Dell currently holds the position of Professor in Old Testament Literature and Theology at the University’s Faculty of Divinity. The College was pleased to report at the start of the academic year that she had published two new books in a little over a month: The Theology of the Book of Proverbs (2023, Cambridge University Press) The Lord by Wisdom Founded the Earth: Creation and Covenant in Old Testament Theology (2023, Baylor University Press). She has now been appointed to the most senior grade of professorship (grade 12) in recognition of her research and teaching.

Professor Dell said, “I am thankful for the ongoing support of colleagues in the Faculty of Divinity and in the wider academic world in my specialist area of Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. I am also grateful to Fellows at St Catharine’s for their encouragement and for electing me President, a role I am very much enjoying. Getting two academic books out in 2023 must have made the difference for this promotion!”

Dr Gilly Carr (2006) is Director of Studies in Archaeology at St Catharine’s as well as University Associate Professor and Academic Director in Archaeology at the University’s Institute for Continuing Education (ICE). The national and international impact of Dr Carr’s work is exemplified by her recent roles coordinating an expert review of the number of people killed during the Nazi Occupation of Alderney and leading a five-year project to develop the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s Charter for Safeguarding Sites. She has been promoted by the University to Professor of Conflict Archaeology and Holocaust Heritage.

Dr Carr commented, “I am really thrilled and honoured to receive this promotion in a speciality which I have been able to develop thanks to the support and work of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, of which I have been a UK delegate since 2016, and to ICE for enabling me to develop courses in this field. I am especially grateful to the Master of St Catharine’s for his kindness and support of my work, and to the College and its Fellowship for always providing a warm welcome and a friendly home at Catz.”

Professor Dennis C. Grube (2023) is currently a Professor of Politics and Public Policy at the University’s Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS), where his research interests span public policy, political rhetoric, political and administrative leadership, and British political history. He was Acting Director of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy in 2022–23, where he is also the research lead on political decision-making. He teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, and was awarded the Aaron Rapport Teaching Prize in 2023. He has now been appointed to the most senior grade of professorship (grade 12) in recognition of his research and teaching.

Professor Grube said, "I'm delighted to be in the company of such an excellent group of colleagues - both at Catz and beyond - in being promoted this year. To be surrounded every day by extraordinary academics and students is really reward enough in itself!"

Sir John Benger (1979, English), Master of St Catharine’s, responded to the University's announcement by saying:

“St Catharine’s is incredibly fortunate to be home to so many talented academics, who are responsible for driving forward advances in research and teaching that benefit their disciplines as well as wider society. On behalf of the College community, I am delighted to congratulate Katharine, Gilly and Dennis on their well-deserved promotions.”