Vice-Chancellor Professor Dave Petley, said: "We have exciting plans for the University, aiming to establish ourselves as a research-led, globally engaged civic institution. Kevin, as the new Deputy Vice-Chancellor, will play a crucial role in this.
“Kevin’s vast experience, not only within the higher education sector, but also within the field of social justice, makes him the perfect fit for our institution and I know he will be a valuable addition to the University Leadership Team.
“We have committed to shaping a fairer, brighter, carbon neutral future and Kevin will bring vital insight and direction to this, ensuring we continue to tackle some of the biggest global challenges through our research, education and knowledge exchange.
“I look forward to working closely with Kevin and I am sure you will join me in wishing him the very best in his new role.”
Prior to being Pro Vice-Chancellor for Business and Enterprise at Sheffield Hallam University, Professor Kerrigan was Pro Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise at Sheffield Business School.
He has wide experience leading large academic units and cross-institutional strategies, as well as currently line managing the Dean of the c£100 million turnover College of Business, Technology and Engineering, which has five Schools and three research centres.
Professor Kerrigan has a strong reputation in social justice education, editing the International Journal of Clinical Legal Education and organising numerous global conferences.
His teaching and research interests are in legal education, human rights and leadership.
He was appointed a Higher Education Academy National Teaching Fellow for his work on experiential education, whereby students learn by serving real clients, and he has developed this model across many other discipline areas.
Professor Kerrigan joined Sheffield Hallam University in 2016 from Northumbria University, where he was Executive Dean for the Faculty of Business and Law and held roles as Dean of Newcastle Business School and Northumbria Law School.
His experience of leading large academic units and cross-institutional strategies includes: an Applied Curriculum Design framework; London campus academic offer; online strategies (at Northumbria and Hallam); a Highly Skilled Employment project; Health Innovation Campus; Apprenticeships and Skills; the South Yorkshire Institute of Technology; and the South Yorkshire Investment Zone.
He has acted as a strategic advisor to several UK universities, was a consultant for the Sentencing Advisory Panel, sat on the Attorney General’s Pro Bono Committee and the Lord Chancellor’s Department Human Rights Act Committee.
He serves on the International Advisory Board of Amity University, India and as a non-executive director of Sheffield Science Parks Ltd and Leah’s Yard Ltd. He is co-Chair of the South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre, a major research and innovation collaboration between Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Sheffield.
Professor Kerrigan co-authored eight books and eight book chapters, numerous articles and conference papers. He significantly increased REF performance across four Units of Assessment in 2014 and 2021. He has secured several awards, including Times Higher Education Business School of the Year, and Outstanding Entrepreneurial University and the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher Education.