Local historian to lead new School of Humanities

Dr Kerry Taylor has been named as Head of the new School of Humanities within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The newly formed school brings together the former School of History, Philosophy and Classics and the School of Linguistics and International Languages.

Professor Susan Mumm, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, says she was delighted to confirm Dr Taylor as the new Head of School.

“Dr Taylor has an international reputation as a labour historian and he has demonstrated a strong commitment to raising the profile of the Humanities and giving them a strong voice within Massey and further afield.”

Dr Taylor says the two former schools shared an understanding of the ways “we articulate and understand our society and culture, both past and present”, but the merger would facilitate more collaboration to create fresh and exciting new research and teaching opportunities.

“The new school gives us an opportunity to raise awareness of the strong research and teaching being conducted in the Humanities disciplines at Massey. The issues our research explores are central to building a positive and successful future for New Zealand, and New Zealanders, as we continue to develop and establish our distinctive identity here and overseas.”

Dr Taylor has published and spoken widely on New Zealand history, international communist history, labour history, the politics of protest and comparative history.

Born and raised in Hastings, he attended Karamu High School. Dr Taylor joined Massey in 1997 as a Lecturer in History and Politics and has been head of the School of History, Philosophy and Classics since 2010.

He is currently chairperson of the Te Manawa History Society and last year co-authored - with   former Te Manawa curator Fiona McKergow - Te Hao Nui/ The Great Catch. The illustrated history focused on 40 objects from the Te Manawa collection to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of a museum society in the city. Dr Taylor wrote a piece on the history of the local Longburn Freezing Works using a black singlet from the collection.

With the appointment of Dr Taylor as Head of the School of Humanities, Dr Martin Paviour-Smith’s role as Acting Head of the School of Linguistics and International Languages has concluded.  Professor Mumm thanked Dr Paviour-Smith for willingly taking on this role during a period of structural change.

Find out more about Dr Taylor by reading his profile in Massey’s Defining Magazine:
http://definingnz.com/working-on-the-chain-gang/

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