St Mary’s Appoints New Dean of the School of Sport Health and Applied Science

St Mary’s University, Twickenham has appointed Prof Symeon Dagkas as Dean of the School of Sport, Health and Applied Science (SHAS).

Prof Dagkas will be joining St Mary’s in April from Canterbury Christ Church University, where he is currently the Head of the School of Human and Life Sciences.  He has also served as Director of Research and Deputy Associate Dean Research at University of East London, and Head of the Sport Pedagogy Department in the School of Education, at Birmingham University.

Symeon began his sporting career as an elite swimmer after studying at the University of Thrace, Greece, going on to complete his PhD at Exeter University on promoting greater religious and cultural inclusion within Physical Education and Sport.

He is passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion in sport, physical activity and health, and his work is concentrated on examining the intersections of race, class, ethnicity and culture amongst young people, especially those with migrant and ethnic minority backgrounds, and how these influence their participation in sport and physical activity.

During his academic career has gained grants from various funding bodies and has produced over 90 published research outputs. He has published two edited books for Routledge entitled Families, young people, physical activity and health: critical perspectives (2016) and Inclusion and Exclusion Through Youth Sport (2012). His new book for Routledge entitled Race, youth sport, physical activity and health: Global perspectives with colleagues from Columbia University NY, and Leeds Beckett University UK, will be published later in 2018. 

During his time at Canterbury Christ Church, Symeon led a large multidisciplinary team and has led initiatives on enhancing student experience, reducing attrition as well as curriculum development and strengthening student recruitment.

Pro Vice-Chancellor for Academic Strategy Prof John Charmley said, “I am delighted to welcome Symeon to St Mary’s. He brings a wealth of experience and ambitious outlook to the role and I look forward to working with him towards St Mary’s plans for the future”


Symeon Dagkas staff profile