Our experienced staff are bridging the gap between theory and practice for students
Our staff provide a quality learning experience for students, drawing on extensive industry experience and connections, backed by active research, to pass on the latest best practice, knowledge-based learning to students.
Head of School
Professor Michael Ondaatje
Professor Michael Ondaatje is Head of the School of Humanities, Languages and Social Science, and Professor of History, at Griffith University.
Awarded his PhD with Distinction by the University of Western Australia in 2008, Michael is a prize-winning researcher and teacher and a regular commentator on American history and politics in the media. He has been a Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Oxford and was selected by the US Embassy in Australia for the International Visitor Leadership Program, the premier professional exchange program of the US government. He is also a recipient of the Max Crawford Medal, ‘Australia’s most prestigious award for achievement and promise in the humanities’ (Australian Academy of the Humanities).
Michael’s primary research focus is African American history, with a particular emphasis on the history of Black conservatism. But his interest in race and conservatism extends to the Australian context, where he is currently writing a biography of Neville Bonner, the first Indigenous Australian elected to federal parliament. The book is under contract with Melbourne University Press.
Michael also has a strong track record in university leadership. Areas of particular focus have included research strategy, curriculum innovation, student experience, external engagement, and philanthropy. Before joining Griffith in 2022, Michael held appointments at ACU, the University of Newcastle and the University of Western Australia.
Deputy Head of School (Learning and Teaching)
Associate Professor Robert Mason
Associate Professor Robert Mason is the Deputy Head of School (Learning & Teaching). His research analyses heritage and public history connected with colonialism and violence in the Pacific Rim.
Deputy Head of School (Research)
Associate Professor Adele Pavlidis
Adele Pavlidis is Deputy Head of School (Research) and Deputy Director for the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research. Her research is focused on feminist theoretical and methodological contributions to sport, wellbeing, and organisational cultures.
Key contacts
School Manager
Arts
- Dr Samid Suliman – Program Director – BA@griffith.edu.au
- Dr Linda Hassall – Program Advisor – BA@griffith.edu.au
- Prof Sarah Baker – OUA Program Director
Communication and Journalism
- Dr Kasun Ubaysiri – Program Director
- A/Prof Heather Anderson – OUA Program Director, Program Advisor
Languages
- Dr Kumiko Katayama – Program Director
- Sara Visocnik-Murray – Program Director (Diploma)
First year co-odinator
Graduate certificates
- A/Prof Sally Breen – Program Director (Creative and Prof Writing)
- Prof Sidney Dekker – Program Director (Safety Leadership)
- Prof Jacqueline Ewart – Program Director (Strategic Comm and Media)
- Dr Claire Rodway – Program Director ( TESOL)
Honours
- Dr Yorick Smaal – Program Director (Honours)
Masters
- Dr Claire Rodway – Program Director ( MTESOL)
Higher Degree Research ( HDR)
- A/Prof Stuart Cooke – HDR Convenor
- Dr Ella Jeffery – Deputy HDR Convenor (Professional Development)
- Dr Amy Way – Deputy HDR Convenor (Milestones)
Work-integrated learning ( WIL) convenor
Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) convenor
Academic staff
Creative writing
History
- Prof Bruce Buchan
- Dr Clarissa Carden
- Dr Michael Davis
- A/Prof Peter Denney
- Prof Mark Finnane
- Prof Michael Ondaatje
- Dr Yorick Smaal
- Dr Amy Way
Communication and Journalism
- A/Prof Heather Anderson
- Dr Bridget Backhaus
- Dr Elizabeth Burrows
- Prof Jacqui Ewart
- Prof Susan Forde
- A/Prof Kerrie Foxwell-Norton
- Dr Susan Grantham
- Dr Monique Lewis
- Prof Mark Pearson
- Dr Kasun Ubayasiri
- A/Prof Paul Williams
Sociology
Linguistics
Languages
Chinese
- Prof Deborah Cao
- Prof Sue Trevaskes (Coordinator)
Japanese
- Dr Kumiko Katayama (Coordinator)
- Dr Leigh John Kirwan
Italian
- Ms Sara Visocnik-Murray (Coordinator)
Spanish
- Dr Matthew Callaghan (Coordinator)
Safety Leadership
Islam West relations
Migration studies
Screen studies
Literary studies
Drama and Creative Arts
Archaeology
TESOL and Socio-linguistics
- A/Prof Ben Fenton-Smith
- Dr Mingyan Hu
- Dr Desiree Kawabata (Scholarly Teaching Fellow (ELEC/TESOL)
- Dr Minglin Li
- Dr Claire Rodway
- Dr Ian Walkinshaw
Studying at Griffith
Student enquiries
Griffith International
- Location, delivery and postal address
- Nathan Campus
- School of Humanities, Languages
- and Social Science - Nathan
- School Administration Office
- N16, Macrossan Building, Room 2.24
- 170 Kessels Road, Nathan Qld 4111
- Phone: (07) 3735 7674
- or international: +61 7 3735 7674
- Location, delivery and postal address
- Gold Coast Campus
- School of Humanities, Languages
- and Social Science - Gold Coast
- School Administration Office
- G30, Arts and Education Building, Room 4.02
- Parklands Drive, Southport Qld 4222
- Phone: (07) 5552 8626
- or international: +61 7 5552 8626