Paul Crawshaw

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT PAUL CRAWSHAW

Paul is Professor in Public Policy, Teesside University and erstwhile Dean of School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Law. He has held research leadership roles as Director of the Institute for Social Innovation and Social Futures Institute and oversaw successful REF submissions in 2014 and 2021. He previously served as Associate Dean and Head of Department.A medical sociologist, he publishes in leading journals, including Social Science & Medicine, British Journal of Surgery and Social Theory & Health. Recognised internationally for his work in health governance and inequalities, Paul was editor of Critical Public Health from 2007–10. He has delivered research and evaluation projects for funders including ESRC, EPSRC, JRF and Horizon Europe. He currently leads research on economic inactivity and is Principal Investigator for the Health Determinants Research Collaboration South Tees, both funded by NIHR.With 28 years in practise, Paul is an experienced educator, supporting students at Foundation, Degree, Postgraduate, and Doctoral levels. He currently teaches on MA Public Administration and MA International Relations and supervises Doctoral candidates.As Dean he led a School of students and 200 staff, managing an annual budget of 30 mill. Under his leadership, the School expanded in social work, clinical psychology, and humanities, increasing home and international student recruitment. A committed collaborator, he built UK and overseas partnerships, including in China, Malaysia, and Singapore and introduced flagship programmes such as Initial Teacher Training with DfE and local schools, the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship with Cleveland Police and College of Policing, and the Inside-Out Prison Exchange scheme with HMP Holme House. His commitment to partnerships and community engagement has positioned the School as central to Teesside University’s mission to transform lives and economies.He is National Director of the University Alliance Doctoral Training Alliance, a collaboration of 8 universities supporting postgrad researchers. Beyond academia, he was Chair of Healthwatch South Tees (2012–23), championing public involvement in health and social care. An experienced board member, he has held governance roles at James Cook University Hospital, MIND, and Catalyst. He remains a trustee for charities and third-sector organisations, including North East Child Poverty Commission and Investors in People and Culture.Paul started his career as a Youth & Community Worker with Middlesbrough Borough Council in the late 1990s.