Welcome to my online portfolio. Here, you'll find insights into my unique journey as a strategist in Higher Education and a Medieval Historian. My diverse personal, academic, and professional journey, which has taken me from France to Greece, to Britain, to the United States, to Canada, and back to Britain, reflects a deep-seated passion for learning, collaborating, and creating change for a human-centred and diverse education.

As a dynamic strategist in the field of Higher Education, I am dedicated to driving transformative change in an era marked by rapid digital evolution and significant shifts in employability and the overall role of universities. My journey, enriched by a diverse international background spanning both academic and professional services, allows me to analyse and contextualise global developments with a unique perspective.

Born in France and raised in Athens, Greece, my educational path was as diverse as my cultural experiences. I received a robust French secondary education, which laid the foundation for my academic pursuits. In 2007, I graduated from the University of Athens with a degree in Greek Philology/Classics, a testament to my enduring passion for human history and intellectual evolution. My thirst for knowledge propelled me to the University of Oxford. There, I delved deeper into the realms of history, earning an MPhil in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies in 2010 and a DPhil (PhD) in Medieval and Modern Languages in 2013. These academic milestones at Oxford not only enriched my intellectual canvas but also honed my analytical and critical thinking skills, preparing me for the challenges of today's global educational landscape. Complementing this, I have also undertaken specialised training in leadership and strategic management, sharpening my skills in devising strategies for a global, diverse, human-centered educational landscape and creating long-lasting change.

Throughout my career, I worked as an academic at prestigious institutions such as Harvard University (Dumbarton Oaks), Princeton University (Art & Archaeology), University of Toronto (PIMS), Oxford University (Classics), and the University of Edinburgh (History, Classics, and Archaeology), to name a few. My dedication to research has been acknowledged by esteemed funding institutions, including the A. Onassis Foundation, the A.G. Leventis Foundation, A.W. Mellon Foundation, and the Mary Jaharis Centre for Byzantine Art & Culture.

Beyond teaching and research, I have provided guidance on enhancing campus learning through digital innovation at Leeds and York. As a Learning Technologist at the University of Leeds (Arts, Humanities and Cultures), I collaborated with academics to revolutionise the curriculum by waving traditional and digital pedagogies and learning tools. At the University of York, as the Educational Adviser for the Faculty of Sciences at the University of York, I focused on program design and the digital transformation of learning, teaching, and assessment. That included the migration to new systems and learning and teaching norms.

Currently, as a Deputy Faculty Manager for the Faculty of Science at Durham University, I play a critical role in numerous projects and initiatives, all integral to achieving the strategic ambitions, goals, and future growth of the Faculty and the University. My duties encompass curriculum development and enhancement, a particular focus of the Science Transformation Project. I am also instrumental in strategically developing both learning and teaching activities, alongside championing digital learning initiatives. Additionally, I am at the forefront of driving digital transformation within the faculty, with a special emphasis on leveraging Artificial Intelligence for our professional services staff. This multifaceted role is demands a comprehensive understanding of educational strategies and the global higher education context but also an acute awareness of the continuously evolving digital landscape.

How to pronounce Foteini Spingou (link)

  • Curriculum redesign for a global context

  • Processes redesign for an AI-ready institution

  • Beauty and intellectual history in the medieval Mediterranean

  • Pre-modern Classicisms as societal phenomena

Expertise

Research Interests

  • Artificial intelligence in HE and the digitally-enhanced campus

  • Byzantine Studies

  • Digital Methods in the Humanities

Professional Memberships

  • Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS)

  • Associate Fellow of the AcademyHE (aFHEA)

  • Associate Member of the Association for Learning Technology (ALT)

  • Member of the European Association for Digital Humanities (EADH)

  • Member of the Medieval Academy of America

  • Member of the Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies (UK)

Available for Media Contacts

  • Artificial intelligence in higher education (curriculum development and strategic transformation)

  • Digital-enhanced learning and teaching

  • The Cultural history of the East Mediterranean (Constantinople, Holy Land, Aegypt)