The Dean is in charge of the discipline of the College’s Junior Members. The role is wide-ranging, and although it excludes individual pastoral matters, does take account of the general welfare of Junior Members. Particularly, the Dean is concerned with matters of policy and with the College’s rules, which are set out in the College Handbook. Junior Members should feel free to approach the Dean on any appropriate matter, particularly if it involves non-pastoral difficulties outside the College, and indeed, are urged to do so. Junior Members may also be summoned to see the Dean, and they are reminded that such summons take priority over any academic, sporting or social engagement.

The College also has an Assistant Dean, and four Junior Deans. The role of the Assistant Dean is focused on managing day-to-day issues; Junior Members wishing to hold events should ensure that they approach him first. The Junior Deans deal with disciplinary matters on the ground, and one Junior Dean is rostered to be on duty every night from weeks nought to nine.

Those wishing an appointment to see the Dean or the Assistant Dean on non-urgent matters should contact the Deans’ secretary, Jacqui Julier. If the matter is urgent, the Junior Member should contact the Dean via the College Lodge, or directly on 07786 061 613.

Michael Burden - Dean

Michael Burden Photo
×

Office: SH G2 A
Room: 12 OB 3
Office phone: 71976
Room Phone: 79526
Mobile: 07786 061 613
michael.burden@new.ox.ac.uk
 

Michael's biography can be found on his fellow's information page.

Gideon Elford - Assistant Dean

Giden Elford Photo
×

Room: 6 NB 2
Room Phone: 79546
Mobile: 07941 785381

gideon.elford@new.ox.ac.uk

A former graduate of New College, Gideon is now a Departmental Lecturer in Political Theory. Much of his research engages questions concerning equality, agency and responsibility. His most recent work involves exploring issues related to freedom of expression and he is presently developing a project on the ways that non-state factors can threaten free speech.

Gideon is a film lover and an amateur screenwriter. He is also a fitness enthusiast and keen sportsman, formerly representing the College at football and the University at boxing.

As Assistant Dean, Gideon is in charge of granting permissions for events held in College.

Oscar Lyons - Junior Dean

Oscar Lyons
×

Room: Castle Mill, Block H, Room 319
Mobile: 07491 868963

oscar.lyons@new.ox.ac.uk 

Oscar is Programme Director for the MSc in Global Healthcare Leadership, Module Lead (Knowledge into Action) for the MSc in Evidence Based Healthcare, and an MBA tutor. Oscar practiced medicine in rural New Zealand before moving to Oxford for his DPhil in Leadership Development in Healthcare. Oscar spends his spare time cycling, rowing and playing music.

Robert Freeman - Junior Dean

Robert Freeman
×

Room:  Weston Buildings, House 6, Room 16
Mobile: 07874 989303

robert.freeman@new.ox.ac.uk

Robert is a DPhil student in English, exploring theories of interpretation and the formation of literary value. He has previously worked on displacement in the context of natural disasters for the United Nations' Nansen Initiative, and as a judicial clerk at South Africa's Constitutional Court. His subsequent legal work focused on administrative, refugee and constitutional law. At Oxford, Robert is a member of the TORCH Race and Resistance Network, and conducts research for the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights. His wider interests include world cinema, ultimate frisbee and cricket, for which he is a qualfied umpire.  

Adrian Kreutz - Junior Dean

Adrian Kreutz
×

Room: 18 Longwall, Flat 36
Mobile: 07501 285373

adrian.kreutz@new.ox.ac.uk

Adrian is a DPhil Student in Political Theory at the Department of Politics and International Relations. His research focuses on questions of legitimacy, authority, and ideology. Born and raised in rural Germany, Adrian has since studied and worked in the Netherlands, the US, Japan, and the United Kingdom. As a teaching fellow at the University of Tübingen, Adrian is currently teaching courses on educational justice. He is also involved in several outreach programmes, helping refugees, first-generation students, and other under-represented groups gain access to higher education.

Talitha Slabbert - Junior Dean

Talitha Slabbert
×

Room: Sacher Building 1, Room 18
Mobile: 07597 775937

Talitha.slabbert@new.ox.ac.uk 

Talitha is a DPhil scholar in English, exploring the ideological and historical significance of the sea in the twentieth century among modernist writers like Joseph Conrad, Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, Virginia Woolf, and H.D. She hails from a small, surf-pounded town on the Cape Peninsula of South Africa, and now goes by 'T' to aid the British in the pronunciation of her name. She is an avid footballer, and while at Stellenbosch University she played for Maties Women’s team in the Sasol League (which is the South African women’s premier league). She currently plays for Headington Ladies' Football Club.

Previous Members of the Junior Decanal Team 2015-2020

Explore further

Discover more about New College