Internationally renowned literary historian and critic, teacher, writer and scholar Professor Lydia Wevers ONZM, is retiring from Victoria University of Wellington’s Stout Research Centre after 17 years as its director.
During this
time, the Centre, which has its home in the Faculty of Humanities and Social
Sciences, has also forged a reputation as a hub for New Zealand-focused research
and actively engages with academics, professionals and the wider public through
its year-round programme of events.
Few will be
surprised that one of the reasons for Professor Wevers’ retirement is a desire
to finish writing a new book.
“I’ve done a
lot of research for it, but it’s slow work getting a book written while running
a centre and teaching,” she says.“The Centre has been a large part of my life, but I’m looking forward to having more time and a more fluid schedule, and I expect I will manage to get several overdue projects done.
“I’ve
particularly enjoyed the multidisciplinary aspect of the Stout Research Centre.
It began life fairly focused on New Zealand history and history will always be
a large part of what it does, but I’ve made a very determined attempt to
showcase and engage with the whole range of knowledge in New Zealand, whether
that’s geology, politics or literature.”
Professor
Wevers’ association with Victoria goes back to 1968 when she was a first year
student. In 1973 as a recently returned graduate from the University of Oxford,
she took up a position as a lecturer in Renaissance literature in the English
Department.
Since then
she has metamorphosed into a specialist on New Zealand literature and New
Zealand studies. Her career at Victoria was interrupted by periods living
overseas, where she worked at the universities of New South Wales and Sydney
and became interested in Australian literature, which is still part of her
research.
Throughout
her career, Professor Wevers has participated in numerous governance groups
such as the Trustees of the National Library, the Marsden Fund Council, and the
Arts Board of Creative New Zealand. She has been a guest speaker at over 30
national and international events, and produced more than 100 written works.
The Stout
Research Centre’s Professor Richard Hill—who has worked with Professor Wevers
since 2001—says her retirement will be “a huge loss” for the University.
“She has
served on and chaired many of its committees and has been a tireless advocate
for New Zealand studies across all disciplines.
“Lydia has
that rare talent of combining scholarly excellence with dissemination of
scholarship in the public arena, making her one of this country’s leading
public intellectuals.”
Faculty of
Humanities and Social Studies Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean, Professor Jennifer
Windsor says Professor Wevers has been instrumental in the Centre’s
regeneration and success.
“Professor
Wevers is renowned as a thinker, writer, and contributor to what it means to be
a New Zealander and she has an unwavering passion for the arts. She has also
impressed upon others her wise judgement, leadership and incredible foresight
about how to bring research to life.”
Professor
Wevers will remain involved with a number of projects at the University,
including co-producing Victoria’s second massive open online course for the edX
platform.
University Council
member and History lecturer Associate Professor Kate Hunter steps in as the
Centre’s new director on Monday 31 July.
Associate
Professor Hunter has had a long association with the Stout Research Centre, and
Professor Wevers is delighted she has been appointed as her successor. To
consolidate the links between the Stout Research Centre and its wider networks,
Associate Professor Hunter will continue to hold her academic role in the
History Programme.
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