Dominic Shellard

Professor Shellard (right) with Doreen Lawrence at her investiture as De Montfort University's Chancellor in January 2016

Dominic Marcus Shellard (born 24 April 1966) is Vice-Chancellor of De Montfort University in Leicester and a Professor of English.

Early life

Born in Orpington, Kent, Professor Shellard read English and German at St Peter's College, Oxford. He obtained a DPhil in English Literature on the theatre criticism of Harold Hobson.

Professor Shellard is a former member of the Rotherham Council.

Academic career

Professor Shellard began his academic career as a Lecturer in English at the University of Salford. He moved to the University of Sheffield in 1996 and was awarded a Personal Chair in 2003. In 2004, he became the Head of the Department of English, before being appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor for External Affairs in 2008.

Professor Shellard was appointed Vice-Chancellor of De Montfort University in Leicester in 2010.

Professor Shellard is an expert in post-war British Theatre and an active Shakespeare scholar. He authored of nine books, including a biography of the critic Kenneth Tynan, and has also led the Theatre Archive Project, a joint venture with the British Library to reinvestigate British Theatre History from 1945 to 1968. He is a former chairman of Sheffield Theatres Trust, responsible for the Crucible Theatre and the Lyceum Theatre. He is also a member of the National Committee of the Society for Theatre Research.

He has a reputation as a public orator, an institutional auditor and has been an assessor for the Quality Assurance Agency.

Personal life

Professor Shellard is a passionate supporter of the west London football team Queens Park Rangers.