The Sociology Department will say farewell to Professor Federico Varese this week, as he embarks on a new Professorship position at Sciences Po in Paris.
Professor Varese has a long history with the University of Oxford, after completing his DPhil in Sociology here in 1997. Since 2003, he has been a Fellow of Nuffield College, and in 2006, obtained the title of Professor of Criminology. He has led Oxford Sociology as Head of Department since 2021.
Focusing on the study of organised crime, Professor Varese has written about the Russian mafia, Soviet criminal history, migration of mafia groups, Somali piracy, the dynamics of altruistic behaviour, and the application of Social Network Analysis to criminology.
Professor Varese said,
It has been a privilege and an honour to head the Department and to work with you all. Oxford Sociology is a fantastic community of teachers and scholars, going from strength to strength. The future looks bright!
Professor Colin Mills, the current Director of Taught Courses, will take over as interim Head of Department. Professor Mills is a Fellow of Nuffield College and has been a member of the University since 2002. His research interests include social inequality, social mobility, workplace employment relations, social survey methodology, and quantitative social research.
The Department thanks Professor Varese for his dedication and enthusiasm while Head of Department - we wish him well in his new role!
