Marie Soressi appointed Head of the Department of World Archaeology
The Faculty of Archaeology is pleased to announce that Professor Marie Soressi has been appointed Head of the Department of World Archaeology, one of the Faculty’s three departments, as per April 1, 2026. Marie brings to the role a broad academic background, 13 years of experience within the Faculty, and previous leadership experience.
Broad perspective
Marie describes the position as an opportunity to serve the department and put her experience to use. ‘After 13 years at the Faculty, I know its people and structures well, and I hope that knowledge will help me in this role.’
Her academic trajectory ranges from the life sciences to philosophy, a breadth reflected in her research. ‘This broad perspective helps me understand the variety of approaches and people we have in the department.’
Marie also brings considerable leadership experience. Earlier in her career, she led large teams of professional archaeologists at INRAP in France. She sees this experience, combined with the maturity gained over the years, as an important foundation for her new role.
Diversity
The Department of World Archaeology brings together more than 14 nationalities, different academic traditions and career stages, and research spanning roughly half a million years.
‘There is a lot of richness in this diversity. A good Head of Department needs to understand different perspectives and create a supportive environment in which they can be expressed and taken seriously.’
As an international staff member herself, Marie is also sensitive to the diversity within the international community. ‘International staff are not one group. People have different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.’
One of Marie’s central goals is to make sure that the department’s wide range of perspectives is heard and represented, helping the Faculty Board make better-informed decisions.
A more connected department
Looking ahead, Marie hopes to strengthen the connections within the department and its sense of shared identity. ‘I hope that when I finish my term, the department will have a clearer sense of what brings us together, what our shared strengths are, and how our different areas of expertise connect.’
This also means making perspectives and decisions explicit. ‘In a diverse environment, we cannot assume that everyone starts from the same perspective. Different viewpoints need to be heard, but also explained and justified. The same applies to decisions: the reasoning behind them should be clear.’
Marie sees the Head of Department as an important link between staff and the Faculty Board: representing staff perspectives, asking for clarification and justification when needed, and communicating and their rationale clearly.