Elaine Fulton, professor & director of education
Elaine Fulton graduated with a MA in Modern History in 1997, an MLitt in 1998, and a PhD in History in 2003. She has spent more than two decades as an educator at the University of Birmingham.
Elaine Fulton spent “an extremely happy decade” studying history at St Andrews, which she claims, “was absolutely the making of me.” Elaine credits her studies and her wonderful professors for shaping her into the educator she is today.
Elaine studied both English and Modern History in her subhonours years and believed early on that she would become a schoolteacher. In her third year, she recalls having an epiphany, “something just clicked in my head,” and she found something “she was really passionate about.” She focused on early modern history, especially the reformation and the sixteenth century, noting that she was mostly taught by three professors who were extremely influential and she “absolutely thrived” in that academic setting, proudly recalling getting 19s and 20s in her coursework.
[courtesy of Elaine Fulton].
When asked about how she knew she wanted to be an academic, Elaine responded that she didn’t. Instead, she recalls that in her final year she debated the safe prospect of teacher training courses and risky path of staying at St Andrews for the MLitt in Reformation Studies. It was Professor Andrew Pettegree who ultimately helped her make her decision, urging her not to make a choice she would one day regret. Elaine expresses immense gratitude to Professor Pettegree, Professor Bruce Gordon, and Dr Rona Johnston Gordon, for their support, confidence, and assistance with her postgraduate funding. After her MLitt, she completed a PhD, including a year spent in Vienna which she recalls was “an amazing experience and I learned so much.”
At St Andrews, Elaine “learned an awful lot the hard way.” She explains that she “fell in love with the subject, realized I could do it, and was massively encouraged” to do so. “I owe my career, my confidence, and my ability to navigate the world.”
Toward the end of her PhD, Elaine was made aware of the open position at the University of Birmingham by the internal examiner of her PhD, Professor Hamish Scott (d.2022). Professor Scott, had taught at Birmingham in the 1970s, and recommended her for the two-year lecturing position beginning in the fall of 2003.
Elaine rose quickly in her career. She lectured in early modern European history for six years before being promoted to senior lecturer in 2009. In 2015 she became a reader in history teaching, and at the age of 43 she became a Professor of History Education. Elaine explains that her passion lies in teaching rather than historical research, which she realized soon after joining Birmingham. She suggests that her prioritization of her role as an educator over her role as a historian allowed her to demonstrate her skill and excellence as an educator.
She expresses her desired to give back the valuable education she received at St Andrews and believes that her ability to shape educational curriculum is far more impactful than any singular book she could write. Elaine also recalls that upon finishing her PhD she believed that she was done learning, but instead, she has spent her career continuing to learn, which has been extremely fulfilling.
One of Elaine greatest career achievements was chairing the UK Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education’ Subject Benchmark Statement on History. By doing so, Elaine shaped the future education of all history graduates in the UK, emphasizing employability and greater attention to equality, inclusivity, and diversity in curriculum.
Secondly, her largest role to date is serving as the Director of Education for the College of Arts and Law since 2019. Overseeing more than 8,000 students and 400 staff members, Elaine is responsible for a wide range of tasks, from recruitment and admissions, courses taught, assessment, graduate success, and overall wellbeing. Taking on the role just before the Covid-19 pandemic, Elaine is proud of how she navigated the university through the crisis.
[courtesy of Elaine Fulton].
Elaine recalls the lack of representation for queer students during her time at St Andrews in the 1990s. It is thus important to her to now serve as that representation for her students, and she taught a module on the history of homosexuality at the University of Birmingham. She explains that it was “an ode to what I wanted to be taught myself,” and her desire to show her students that it is a worthy subject of academic study.
Finally, Elaine’s advice for current undergraduate students is to “make every minute count.” She exclaims, “be present in your studies, give 100% effort, and don’t leave anything on the floor, because you do not get the chance to redo any of this.” She wants students to get over a class that they may find a little boring and recognize the privilege of being taught at this wonderful institution and surrounded by intellectually curious peers. “You’re so lucky to be at St Andrews,” so take advantage while you can!
This profile was written by Sophia Kazan, MA Modern History (2026), who interviewed Elaine Fulton in June 2026.