Author and TV documentary maker made emeritus professor
TELEVISION criminologist Professor David Wilson has been handed a top university honour as he prepares to step down from his fulltime position at Birmingham City University.
The renowned crime expert was named Emeritus Professor at Birmingham City University after more than 20 years with the institution.
During that time he has produced cutting edge research and new academic talent to maintain the university’s criminology expertise.
Professor Wilson was given the honour during a ceremony at city centre campus in recognition of his achievements, meaning he will retain the academic rank of Professor at the University even after retiring his full time role.
He will continue to teach on the University’s modules On Crime and Punishment and Serial Killers & Serial Murder, ensuring first year criminology students benefit from his expertise and decades of experience.
Professor Wilson made his name when he became Britain’s youngest ever Prison Governor at the age of 29, designing and running two units for the 12 most violent prisoners in the country.
An expert in murder, psychopaths and serial killers, he joined the institution’s (then the University of Central England) teaching team on its Criminal Justice and Policing course in 1997.
He became a professor in 2000 and was inducted into the National Teaching Fellowship in 2012.
Professor Wilson has written more than 15 books and featured in scores of TV shows, using his expertise to investigate crimes, interview offenders and assist police forces.
Speaking at the event Professor Wilson praised colleagues and students and said he was humbled, honoured and overcome by the presentation.
He said: “This isn’t a place that I felt I wanted to come to and then leave, this was a place that I felt I genuinely could have an academic career that was hybrid, which allowed me to research teach and to appear in the media.
“The future for the university is bright and rosy and I’m delighted to still have a part to play in that.”