David Lees

David Lees is Reader in French Studies at the University of Warwick's School of Modern Languages and Cultures, serving concurrently as Dean of Students. His administrative leadership includes prior roles as Deputy Chair for Education (Faculty of Arts) and Senior Tutor. Lees researches modern French political history with emphasis on propaganda mechanisms, Holocaust pedagogy, and student wellbeing during international study programs.

His scholarship examines French right-wing politics through cultural-historical lenses, notably analyzing election campaigns and occupation-era media. Current projects include a monograph, Propaganda in Modern France (Palgrave Macmillan), and collaborations on pedagogic frameworks for teaching Vichy-era history.

Awards recognize both scholarly and educational contributions: Warwick Teaching Excellence Award (2012), fellowships at the Royal Society of Arts and Royal Historical Society, and editorial leadership for Modern & Contemporary France journal. He supervises postgraduate work on Holocaust memory and French extremism.

Lees actively engages public audiences through 500+ media appearances (BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera) and articles in The Conversation. He co-directs the WIHEA-funded initiative on student wellbeing during study abroad.