About Us

Professor David Pomfret
Dean
David M. Pomfret is Professor of History and Dean of Arts.  His research focuses on the history of childhood and youth, which he has explored in Europe and its empires through a comparative, trans-national lens.  He joined the University of Hong Kong in September 2001 and has extensive administrative experience, having previously served as an Associate Dean of Arts, Convenor of the Humanities Area of Inquiry of the Common Core Curriculum, Chair of the Department of History and Head of the School of Humanities.  David has also won recognition for his teaching, receiving Hong Kong’s highest award, the UGC Teaching Excellence Award, as well as HKU’s own Teaching Excellence Award.

Email: pomfretd@hku.hk

Professor Christopher Hutton
Associate Dean (Research)
Professor Hutton assists the Dean in setting the direction and policy for research at the Faculty, and in developing the Faculty’s research profile and agenda.  He also oversees research postgraduate programmes (MPhil, PhD and Joint-PhD) in the Faculty and chairs the Board of Examiners for Research Postgraduate Curricula.  His research focuses on political issues in language and linguistics.  In addition, Professor Hutton is pursuing various projects at the intersection of linguistics, law and intellectual history.

Email: chutton@hku.hk

Professor Yeewan Koon
Associate Dean (Global)

Professor Yeewan Koon assists the Dean in leading global initiatives and external partnerships for the Faculty of Arts. This will include fostering international collaborations, enhancing global perspectives in curricula, and supporting faculty members and students in their international academic pursuits. Professor Koon has broad interest in Asian art histories with curatorial experiences both in Hong Kong and internationally.

Email: koonyw@hku.hk

Professor Rachel Sterken
Associate Dean (Postgraduate)
Professor Sterken oversees taught postgraduate programmes (MA, MBC, MBuddhStud and MFA) in the Faculty.  She chairs the Higher Arts Degrees Committee and Boards of Examiners for Higher Degrees by Coursework.  Her research focuses on philosophy of language, social epistemology, philosophy of technology, and conceptual ethics.  Her ongoing research addresses the nature of generic representation, social essentialism, fake news, manipulation by AI, and conceptual change.

Email: rachel.sterken@gmail.com

Professor John Wong
Associate Dean (Undergraduate)
Professor Wong oversees BA admissions and undergraduate student matters. He is the Faculty Academic Advising Coordinator, and chairs the Faculty Student and Staff Joint Consultative Committee. A business historian, Professor Wong focuses on the flow of people, goods, capital and ideas. With a particular interest in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta/Greater Bay Area, his research explores how such flows connected the region to the Chinese political center in the north as well as to maritime partners in the South China Sea and beyond.

Email: jdwong@hku.hk