Dr. Tom Sperlinger

Biography

Tom Sperlinger serves as the Academic Director for Civic Spaces and is a Professor of Literature at the University of Bristol. His current role involves leading the design and implementation of public-facing collaborative spaces at the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, focusing on creating micro-campuses in areas like Barton Hill, Hartcliffe, and Withywood. Tom collaborates with various partners and communities, especially aiming to re-envision the university's role in addressing shared challenges faced by traditionally marginalized groups. He works with the Department for Education (DfE) on initiatives aimed at improving access to higher education, which includes participation in a task-and-finish group addressing cold spots in higher education. Additionally, he is involved with the Black Mountains College in Wales, focusing on blending further and higher education with public programs. An accomplished author, he penned 'Romeo and Juliet in Palestine,' a memoir detailing his experiences teaching in the West Bank. His writings have been featured in prominent publications such as The Guardian and the London Review of Books. Tom is also co-editor of 'Doris Lessing: Forming History' and is currently working on the 'Routledge Companion to Dangerous Books.'

Research Interests