Aidan joined the School in 2018 as an Excellence 100 Reader in International Politics and became Professor in 2021. His research focuses on the political voice of minority and marginalised communities, particularly Roma across Central and Eastern Europe and LGBTIQ communities.  

In May 2021 Aidan took on the leadership position of Associate Dean for Research and Innovation, before accepting the role of Acting Dean in September 2024. 

Before joining Loughborough University London Professor McGarry Aidan was a visiting scholar at Columbia University, New York, the Scuola Normale Superiore in Florence, the European Centre for Minority Issues in Germany and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. 

He was awarded an EURIAS Fellowship at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in Amsterdam, where he was also a Marie Skłodowska Curie Fellow.  

Speaking about his appointment, he said: “Loughborough University London is an incredibly innovative and dynamic part of the institution. I’m excited to lead this fantastic interdisciplinary school and look forward to working closely with colleagues on both our campuses to deliver excellent research and teaching.  

Loughborough’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nick Jennings, added: “We are delighted to appoint Professor McGarry as Dean of Loughborough University London. He has a compelling vision for the next phase of the School’s development and I look forward to working with him on this exciting agenda.” 

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking. In 2026 Loughborough University London will celebrate its ten-year anniversary, another milestone for the School.