About April McMahon
Born 1964. April McMahon is a British linguist and university teacher.
April Mary Scott McMahon (born 30 April 1964) is a British academic administrator and linguist, who is Vice President for Teaching, Learning and Students at the University of Manchester.
Having taught at the University of Cambridge and the University of Sheffield, she moved into academic administration while teaching at the University of Edinburgh. She was vice-chancellor of the Aberystwyth University (2011–2016), then a member of the senior leadership team at the University of Kent before joining the University of Manchester.
Early life and education McMahon was born on 30 April 1964 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Career McMahon began her career at the University of Cambridge, where she was a lecturer in linguistics and a fellow of Selwyn College, Cambridge, from 1988 to 2000. From 2000 to 2004, she was Professor of English Language and Linguistics at the University of Sheffield. She then joined the University of Edinburgh, where she was Forbes Professor of English Language from 2005 to 2011. She was additionally Head of the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, then Head of the College of Humanities and Social Science, and finally its vice-principal (planning and research planning) from 2009 to 2011.
In 2011, McMahon joined Aberystwyth University as vice-chancellor, the chief executive and academic head of the university. Her salary at Aberystwyth was £237,000, and when she left the university, she received an extra payment of £102,000. In 2016, she joined the University of Kent as deputy vice-chancellor (education) and Professor of English Language and Linguistics. In 2005, she was elected a Fellow of the British Academy (FBA), the United Kingdom's national academy for the humanities and social sciences. In 2012, she was elected a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales (FLSW).
Personal life McMahon married Robert McMahon in 1984 and has two sons and one daughter.
Selected works Her publications as first author or co-author / editor include:
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Important facts
People in April McMahon's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who is April McMahon?
British linguist
When was April McMahon born?
April McMahon was born on 30 April 1964 in Edinburgh.
What is April McMahon's occupation?
April McMahon is a linguist and university teacher.
What nationality is April McMahon?
April McMahon is British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). April McMahon. https://biography.guide/april-mcmahon/
MLA: "April McMahon." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/april-mcmahon/.
Chicago: "April McMahon." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/april-mcmahon/.
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