MP for Aberavon since 2001, Professor Francis is also an historian and educationalist who worked for several years at Swansea University where he played a pivotal role in the establishment of DACE and the South Wales Miners' Library.  

His new book (co-edited with Sian Williams) on the origins and progress of the Miners' Library will appear this autumn. 

Professor John Spurr, head of the College of Arts and Humanities, said:

'We prize Professor Francis's continuing leadership of our Coalfields Collection Advisory Committee, the Richard Burton Advisory Committee and the South Wales Miners' Library. 

His international work and his role as Chair of both the Joint Committee on Human Rights and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Archives and History are pertinent to the College's current endeavours to raise our international profile.

We will value his advice on the strategic direction of our work and his advice to students relating to his academic expertise."