Rotary Scholar Louise Richardson takes top post at Oxford University

Wed, Jul 1st 2015 at 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

.

Former recipient of a Rotary Scholarship, Louise Richardson, has been nominated as Oxford University’s first female vice chancellor, making her Oxford’s first female holder of the post since a leader was appointed nearly eight centuries ago in 1230.

The Irish political scientist, who is currently principal at St Andrews University in Scotland, is set to take up the role at the beginning of next year, subject to the approval of the Oxford congregation.

Louise was offered a Rotary scholarship to study at The University of California, Los Angeles in 1977 during her time studying History at Trinity College Dublin, and she described her time overseas as a “totally liberating experience”. She went on to acquire three different masters degrees in History, Political Science and Government respectively before achieving a PHD in Government from Harvard.

Louise has been put forward for the position by a nominating committee led by Oxford’s chancellor, Lord Patton of Barnes, who said the panel had been “deeply impressed” by Richardson’s commitment to the values that the university holds dear.

Louise commented: “Oxford is one of the world’s great universities. I feel enormously privileged to be given the opportunity to lead this remarkable institution during an exciting time for higher education.

“I am very much looking forward to working with talented, experienced, and dedicated colleagues to advance Oxford’s pre-eminent global position in research, scholarship, and teaching.

'What We Do' Main Pages: