Bristol University has announced the appointment of its first ever female Vice-Chancellor in its 146-year history. Professor Evelyn Welch will take up the role in September 2022.
Professor Welch is currently Senior Vice President (Service, People and Planning) at King’s College London, and prior to that has held leadership roles at the University of Sussex and Queen Mary, University of London.
She will succeed the current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Hugh Brady, who will leave his role at the end of July after seven years to take up the post of President of Imperial College London.
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Professor Hugh Brady, the 13th and current Vice-Chancellor of Bristol University, announced in September 2021 that he would be stepping down from the role at the end of July, triggering what the university called a "global" search for a new leader. Professor Brady was in post for seven years, although there is no formal limit on the length of a term as Vice-Chancellor.
Professor Evelyn Welch was born in Massachusetts, USA, and studied Renaissance History and Literature at Harvard University. She gained a PhD from The Warburg Institute in London. Prior to taking on the Senior Vice President role at King's College London, where she was Interim President in 2021, she held the roles of Pro Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning at the University of Sussex and Dean, Arts and Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and International at Queen Mary, University of London.
She is also the mother of Florence Welch, of Florence and the Machine fame, and is married to Professor Peter Openshaw, clinician and scientist specialising in lung immunology, particularly defence against viral infections, who gained prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic due to his expertise.
She will take up her role in September 2022, and Professor Judith Squires, the current Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, will take interim charge of the institution in August 2021 as it prepares to welcome new and returning students for the 2022/23 academic year.
Professor Evelyn Welch said: “Bristol is a remarkable global university in a great city. Its passionate, talented and innovative staff and students change lives for the better every day.
"I am excited about the University’s new vision and strategy and proud to be the first woman to lead such an outstanding institution. I look forward to serving the whole Bristol community to fully realise our potential and achieve our shared ambitions, locally, nationally and globally.”
Sir Paul Nurse, Chancellor of Bristol University, said that he is "delighted" by the appointment, adding: "She will be a fantastic asset to the University and is perfectly placed to help our community progress its academic and civic mission."
The Chair of the University's Board of Trustees, Jack Boyer OBE, who also oversaw the search for the institution's new leader, said that he is "proud" that Bristol will have its first female Vice-Chancellor, adding: "I have no doubt she will bring new insights and perspectives to the strategic leadership of the University; draw on her considerable experience to build on Bristol’s outstanding teaching and research, and guide us towards achieving our ambitious university vision.”
He added his thanks to Professor Brady for what he described as his "outstanding" leadership of the institution over the past seven years.
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