Sally Mapstone, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) and Professor of Older Scots Literature, has been appointed Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews. She will take up the post at the beginning of September.
St Andrews is Scotland's first university and the third oldest in the English speaking world. Formally constituted in 1413, it is now one of Europe's most research intensive universities and one of the top rated multi-faculty universities for research, teaching quality and student satisfaction.
Professor Louise Richardson, Vice-Chancellor at Oxford and formerly Principal of St Andrews said: 'I would like to thank Sally for the many invaluable contributions she has made to the University of Oxford over the years. As Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education, she has been responsible for the University's strategy and policies for teaching, learning, student support and admissions. She has also led important efforts, both in this role and previously as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Personnel and Equality, to diversify the student body and the curriculum.
'I wish Sally every success in St Andrews. It is a wonderful university and I hope that she will be as happy there as I was.'
Professor Mapstone is Professor of Older Scots Literature in the Faculty of English at Oxford and a Fellow of St Hilda's College. Her research deals primarily with literature in Scots and in Latin, with political literature and with book history. She is Honorary President of the Scottish Text Society, an Honorary Fellow of the Association for Scottish Literary Studies, and a Fellow of the English Association. From 2007 to 2010 she served as Chair of the English Faculty Board at Oxford; she became Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Personnel and Equality) in November 2009, and took up her current role in January 2011.
St Andrews Chancellor, Lord Campbell of Pittenweem, said: 'I am delighted that we have been able to persuade Sally to graduate to St Andrews from Oxford! She is a scholar of considerable distinction and an inspired choice to lead St Andrews as it seeks to consolidate its place among the best universities in the world.'
Professor Mapstone said: 'I will be very sad to leave Oxford after so many years, but am thrilled to be taking up the role of Principal of St Andrews. The focus on quality in education and student experience at St Andrews, its commitment to outreach, and its emphasis on independent-minded research all speak strongly to my own values. I have known the university for many years as a scholar of Scottish culture, and it will be an honour to be part of building its future.'
The search for Professor Mapstone's successor as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) will begin very shortly.