University of Surrey announces Deputy Vice-Chancellor appointment
Tuesday 23 December 2008
The University of Surrey is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Stephen Williamson as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation). Professor Williamson will take up the post at the end of January 2009.
The appointment is an integral part of the University’s recently-launched 10 year corporate strategy in which the University aims to be a leading national and international university. Surrey will achieve this by providing high quality scholarship attuned to the particular needs of society, leading-edge research, and a rich and varied learning environment both in the UK and at partner institutions overseas, all of which will meet the needs of its students and other stakeholders.
Commenting on the appointment, Professor Christopher Snowden, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Surrey stated: “We are delighted that Stephen is joining us. His very successful background in research-intensive universities coupled with his experience in industry makes him ideal for the new role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation to help realise our ambitions.”
Professor Williamson is currently Head of the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Manchester University. He is responsible for the strategic direction and academic leadership of one of the UK’s largest Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department in the UK, with a staff of 170 (of whom 60 are academics). His previous academic appointments have been as a Lecturer at Aberdeen University (1973-81), Senior Lecturer and Reader at Imperial College (1981-1989) and Professor at Cambridge University (1989-97). After a brief spell in industry (1997-2000) he returned to academe in Manchester in 2000, and has been Head of School since 2002.
Professor Williamson comments: “I am attracted to Surrey as an institution that has set itself an ambitious and challenging 10-year target which will require cultural changes at all levels in the university. I find change exhilarating and look forward to playing a leading role in helping to bring it about.”
Images and interviews are available on request.
Media Enquiries
Peter La, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 689191, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk