It has been confirmed today that Professor Judith Petts, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) will become the new Vice-Chancellor of Plymouth University in February 2016.
Professor Petts commenced her current role in January 2014 having originally joined Southampton as inaugural Dean of the University’s then Faculty of Social and Human Sciences in October 2010. During her time as Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Petts has developed and guided the new Research and Enterprise Strategy building particularly upon the University’s very successful Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014) results, which placed the University eighth in the UK for research intensity.
Over 30 years her research has made important contributions in the broad area of risk management including environmental governance and policy-making, environmental assessment, science-society relationships, and public perceptions and engagement. Throughout her career, she has undertaken a wide range of policy advisory and consultancy roles nationally and internationally, including currently for DEFRA, DECC and BIS and for the Research Councils (currently as a Council Member of BBSRC). Professor Petts was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to scientific research.
Professor Petts commented:
“Southampton has proved an amazing place to work over the last five years. From seeing a new Faculty come to life and really prosper, to helping with the strategic growth of the University’s world-leading research and enterprise. Southampton deserves to have the international profile for excellence that it has, and that makes it so easy to tell the power of the University’s multiple stories to our stakeholders.”
University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Don Nutbeam, said:
“Judith has made an important contribution to our University in two executive roles over the past five years. I have especially appreciated her willingness to take on university-wide responsibilities, her championing of public engagement, and her involvement with key external partners such as NERC and DEFRA.
Judith has been a great advocate for the University Blackout, and introduced the One Book, One Southampton project to the University. I am delighted that she has been appointed as Vice-Chancellor of Plymouth University and wish her every success in this important role.”
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adam Wheeler, will work with incoming Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Christopher Snowden, to ensure a seamless transition of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Research portfolio.