John Darling
The new dean of research at the University of Wolverhampton has expressed his delight at being part of "ambitious plans for investing in research at the university". John Darling, who was previously director of the Research Institute in Healthcare Science and professor of neuro-oncology at Wolverhampton, added: "The plan to match our (quality-related research) funding pound for pound for the next three years will have an enormous effect on sustaining our research for the next decade." Professor Darling said that Wolverhampton plans to invest in areas of research where it has "demonstrable strengths" and to develop new strands that will meet the needs of employers and allow the university to contribute to the region. "We also plan to significantly increase the proportion of staff engaged in research," he added. Professor Darling graduated with a BSc from the University of Kent before gaining an MSc and PhD from the universities of Reading and London, respectively. Before joining Wolverhampton in 2001, he was a senior lecturer in neuro-oncology at University College London. He said he hoped to expand research in all disciplines. "Our mission is to produce graduates across a wide range of subjects that can contribute to the regeneration of the Black Country," he said.
Leeds Trinity University College
Margaret House
Currently deputy vice-chancellor at Middlesex University, Margaret House will replace Freda Bridge as principal and chief executive of Leeds Trinity University College in January, and said she is looking forward to the move. "I have been a regular visitor to the North East, mainly associated with student fieldwork," she said. "Leeds is an amazing city and the surrounding countryside is beautiful." Professor House said she wanted to build on the successes already achieved at Leeds Trinity but acknowledged that it was a sizeable task. "It is true that smaller institutions have more limited scope to mitigate against some of the changes and challenges that are facing the higher education sector at present, but Leeds Trinity has a number of new opportunities as yet unexplored or exploited with which to counter the impact of these changes," she said. Professor House, who has been dean of both large and small schools, expected her transition from Middlesex to Leeds Trinity to be a smooth one. "My preference is for more intimate settings and the ability to deal with colleagues as individuals whenever possible," she said. After an undergraduate degree at Plymouth Polytechnic, she pursued doctoral studies at Middlesex Polytechnic (now Plymouth University and Middlesex University, respectively).
City University London
Amanda Goodall
A senior research associate at the IZA Institute for the Study of Labor in Bonn will take up a senior lecturer post in the faculty of management at Cass Business School, City University London, in November. Amanda Goodall said she was excited to be joining a business school "that's really going for it", saying: "There's a very optimistic air around the place. When I was a visiting fellow there, I would walk into the building and it was just so lively and the atmosphere was fantastic, so immediately that attracted me." She hopes to combine her teaching with research and is keen to exploit Cass' proximity to the UK's financial centre. "I'm definitely hoping to do more research, hopefully with the creative industries, and also possibly looking at banking," she said. "It'll be interesting to be back in London, and Cass is right there on the edge of the City. I'm very aware that they have a lot of strong relationships with world businesses because of their location." Dr Goodall worked in the fashion industry before taking a BSc at the London School of Economics, and later a PhD at the University of Warwick's business school. She has held positions at universities including Zurich, Cornell and Warwick.
University of Ulster
Deirdre Heenan
The University of Ulster has named Deirdre Heenan pro vice-chancellor of communication and provost of the Coleraine and Magee campuses in the latest stage of her long association with the institution. "I joined in 1994 as a lecturer, was made a professor of social policy... and I am honoured to be appointed to this exciting and challenging new post and looking forward to building on the strengths of the university and working to enhance and promote its work locally, nationally and internationally," she said. Professor Heenan, who took up her new position at the start of September, said that the "first few days in the new role have been hectic - a whirlwind of meetings, interviews and events; it certainly has been busy". She will lead Ulster's engagement with local communities, including business, employers, schools and voluntary groups, drive the development of the campuses by creating new courses and promoting research and innovation, and oversee all internal and external communication. Professor Heenan's connection with Ulster began as an undergraduate and then doctoral student. She was previously dean of academic development and provost of Magee campus in Derry-Londonderry.
Other changes
Tom Ward, who is currently pro vice-chancellor (academic) and professor of mathematics at the University of East Anglia, has been appointed pro vice-chancellor of education at Durham University. He succeeds Anthony Forster, who has taken up the position of vice-chancellor of the University of Essex. Professor Ward worked at the University of Maryland College Park and later at Ohio State University before taking up a lectureship at UEA in 1992.
The head of the School of Engineering at the University of Lincoln has become one of the youngest fellows of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Jill Stewart, who is aged 36, has joined a growing number of high-achieving mid-career engineers to take up a fellowship.
Birmingham City University has made two senior academic appointments. In the Birmingham Conservatoire, Louise Lansdown has become the new head of strings, while Rosemary Evans joins as head of the School of Law. Since 2001, Dr Lansdown has worked as senior lecturer in the School of Strings at the Royal Northern College of Music, and she has also held part-time teaching positions at the University of Manchester and Chetham's School of Music. Ms Evans has held a number of positions at Staffordshire University, where she was most recently dean of law.
William Liew will join the University of the West of England as director of finance in November. Currently Mr Liew is deputy director of finance at the University of Bristol. Previously he worked for KPMG in both London and Bristol, before moving to the University of Bristol in 1992. During his time there, he held a number of finance positions. "This appointment is a fantastic new challenge for me," he said. "I relish the opportunity to join UWE and I am looking forward to playing a key part in its future."