Appointments

Mathematician Bill Bruce has been appointed pro vice-chancellor at Edge Hill University, taking responsibility for its academic portfolio. An expert in singularity theory, Professor Bruce was previously deputy vice-chancellor at the University of Hull. He has also worked at the universities of Cork, Newcastle, Liverpool and Five Colleges in Massachusetts. He has chaired several committees for the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and is on the board of the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences in Cambridge.

A professor from the University of Ulster has been appointed an international fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. Hugh McKenna, dean of the faculty of life and health sciences, becomes one of only three academics in Europe to receive the accolade. Professor McKenna is a strong advocate of involving patients and their families in healthcare decision-making. He is an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, fellow of the Royal College of Nursing and fellow of the European Academy of Nursing Science.

A lecturer at the University of Wales, Newport is to demonstrate the power of music at an orphanage in Bethlehem. Liz Coombes, a visiting lecturer in creative therapies in education, will spend six weeks at the SOS Children's Village, which provides a home to children caught up in conflict in Palestine. On the project, which is run by the UK charity Music as Therapy International, Ms Coombes will teach social workers, teachers and other carers how to use music to help children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Clare Davison has taken on a new role as principal at Kingston Maurward College, which offers degrees in partnership with Bournemouth University. Ms Davison, who was previously deputy principal of the college, will be responsible for expanding provision at its Dorchester campus. Before joining the college, she spent seven years as head of management and professional studies at Bournemouth and Poole College.

The General Dental Council has appointed a professor from Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry to its recently restructured council, which takes office from 1 October. Liz Davenport, professor of dental education at the institution, is one of 12 experts to join the council, along with 12 laypeople. Professor Davenport has been appointed for an initial four-year term.

Two eminent writers have taken new roles within Manchester Metropolitan University's Writing School. Jean Sprackland, who won the 2007 Costa Poetry Award for her collection of poems, Tilt, has been named senior lecturer in creative writing, and Michael Symmons Roberts, a Whitbread Award-winning poet, has been appointed professor of poetry. They will work alongside the Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, who is professor of poetry at the institution.

Sue Law has been named director of academic practice at the Higher Education Academy, a role that will see her working to promote teaching in higher education and improving the student learning experience. Professor Law's career has included spells in management, teaching and research roles at the universities of Warwick, Nottingham Trent, Keele, Liverpool and Staffordshire. She joins from Coventry University, where she was professor of education and head of research in the Centre for the Study of Higher Education.

Several appointments have been made at Gresham College, which provides free public lectures in London. Television and radio broadcaster Simon Thurley has been made visiting professor of the built environment. The architectural historian is chief executive of English Heritage. His previous posts have included director of the Museum of London and curator of Historic Royal Palaces. Glenn D. Wilson has been named visiting professor of psychology. Professor Wilson, who has published more than 150 scientific articles and 33 books, is an expert on individual differences, sexual behaviour, social and political attitudes and performing arts psychology. Ken Costa, chairman of the financial advisory firm Lazard International, has been appointed professor of commerce by the college. He was previously vice-chairman of the investment bank UBS. William Ayliffe has been appointed professor of physic and other biological sciences. He is a consultant ophthalmologist with the National Health Service and at the Lister Hospital in London.

Four academics have been awarded professorships at the University of Wolverhampton. John Traxler, director of the university's Learning Lab and associate editor of the International Journal of Mobile and Blended Learning, becomes professor of mobile learning. Garry Homer, technical director of the university's IT Futures Centre and e-Innovation Centre, has been named professor of technology transfer. Mike Haynes, a former reader at Wolverhampton's business school, has been made a professor of international political economy. Kevin Kibble, director for research and scholarship at the department of engineering and technology, becomes professor of materials engineering at the institution.

John Kemp has been named the new director of strategic development at the Scottish Funding Council. He has been deputy director of strategic development at the SFC since 2000, and has also held a number of other senior higher education policymaking roles. The SFC is responsible for allocating funds to colleges and universities in Scotland.

The vice-principal of St Mary's University College, Twickenham has announced her retirement. Mary Eaton, who has been in the post since 1993, first joined the institution 33 years ago. Principal Arthur Naylor paid tribute to "the immense contribution Dr Eaton has made to the development of the university college and its mission" in the various posts she has held over the three decades. She will leave the institution on 31 October.

Timothy Collins has been named the new director of research and graduate studies at University College Falmouth. A member of the 2010 Arts and Humanities Research Council peer-review committee, Professor Collins joins from the University of Wolverhampton, where he was associate dean and the founding director of the Centre for Art, Design, Research and Experimentation. His area of expertise lies in the field of art, ecology and social practice. Professor Collins formerly spent eight years at Carnegie Mellon University in the US, where he was a distinguished research fellow in the Studio for Creative Inquiry.