Staff news

New Provost appointed

The University of Edinburgh brings new Provost role into senior team.

Professor Kim Graham, currently Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Enterprise at Cardiff University has today been announced as the first ever Provost of the University of Edinburgh.

The creation of this new post, as well as other changes to the senior leadership team, came as a number of post-holders reached the end of their terms of office. No additional posts have been created but responsibilities within the senior team have changed, with the Provost becoming the Chief Academic Officer for the University.

Professor Graham is a University of Edinburgh graduate, securing her BSc in Psychology in 1990. Since then, she has become a leading cognitive neuroscientist and champion of research activities. First arriving in Cardiff in 2007, she was attracted by the opportunity to lead the Wales Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, and brain imaging opportunities being developed at the Cardiff University Brain Imaging Centre (CUBRIC).

I am excited to be starting a new chapter in my academic life, returning to the University of Edinburgh in the role of Provost, where I will help deliver Edinburgh's Strategy 2030.

As Pro Vice-Chancellor Research, Innovation and Enterprise, I got to see Cardiff's research income reach its highest ever level, the successful award of two major Strengths in Places bids, as well as a doubling of Cardiff fellowships and externally-funded Centres.

I have worked with the most amazing people, committed to giving their all to furthering our outstanding track record on research and innovation.

Professor Kim GrahamProvost of the University of Edinburgh

Professor Graham will take up the position of Provost in mid-2022. The Provost replaces the Senior Vice-Principal role, will provide leadership, direction and strategic evaluation of academic and research matters, and will also deputise for the Vice-Chancellor when required. 

I am pleased to announce that, following an extensive recruitment process, Professor Kim Graham has been appointed as the new Provost of the University. Professor Graham will be joining us from Cardiff University and brings extensive experience of senior leadership in higher education.

This is a significant new role and will lead all of our academic staff in continuing to build on our world-class teaching and research. The changes being made to our senior team will freshen and strengthen the University’s leadership as we work towards delivering our ambitious vision set out in Strategy 2030 and I look forward to working with our new team going forward.

Professor Peter MathiesonPrincipal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh

Other changes to the senior leadership team include the appointment of Professor Christina Boswell as the new Vice-Principal Research and Enterprise. Professor Boswell is currently Dean of Research, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences within the University and has a strong research background in the fields of immigration and public policy.

Current University Secretary and Vice-Principal for Strategic Change, Sarah Smith, will also be moving to a new part-time Vice-Principal role concentrating on developing leadership across the University, starting mid-2022.

Further recruitment is currently underway for two Vice-Principals/Heads of College: in the College of Science and Engineering and College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Post-holders will be announced early in the new year.

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