University of Brighton appoint new Vice Chancellor!

Professor Donna Whitehead has been appointed as the next Vice-Chancellor of the University of Brighton. Professor Whitehead will join on 1 February 2025 from the University of South Wales where she is currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Whitehead’s appointment is the culmination of an extensive search that involved widespread stakeholder engagement across the University and attracted a high-quality field of candidates. The Appointment Panel and the university’s Board of Governors unanimously agreed that she was the outstanding candidate to lead the university through the next stage of its development.

Professor Whitehead is an authentic leader with a clear vision for the University of Brighton, a strong affinity with its values and mission, and a firm belief in the power of education to unlock potential and shape futures. She has an impressive track record of delivering significant improvements to teaching quality, student experience and graduate outcomes, and has worked closely with external partners to increase civic and business engagement, and to strengthen and develop new partnerships focused on research and enterprise innovation.

Commenting on her appointment, Professor Whitehead said:

“I am delighted to be appointed as Vice-Chancellor at the University of Brighton. I look forward to working with staff, students and external partners to build on the university’s significant successes to date and to deliver the next stage of the university’s evolution.”