Professor Stephen Decent will take up the post of Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research on 1 October. Professor Decent is currently Vice-Principal and Head of College at the University of Dundee. He is a professor of applied mathematics and previously worked at the University of Birmingham as Director of Research and Knowledge Transfer in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. He has led on research impact, knowledge exchange and commercialisation, external relations, public engagement and alumni and development.

Professor Sharon Huttly has been appointed to the newly created role of Pro-Vice-Chancellor Education and will start on 1 August. She is currently Dean of Studies at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and brings experience of 30 years in higher education teaching, research and management. She was a member of the senior management team at the London School.  Her research expertise is in child health and nutrition in low and middle income countries.

Professor Simon Guy has been appointed as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences starting on 1 October. He is currently Head of the School of Environment, Education and Development and part of the senior leadership team of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Manchester. Professor Guy’s research focusses on the design and development of sustainable, low-carbon cities and is Founding Director of the Manchester Architecture Research Centre, a research group bringing together architects, planners, engineers and social scientists to explore design and society.

In addition, Lancaster has previously announced that Professor Neil Johnson, currently Pro-Dean Education at the Warwick Medical School and a General Medical Practitioner, will join Lancaster as Dean of Health and Medicine in August 2014.

Welcoming the new appointments Lancaster University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark E. Smith said:  “The last 50 years have seen the University go from strength to strength and our talented new colleagues join us at a significant and exciting point in the University’s history. They all bring with them a wealth of experience, knowledge and skills to these key roles from across the UK sector.”