Who should be our new Chancellor?

Following John Bercow’s decision to step down as our University Chancellor in November 2021, we have begun the search for the next person to take on the prestigious, ambassadorial role of Chancellor of the University of Essex, the ceremonial head of the University.

All members of our University community are invited to nominate people they feel would be right for this position. We want to consider nominations and suggestions from the widest possible field of candidates and are looking for someone who can be an inspirational representative of and ambassador for the University of Essex and who truly shares our values, our ethos and our commitment to excellence in research and education.

Depending on their interests and availability, the Chancellor’s contribution to the life and development of our University can be wide ranging. The role could encompass engaging with our staff and students, promoting understanding across the diverse range of cultures and backgrounds on our campuses and acting as an ambassador for the University externally. They may also be called upon to represent Essex at alumni events both in the UK and around the world. Our Chancellor typically visits the University at least four times a year and presides at graduation ceremonies and the Annual Meeting. They usually hold office for five years, although this period can be extended to a maximum of ten years.

The deadline for nominations is 28 October. All nominations will be considered by a joint committee of Senate and Council. Following this, we hope that our new Chancellor will be able to take up the office in 2023.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the appointment of our next Chancellor, and I hope as many of you as possible will take this chance to make a nomination using the online survey. Any questions should be directed to the Governance Office