A message from Professor Karen Cox, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, the University of Nottingham.

I just want to say a few words of thanks as I leave this wonderful place with all its fabulous people.

I came to this University in 1994 and when I arrived I had no idea that this was the place where I would grow my career, my friendships and my family and have experiences I never would have dreamed of.

I achieved my PhD here, secured my first lectureship,secured a senior lectureship, was promoted to professor, became a head of school, a pro-vice-chancellor and now have the privilege of being deputy vice-chancellor. I have travelled the world from here, spent time at the University of Pennsylvania, Trinity College Dublin and Yale, met and worked with fantastic people, students, colleagues and mentors. In those 23 years I also got married, had two wonderful children and built a home and a life here in Nottingham.

For all of that I feel very lucky. Lucky to have a job that is so varied, that allows me to contribute to my profession of nursing and healthcare, to undertake teaching to develop future generations, to carry out research that changes and influences practice, to shape and lead an organisation of which I am very proud and to work in a sector which I firmly believes transforms lives.

But above all I feel lucky to have worked with fantastic people. A few who I want to mention include; Jane Robinson, the Foundation Professor of Nursing who took a punt on me and gave me the opportunity to work at Nottingham; Nicky James and Jim Carmichael, my PhD supervisors and early mentors; my colleagues in the School of Nursing who supported me as Head of School for five years; all of my UEB colleagues over the years; and importantly David Greenaway who took a chance on me in 2008 when I became pro-vice-chancellor and then deputy vice-chancellor in 2013. Getting to know David has been a real joy and privilege and I am forever grateful that he has been such an integral part of my career at Nottingham.

No one achieves anything on their own, we are always better versions of ourselves when we work together, and as such we achieve more together. So thank you for being with me on this journey and making me better and achieve more; I will take you all with me in my memories as I leave this place and go on to the next adventure.

Thank you all so much for your friendship and support, I shall miss you and this university very much.

Yours sincerely
Karen Cox