Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Andy Long will leave the university to become the new Vice-Chancellor of Northumbria University from 1 August 2022.

As Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Long has led operational planning and academic resources across the university, supporting Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West and colleagues across academic and professional services to ensure the delivery of world changing research, excellent teaching and the student experience. He serves on University Council and its Committees, as well as representing the university locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

During his term, Professor Long has also steered the creation of the new University Strategy setting out the institution’s strategic ambitions, goals and values; overseen the university’s response to the challenges of the pandemic and the recovery of its operations; and is currently leading the development of the new Castle Meadow campus.

Announcing Professor Long’s move, Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West said:

“I am delighted that Andy has secured the role of Vice-Chancellor at Northumbria University. During his long and distinguished career at Nottingham and within his academic field, he has demonstrated an unrivalled depth of understanding which I know will stand him in good stead at Northumbria. Of course, this is also a sad moment as we say goodbye to someone who has made numerous contributions to Nottingham from his time as a PhD student.  I hugely enjoy working with Andy and appreciate his wisdom, evidence-based approach and extraordinary commitment to the success of the university.”

Looking ahead to taking up his new role, Professor Long said:

“I am extremely pleased to be joining Northumbria University as its next Vice-Chancellor and am looking forward to the opportunities and challenges ahead. Of course, having worked at Nottingham for more than 30 years, I shall miss so many good friends and colleagues, and would like to thank them for supporting me at every stage of my time here.”

Professor Long has studied and worked at the University of Nottingham since 1990. Prior to his appointment as DVC he served as the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Engineering from 2015-2018, and before that as Executive Dean (2011-15) and Associate Dean for Research (2008-11). He also served as Associate Dean to the Graduate School representing Engineering (2007-11).

He has a BSc in Applied Mathematics from the University of Warwick, an MSc in Computer Integrated Engineering from Loughborough University, and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nottingham. He joined the staff at Nottingham in 1990 as a Research Assistant, and was appointed lecturer in 1994 before gaining promotion to a personal chair in Mechanics of Materials in 2003.

Professor Long is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. Throughout his time at Nottingham he has continued to teach undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as conducting research into high performance composite materials.

The university will commence recruitment for Andy’s successor as Deputy Vice-Chancellor shortly, with further details of the process published in Campus News in due course.