Top Role For Derby Pro Vice-Chancellor
11 October 2010
Professor Michael Gunnwill leave Derby in 2011 to take up his new role leading Staffordshire University
Michael has been an excellent Pro Vice Chancellor. He has led a varied portfolio with energy and has been a wonderfully collegiate member of our senior team
”Vice-Chancellor of the University of DerbyProfessor John Coyne.
One of the University of Derby's most senior academic managers is leaving to become Vice-Chancellor of Staffordshire University.
Professor Michael Gunn will leave Derby in 2011 to take up his new role leading Staffordshire University.
He joined the University of Derby at the end of 2006 as Pro Vice-Chancellor with responsibility for key parts of the University's academic work. Professor Gunn had previously been Dean of Nottingham Law School at Nottingham Trent University as well as holding positions at the universities of Nottingham, Westminster and De Montfort.
In his four years at Derby Professor Gunn has had a wide and varied portfolio during which he has led on academic development, student administration, research activity and the University's Buxton Campus. His academic background is in mental health law and the law of decision making; subjects on which he has written or co-authored more than 100 papers, case notes and reports.
He has taken direct responsibility of late for Derby's international student recruitment and partnerships; Faculty of Business, Computing and Law; Buxton Campus; School of Flexible and Partnership Learning; and Student Support and Information Services.
Professor Gunn said: "I am delighted to have been offered the post of Vice-Chancellor of Staffordshire University. I feel that the experiences I have had at Derby, under the excellent leadership of its Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Coyne, have enabled me to gain this new position.
"I am looking forward with real excitement to bringing my academic and business leadership to the highly regarded Staffordshire University, and building on its success."
Professor John Coyne, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, added: "Michael has been an excellent Pro Vice Chancellor. He has led a varied portfolio with energy and has been a wonderfully collegiate member of our senior team.
"He has been engaged with many of our key agendas but I know that he has taken great personal pride in the promotion of the University's research activity, which has become more extensive and embedded into our students' curriculum. Michael has built from the last research assessment exercise, in which 'world class' research was identified in several areas of the University's work."
Steve Burgin, Chair of Governors at Staffordshire University, said: "We have confidence that Professor Gunn has the appropriate credentials and experience to build upon the University's significant success and strong position in the higher education sector, and to drive forward the next exciting phase in the University's development."
Professor Gunn will succeed Staffordshire University's current Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor Christine King, who has held the position since 1995.
For further information please contact Press and PR Officer Sean Kirby on 01332 591891 or 07876 476103, or email s.kirby@derby.ac.uk.
