The University of Liverpool’s Chancellor, Colm Tóibín, has announced that he will step down at the end of this year from the position he has held since February 2017.
Colm is widely celebrated as an Irish writer of great distinction. He is the author of eight novels including Brooklyn, which won the Costa Novel of the Year in 2009 and was adapted into an Oscar-nominated film in 2015. Several of his works have been shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize. Earlier this year he was named Laureate for Irish Fiction by the Arts Council of Ireland.
Colm will continue to be an important presence at the University until he leaves and will be presiding at a number of our Graduation ceremonies taking place in July. A regular contributor to the Liverpool Literary Festival, Colm will also be taking part in an `In Conversation’ event in July with the Vice-Chancellor and Professor Dinah Birch as part of the Liverpool Literary Festival presents programme.
He said: “I am honoured to have served as Chancellor of the University of Liverpool for the past five years. I have enjoyed my time visiting the University and the city and, although I am standing down from this role, I look forward to my continued association with the University.”
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Janet Beer, said: “I would like to pay tribute to Colm for his work as Chancellor over the past five years. On behalf of the University I would like to thank him for the contributions, insight and expertise he has provided to our institution and community and for his continued support for the Liverpool Literary Festival.”
The next University of Liverpool Chancellor
The process to appoint a new Chancellor for the University of Liverpool will now commence and the intention is that an appointment will be announced in the autumn.
Staff, Alumni, Students and Council Members are invited to submit their nominations for a new Chancellor for the University.
The Chancellor is the nominal head of the University, but in practice this is a public-facing, representational role. The Chancellor should:
- Be a person of widely-acknowledged distinction – outstanding academic achievement or notable excellence in some other field is very important
- Represent the human and cultural values for which the University stands
- Be in a position to attend the University at least three times a year and benefit the institution publicly
- Not be an active politician
- Be someone who would make a positive connection with students and their parents.
Nominations will be submitted to a dedicated committee who will consider all of the nominations and make a recommendation to the Council and Privy Council. Nominees not chosen for the role of Chancellor will be considered for an honorary degree, where appropriate.
To provide an indication of the type of individual sought and to avoid nomination of individuals that are already committed to other institutions, a list of Chancellors serving elsewhere in the sector and a list of the former Chancellors of the University are available via the Governance website.
Submit your nomination
The search for a new Chancellor is being led by the President of the University of Liverpool’s Council, Carmel Booth.
Individuals can submit nominations by visiting: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/chancellor-nomination-form/
Nominations close on Friday 15 July 2022. Those nominating are requested not to divulge their nomination to the person nominated.
Further information is available from the Secretary to the Committee to Nominate a Chancellor: Emma Leonard, Governance Manager, Tel: 0151 794 2170 Email: e.leonard@liverpool.ac.uk