Published at 15:49, Wednesday, 25 March 2009

Dr Peter McCaffery: New Vice Chancellor for University of Cumbria

THE University of Cumbria has appointed a new vice chancellor. Dr Peter McCaffery, who will start his position in early July, will be joining the Cumbrian team from London South Bank University.

He said: “The University of Cumbria is a very exciting development. I look forward to working with colleagues to establish a new distinctive university which will make a real difference to people’s lives.”

Peter replaces Professor Chris Carr who leaves the university on April 30.

Peter, 56, was born and raised in Durham City and attended St Bede’s Grammar School, Lanchester, County Durham.

He has over 25 years teaching and research experience in American studies and history across a range of levels from GCSE to PhD in a variety of institutions from further education colleges to U.S. Ivy League.

Awarded a PhD by the London School of Economics and Political Science, Peter was appointed Idlewild International Teaching Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania and research associate at the Greater Philadelphia Project – a US Federal government initiative on urban regeneration – where he pioneered new modes of inquiry into political corruption in the American city.

His research on international university innovators, change management, performance management and staff development has been published widely in broadsheet newspapers and professional magazines and resulted in him being awarded a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship in 1997-98.

Peter has acted as consultant for a variety of bodies including the British Council, Opportunity Now Employers Federation and the governments of Botswana and Jamaica, as well as having been a governor of the most improved secondary school in England, 2004-8.

A Fellow, key associate and advisory board member of The Leadership Foundation for HE (LFHE), Peter is a national lead for the LFHE and the HE Academy on academic leadership, change management, equality and diversity and innovation in the curriculum and student support, all of which arose from his international best-selling guide: The HE Manager’s Handbook: Effective Leadership and Management in Universities and Colleges.

Peter has been married to his wife Carol for 30 years and has two sons: Sean, 22 and Kyle, 17.

He is currently pro vice chancellor at London South Bank University. He was formerly vice-principal of Bolton Institute of Higher Education and dean of the faculty of European, international and social studies at Thames Valley University.

Peter is a life-long supporter of Newcastle United Football Club and an International Masters’ Swimmer still trying to improve on a personal best of 40 seconds for the 50-metre butterfly. His other interests include literature, theatre and music.

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk