University of Wollongong announces appointment of new Vice-Chancellor Professor Patricia Davidson
The University of Wollongong has announced the appointment of its first ever female Vice-Chancellor, after current VC Professor Paul Wellngs announced his retirement in March.
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The University of Wollongong has announced the appointment of its first ever female Vice-Chancellor.
Professor Patricia Davidson will step into the role in 2021, and will also be UOW’s first Vice-Chancellor who is also an alumna.
Professor Davidson will be the fifth Vice-Chancellor since UOW became an independent university in 1975, taking over from current VC Paul Wellings, who announced his retirement in March.
As Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Davidson will assume responsibility for the UOW Group which encompasses UOW’s global network of campuses including UOW in Dubai, the four campuses comprising UOW Malaysia KDU, UOW College Hong Kong as well as the University’s Australian campuses and controlled entities.
Professor Davidson will join UOW from her current position as Dean of the School of Nursing at Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, USA. Johns Hopkins University is one of the top private research universities in the world. Professor Davidson has held the role of Dean since 2013.
As a UOW alumna, Professor Davidson is returning to the place where she began her career in academia. She completed her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education at UOW and in 2013, received the University’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Prior to her studies at UOW, Professor Davidson was a clinician and nurse consultant undertaking her clinical training at Wollongong Hospital and St. Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney.
Professor Davidson said she was “ honoured and humbled” to take on the role at a critical point in history.
“I have watched the UOW expand and flourish since I started here as a student in the 70s and am excited to be part of the next phase of the university’s history and to build on the exceptional achievements of Vice-Chancellor Wellings and Chancellor Jillian Broadbent,” she said.
Professor Wellings will continue to lead the university until he stands down as Vice-Chancellor in May 2021, after 10 years at the helm of UOW.