End of an Era as Muriel Robinson Steps Down at BGU

 26/04/2013

Professor Muriel Robinson has been at the helm of the institution for almost ten years and has overseen a decade of growth, modernisation and diversification at the university.

Having joined in 2003 as Principal of Bishop Grosseteste College, she was installed in January as the first Vice Chancellor of Bishop Grosseteste University.

During her time as the head of the institution the number of students at BGU and the range of degree courses offered has expanded significantly. BGU gained the authority to award its own degrees in 2006 and achieved university title in 2012.

She will be succeeded by the Rev Professor Peter Neil, who takes up the post of Vice Chancellor on 1st May 2013.

"So far I have been at school, at college, a teacher, a lecturer and finally a vice chancellor. At last the bell for playtime is ringing!" said Professor Robinson,

"I'm very much looking forward to the next phase of my life and I have so much more I want to do, from the trivial daily satisfaction of sending people birthday cards on time to the bigger plans around finding some enriching voluntary roles and finally having time to get to know this great county of Lincolnshire properly.

"Of course I shall miss so many of the people I have worked with, and in particular the stimulation of our student body, but I know that both for me and for BGU this is the right time to step down.

"We are on the brink of the next phase of our life as a university and it is appropriate for someone with new energies and new ideas to take BGU on that journey.

"I wish BGU every success in the years ahead and I'm really proud to have been associated with it. Being first Principal and then Vice Chancellor of Bishop Grosseteste University has been the best last job anyone could want!"

Notes to editors

• Professor Muriel Robinson studied English and Education to doctoral level at the University of London and worked as a primary school teacher before becoming an education academic at Brighton Polytechnic (later the University of Brighton).
• She was Deputy Head of the School of Education at the University of Brighton and Vice Principal of Newman College of Higher Education before becoming Principal of BG in 2003.
• Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln was established in 1862 and celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2012.
• It is an independent higher education institution based in Lincoln and awarding its own degrees at foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate level.
• It changed its name from Bishop Grosseteste University College to Bishop Grosseteste University in November 2012.