Oxford University chief Prof Louise Richardson to leave at end of term

Louise Richardson became the university's first female vice-chancellor when she started in the role in January 2016

Oxford University's vice-chancellor Louise Richardson will leave when her seven-year term ends in December 2022.

She became the first woman to hold the position in January 2016. She will become the Carnegie Corporation of New York's president in January 2023.

Prof Richardson said it has been "the most exhilarating, challenging and rewarding period" of her career.

The university's chancellor said she has brought "passion, strong leadership and unending energy" to her role.

Lord Patten of Barnes said she would leave the university with "our very best wishes and deepest thanks".

Prof Richardson negotiated the deal which saw the university's scientists develop and distribute the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine in late 2020.

In 2017 she distanced herself from comments she made at an education summit urging students to engage with professors who had expressed anti-homosexual views.

And in June 2020 she appeared to support Oriel College keeping its statue of imperialist Cecil Rhodes.

Prof Richardson said her time in Oxford has been "the most exhilarating, challenging and rewarding period" of her career

The Carnegie Corporation of New York praised her for launching access initiatives and "significantly increasing" the socioeconomic and ethnic diversity of the university's undergraduate student body.

The number of UK-based BME students admitted to Oxford increased to 23.6% in 2020, from 15.8% in 2016. The population of England and Wales aged 18 to 24 is currently 19.4%.

Prof Richardson said: "My time at Oxford has been the most exhilarating, challenging and rewarding period in my career, and there remains so much more to be done together in the year ahead.

"At Carnegie I will be leading a foundation dedicated to my twin passions of education and peace, but Oxford - and my remarkable colleagues here - will never be far from my thoughts."

Prof Richardson was born in Ireland and studied at Trinity College Dublin.

She has degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Harvard University and was appointed vice-chancellor of the University of St Andrews in 2009.

The university said the process of choosing Prof Richardson's successor is "well-advanced".

A committee which will nominate the university's next vice-chancellor started work in July and is expected to submit a candidate in summer 2022.