Scottish singer-songwriter Annie Lennox is set to become the new Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University.
Taking over from Professor Muhammad Yunus, Dr Lennox is set to become the fifth chancellor in the university’s history and the first woman to hold the position.
The position of Chancellor involves a number of formal and ceremonial duties, as well as providing support and promotion towards the university’s ambitions. The Chancellor also confers the degrees of the graduates at the university graduations.
Annie Lennox was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for AIDS in 2010 and has been a public supporter of many causes in her social activism including the likes of Amnesty International, Greenpeace as well as campaigning for LGBT rights.
Dr Lennox has also sung at number of different occasions such as singing at Nelson Mandela’s 70th & 90th birthday concerts and the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Concert.
Speaking of her appointment, Dr Lennox said, “It is truly a remarkable honour to be invited to become Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University. I am humbled by it, and intend to serve this outstanding institution in the very best way I can. Following in the footsteps of such an exemplary individual as Muhammad Yunus is somewhat daunting, but I’m very much looking forward to working with everyone in a collaborative way, so I can be of good value to the students and the establishment of University.”
Vice-Chancellor of GCU, Professor Pamela Gillies CBE said, “The vision and inspirational leadership of Chancellor Lennox will continue to set the moral compass, strategic direction and social actions of our University for the Common Good.
“The students, staff, and lay governors of the University feel privileged indeed that she has accepted the role of Chancellor and are excited by the prospect of what we might now achieve together over the coming years.”
Current Chancellor, Professor Yunus said he was “very happy to know that Dr Lennox had accepted the invitation to become the next and first ever female Chancellor of GCU”. He went on to note that Dr Lennox’s leadership would be of strategic importance to the University as it sought to achieve its social objectives.
Photo courtesy of Alexi Lubomirski.
