Durham University has named the head of the Humanities Division at the University of Oxford as its next vice-chancellor and warden.

Karen O’Brien will join Durham next January, following the retirement of Stuart Corbridge this summer.

Prior to her five-year spell at Oxford, which included leading the university’s preparations for operating safely during the Covid pandemic, Professor O’Brien was vice-principal for education at King’s College London.

Joe Docherty, chair of Durham’s council, said that Professor O’Brien, an expert on the literature and intellectual history of the Enlightenment, was “our unanimous choice as our next vice-chancellor”.

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“She is an exceptional leader with a distinguished track record in the university sector. Her depth and breadth of understanding and forward thinking will help her to lead Durham University to even greater success,” Mr Docherty said.

Professor O’Brien said she was “honoured and thrilled to be joining Durham University, which is distinguished for the excellence and impact of its research, the quality of its education and its colleges and wider student experience”. 

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“I am looking forward to leading and serving this great university as it approaches its 200th anniversary as a global community of learning,” Professor O’Brien said.

Professor Corbridge, previously deputy director of the London School of Economics, has led Durham since 2015. Following his retirement at the end of July, Antony Long, Durham’s deputy vice-chancellor and provost, will service as interim vice-chancellor until Professor O’Brien’s arrival.

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com