Outgoing HMC Principal to become Gresham College’s new Provost

Gresham College, London’s oldest higher-education institute, has announced that Professor Jane Shaw is to become its next Provost. Professor Shaw, who is retiring as Principal of Harris Manchester College today, on 30 September, after a seven-year tenure, will take up the role in December.

Based in Holborn, Gresham College has been providing free, educational lectures since 1597 when Sir Thomas Gresham founded the College to bring Renaissance Learning to Londoners. Its prestigious history includes links to some of the leading figures of the scientific revolution including Robert Hooke and Sir Christopher Wren. As part of her role, Professor Shaw will curate the academic programme of the College.

The announcement follows the other recent news of an award to Professor Shaw of a Leverhulme Emeritus Fellowship to complete her book Seeking Infinity: Mystics in the Modern World (forthcoming with Penguin Allen Lane), and has taken up a Fellowship at the Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study in Uppsala this term. She will also remain Professor of the History of Religion here in the University of Oxford.

Professor Jane Shaw, who will become Gresham College's new Provost in December

Image: Robert Taylor

Richard Smith, Executive Director of Gresham College, commented: “We are delighted that Professor Shaw is joining Gresham College as our Provost.

“We were seeking a truly exceptional candidate with the necessary academic reputation and leadership skills to build on the 400-year tradition of Gresham College, while developing innovative ideas to realise its vision, mission and values.

“Professor Shaw will bring her experience and expertise to guide our academic offering, ensuring we can continue to host high quality and free lectures in the heart of the City of London.”

Gresham College’s long history of making knowledge accessible to as many people as possible has parallels with Harris Manchester’s own history. HMC was founded to provide an education to all those who could not accept the beliefs of any particular denomination, and its mission to break down barriers to higher education continues today as Oxford’s only college dedicated to teaching and supporting mature students.

Professor Shaw commented: “In their history and current activities, the two institutions share a clear commitment to removing obstacles to disseminating knowledge and accessing the highest-quality education – especially in promoting lifelong learning. I look forward to building on and continuing this work at Gresham College.”

Read the full press release on the Gresham College website.