Rector Of The University Of Dundee
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The rector of the University of Dundee is elected by the matriculated students of the
University of Dundee The University of Dundee is a public research university based in Dundee, Scotland. It was founded as a university college in 1881 with a donation from the prominent Baxter family of textile manufacturers. The institution was, for most of its ...
. From 1967 (when the university gained independence from the University of St. Andrews) to 2010, the rector was automatically a full member of the University Court (the university governing body). The rector also had the right to appoint an assessor, who was also a full member of the University Court. Following changes made to the university charter in August 2010, the rector must choose to take up full membership of the University Court or appoint an assessor who has full voting rights. If the rector chooses not take up full membership of court, they retain the right to receive court papers and attend its meetings but not to vote. The present holder of the position is Keith Harris, an alumnus of the university who was elected to the position in 2021. He succeeded the broadcaster Jim Spence, who was elected in 2019 and was formally installed as rector in a ceremony held on 9 September 2019. Aside from their official duties to the university, the rector is charged with the responsibility of representing the students of the university who elect a new rector for a three-year term. The rector is officially installed in a ceremony soon after their election by the university's chancellor or, in their place, the vice-chancellor.


History

The position of
rector Rector (Latin for the member of a vessel's crew who steers) may refer to: Style or title *Rector (ecclesiastical), a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations *Rector (academia), a senior official in an edu ...
in the
ancient universities The ancient universities are seven British and Irish medieval universities and early modern universities that were founded before 1600. Four of these are located in Scotland (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and University of St Andrews, St Andre ...
of Scotland dates back centuries and is one of the oldest offices in academic governance in Scotland. To this day, it exists only in the ancient universities of Scotland and at the
University of Dundee The University of Dundee is a public research university based in Dundee, Scotland. It was founded as a university college in 1881 with a donation from the prominent Baxter family of textile manufacturers. The institution was, for most of its ...
, which inherited some of the traditions and governance structure from the
University of St Andrews The University of St Andrews (, ; abbreviated as St And in post-nominals) is a public university in St Andrews, Scotland. It is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, oldest of the four ancient universities of Scotland and, f ...
. The modern rectorship evolved and was given legal status under the
Universities (Scotland) Act 1889 The ancient university governance structure in Scotland is the organisational system imposed by a series of Acts of Parliament called the Universities (Scotland) Acts 1858 to 1966. The Acts applied to what were termed the 'older universities': the ...
. Prior to 1967, the University of Dundee was an integral college of the
University of St Andrews The University of St Andrews (, ; abbreviated as St And in post-nominals) is a public university in St Andrews, Scotland. It is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, oldest of the four ancient universities of Scotland and, f ...
and styled as Queen's College, Dundee, or University College, Dundee. The rector of the university represented students at all the constituent colleges of St Andrews, including Queens College, Dundee. Therefore, before its independence, the
rector of the University of St Andrews The Lord Rector of the University of St Andrews is an elected position, usually also the president of the University Court of the University of St Andrews; the University Court is the supreme governing body of the university. Overview The Rec ...
was rector and the appropriate official for covering what was to become the University of Dundee. On gaining independent university status in 1967, the position of Rector of the University of Dundee was created under Article 5 of the university's Royal Charter, which states: :''"There shall be a Rector of the University who shall be elected by the matriculated students of the University in such manner and for such period as may be prescribed by the Statutes."'' Since 1967, there have been thirteen rectors of the University of Dundee, three of which have served two consecutive terms. Notable is the legend of unconfirmed certainty that a hamster was once nominated for the post. Its acceptance of the nomination was allegedly made with an ink-paw print, which was not permitted by the university on the grounds that true consent could not be assured, and duress may have been involved. The legend may be based on the confirmed story of a
goat The goat or domestic goat (''Capra hircus'') is a species of Caprinae, goat-antelope that is mostly kept as livestock. It was domesticated from the wild goat (''C. aegagrus'') of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the ...
named Mervyn who was nominated for the position in 1971, but rejected by the returning officer. A dispute over the validity of the 1971 election result caused an unofficial second poll to be organised by the Students' Association, and Mervyn was permitted to stand in this. Although Mervyn did not win, he beat Paul Foot for third place.


Current status

As mentioned above, the position exists in common throughout the
ancient universities of Scotland The ancient universities of Scotland () are medieval universities, medieval and renaissance universities that continue to exist in the present day. Together, the four universities are the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, ol ...
with rectorships at the Universities of
Glasgow Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...
,
Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...
,
Aberdeen Aberdeen ( ; ; ) is a port city in North East Scotland, and is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, third most populous Cities of Scotland, Scottish city. Historically, Aberdeen was within the historic county of Aberdeensh ...
and
St Andrews St Andrews (; ; , pronounced Ź°Ź²ÉŖŹŽĖˆrĖ iː.ɪɲ is a town on the east coast of Fife in Scotland, southeast of Dundee and northeast of Edinburgh. St Andrews had a recorded population of 16,800 , making it Fife's fourth-largest settleme ...
. Together, the rectors combine to form the Scottish Rectors Group. Rectors also appoint a rector's assessor, who may carry out their functions when temporarily absent from the university. In many cases, such as the terms of Lorraine Kelly or Tony Slattery, the relevant assessor carried out the majority of the rector's functions: both only rarely attended court meetings in person, but Kelly was notable for participation in many fund raising and charitable activities connected with the university.


Election and installation

Rectors are nominated by the gathering of fifty signatures by students. Close to the rectorial election, the Students' Association traditionally hosts a
hustings A husting originally referred to a native Germanic governing assembly, the thing. By metonymy, the term may now refer to any event (such as debates or speeches) during an election campaign where one or more of the candidates are present. Devel ...
debate, known as the Hecklings, in which all nominees get a chance to put forward their case. The nominees also traditionally make an appearance on the university campus during the election day to canvass for last minute support, assisted by a campaign team of students. The election is organised by a member of the Senatus Academicus, usually the Academic Secretary. If an election is tied between two candidates, the Chancellor has the deciding vote on the matter. Neither staff members at Dundee nor students matriculated at any university are eligible to stand The election is always held in January or February if the election is not precipitated by a resignation during the rector's term of office, on a day appointed by the Senatus Academicus in consultation with the
Students' Association A students' union or student union, is a student organization present in many colleges, universities, and high schools. In higher education, the students' union is often accorded its own building on the campus, dedicated to social, organizatio ...
. The installation is held usually two or three months following the election. In the past, the ceremony was held in the
Caird Hall The Caird Hall is a concert auditorium located in Dundee, Scotland. It is a Category A listed building. History The site currently occupied by the building was occupied by a series of closes and tenements. The foundation stone for the building ...
in the City Centre, but recent ceremonies have been held in the university's own Bonar Hall, the last ceremony was expected to take place in the smaller Ustinov Room of the Bonar Hall, but it had to be moved at the last minute to a lecture theatre in the new teaching block as a result of unexpected demand. The installation itself is made by the Chancellor (or, if unavailable, the Vice-Chancellor) with the formal introduction of the rector to the students being made by the president of the Students' Association. Following a meeting with the
Lord Provost A lord provost () is the convenor of the local authority, the civic head and the lord-lieutenant of one of the principal cities of Scotland. The office is similar to that of a lord mayor. Only the cities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Stirlin ...
of Dundee, the rector is 'dragged' in the university's
carriage A carriage is a two- or four-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle for passengers. In Europe they were a common mode of transport for the wealthy during the Roman Empire, and then again from around 1600 until they were replaced by the motor car around 1 ...
from
Dundee City Chambers Dundee City Chambers is a municipal facility in City Square, Dundee, Scotland. The city chambers, which is headquarters of Dundee City Council, is a Category B listed building. History The building was commissioned to replace the old town house ...
to the university by one of the sports teams in a parade, often stopping off at
public houses A pub (short for public house) is in several countries a drinking establishment licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term first appeared in England in the late 17th century, to differentiate private ho ...
along the way for refreshments.


List of rectors


1968 – Peter Ustinov

''Served two terms'' Installation: 16 October 1968 Sir
Peter Ustinov Sir Peter Alexander Ustinov (16 April 192128 March 2004) was a British actor, director and writer. An internationally known raconteur, he was a fixture on television talk shows and lecture circuits for much of his career. Ustinov received #Awa ...
– actor, writer, dramatist, diplomat and raconteur. Ustinov was the first rector of the newly independent University. Peter ''
Freiherr (; male, abbreviated as ), (; his wife, abbreviated as , ) and (, his unmarried daughters and maiden aunts) are designations used as titles of nobility in the German-speaking areas of the Holy Roman Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and in ...
''
von The term () is used in German surnames either as a nobiliary particle indicating a noble patrilineality, or as a simple preposition used by commoners that means or . Nobility directories like the often abbreviate the noble term to ''v.'' ...
Ustinov (as he was fully styled at the time) was first elected in February 1968 after a vigorous and colourful campaign. He received 489 votes, against James Cameron's 303, Prof. C.N. Parkinson, 288,
The Rev. The Reverend (abbreviated as The Revd, The Rev'd or The Rev) is an honorific style given to certain (primarily Western) Christian clergy and ministers. There are sometimes differences in the way the style is used in different countries and chur ...
D.C. Caskie, 272, and
David Steel David Martin Scott Steel, Baron Steel of Aikwood (born 31 March 1938) is a retired Scottish politician. Elected as Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (UK Parliament constituency), Roxb ...
, MP, 183. The turnout was high, with 1535 students voting out of an electorate of approximately 2100 students. ''
Freiherr (; male, abbreviated as ), (; his wife, abbreviated as , ) and (, his unmarried daughters and maiden aunts) are designations used as titles of nobility in the German-speaking areas of the Holy Roman Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and in ...
'' von Ustinov appointed
Brigadier Brigadier ( ) is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore (rank), commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several t ...
F.A. Hibberd, CBE, TD, DL, as his assessor. As rector, Ustinov moved the role from being merely a figurehead to taking on a political role, negotiating with militant students. In the February 1971 rectorial election, he narrowly defeated
Michael Parkinson Sir Michael Parkinson (28 March 1935 – 16 August 2023) was an English television presenter, broadcaster, journalist and author. He presented his television talk show '' Parkinson'' from 1971 to 1982 and from 1998 to 2007, as well as other ta ...
, the broadcaster, by 8 votes after a disputed recount. Ustinov's name was given to a room in the university's Bonar Hall, which houses a sculpture of him. Ustinov was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree by the university in 1969, the only rector to have received this honour during his term of office.


1974 – Clement Freud, MP

''Served two terms.'' Installation: 25 October 1974
Clement Freud Sir Clement Raphael Freud (24 April 1924 – 15 April 2009) was a British media personality, broadcaster, writer, politician and chef. The son of Ernst L. Freud and grandson of Sigmund Freud, Clement moved to the United Kingdom from Nazi Germany ...
– writer, broadcaster,
Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * Generally, a supporter of the political philosophy liberalism. Liberals may be politically left or right but tend to be centrist. * An adherent of a Liberal Party (See also Liberal parties by country ...
politician and Member of Parliament. He was later
knighted A knight is a person granted an honorary title of a knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church, or the country, especially in a military capacity. The concept of a knighthood ...
, in the late 1980s. He was later elected
Rector of the University of St Andrews The Lord Rector of the University of St Andrews is an elected position, usually also the president of the University Court of the University of St Andrews; the University Court is the supreme governing body of the university. Overview The Rec ...
.


1980 – Lord Mackie of Benshie

The Baron Mackie of Benshie was a
Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * Generally, a supporter of the political philosophy liberalism. Liberals may be politically left or right but tend to be centrist. * An adherent of a Liberal Party (See also Liberal parties by country ...
(later
Liberal Democrat Several political parties from around the world have been called the Liberal Democratic Party, Democratic Liberal Party or Liberal Democrats. These parties have usually followed liberalism as ideology, although they can vary widely from very progr ...
) peer and former MP for
Caithness and Sutherland Caithness and Sutherland was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1997. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. The constituency was ...
. Lord Mackie of Benshie was elected in 1980. The
Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...
politician,
Teddy Taylor Sir Edward MacMillan Taylor (18 April 1937 – 20 September 2017), known as Teddy Taylor, was a British Conservative Party politician who was a Member of Parliament (MP) for forty years, from 1964 to 1979 for Glasgow Cathcart and from 1980 ...
, withdrew from the race at the last minute. Mackie's seconder and campaign manager was Craig Murray, himself a future rector.


1983 – Gordon Wilson, MP

Gordon Wilson was the Member of Parliament for Dundee East (1974 to 1987) and leader of the
Scottish National Party The Scottish National Party (SNP; ) is a Scottish nationalist and social democratic party. The party holds 61 of the 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament, and holds 9 out of the 57 Scottish seats in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, ...
at the time. Wilson was outspoken against government education cuts of the time. Gordon Wilson was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree by the university in 1986. His proposer was Craig Murray.


1986 – Malcolm Bruce, MP

Malcolm Bruce Malcolm Gray Bruce, Baron Bruce of Bennachie, (born 17 November 1944) is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Gordon from 1983 to 2015 and was the chairman of the International Development Select Commit ...
was the
Liberal Democrat Several political parties from around the world have been called the Liberal Democratic Party, Democratic Liberal Party or Liberal Democrats. These parties have usually followed liberalism as ideology, although they can vary widely from very progr ...
MP for
Gordon Gordon may refer to: People * Gordon (given name), a masculine given name, including list of persons and fictional characters * Gordon (surname), the surname * Gordon (slave), escaped to a Union Army camp during the U.S. Civil War * Gordon Heuck ...
(1983–2015), and was the president of the Liberal Club at the
University of St Andrews The University of St Andrews (, ; abbreviated as St And in post-nominals) is a public university in St Andrews, Scotland. It is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, oldest of the four ancient universities of Scotland and, f ...
.


1989 – Paul Henderson Scott

Paul Henderson Scott was a Scottish cultural and historical commentator and a veteran
Scottish National Party The Scottish National Party (SNP; ) is a Scottish nationalist and social democratic party. The party holds 61 of the 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament, and holds 9 out of the 57 Scottish seats in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, ...
member.


1992 – Stephen Fry

''Served two terms.'' Installation: 29 October 1992; 1 November 1995
Stephen Fry Sir Stephen John Fry (born 24 August 1957) is an English actor, broadcaster, comedian, director, narrator and writer. He came to prominence as a member of the comic act Fry and Laurie alongside Hugh Laurie, with the two starring in ''A Bit of ...
– comedian, author, actor and filmmaker. His rectorial address was entitled "Think of a lobster" and urged students to delay obsession with the mundane. In standing for election, he apparently declined a similar offer of nomination (made a week after Dundee's) from the students of the University of St Andrews. The main bar in the Students' Association building is named after his novel '' The Liar''. Fry was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree by the university in 1995.


1998 – Tony Slattery

Tony Slattery Tony Declan James Slattery (9 November 1959 – 14 January 2025) was a British actor and comedian. He appeared on British television regularly from the mid-1980s, including as a regular on the Channel 4 improvisation show ''Whose Line Is It Anyw ...
– actor and comedian. He was installed as rector shortly after the death of his father and following a well publicised period of mental health problems, which went on to challenge his rectorship. He found some of the demands of public events difficult to handle and eventually stopped attending the University Court meetings. The tabloids famously carried a story about him crashing his car whilst under the influence of drugs. His explanation, to a room full of students in The Tav Bar in the DUSA building, revolved around a cat and some chemical fumes, which led to calls for his resignation. He appointed Jason Wassell as rector's assessor who, in Tony's absence from Dundee, became his spokesperson on a number of university issues.


2001 – Fred MacAulay

Fred MacAulay Frederick MacAulay (born 29 December 1956) is a Scottish comedian. For 18 years, until March 2015, he presented a daily BBC Scotland radio programme '' MacAulay and Co''. He has appeared on numerous TV shows. Background Born in Perth, MacAul ...
– Scottish comedian and a presenter on
BBC Radio Scotland BBC Radio Scotland is a Scottish national radio network owned and operated by BBC Scotland, a division of the BBC. It broadcasts a wide variety of programmes. It replaced the Scottish BBC Radio 4 opt-out service of the same name from 23 N ...
. He is a graduate (accountancy) of the university. Stood against television presenter
Richard Whiteley John Richard Whiteley (28 December 1943 ā€“ 26 June 2005) was an English presenter and journalist, best known for his twenty-three years as host of the game show '' Countdown''. ''Countdown'' was the launch programme for Channel 4 at 4:45 ...
, Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament Nick Johnston and
Stirling University The University of Stirling (abbreviated as Stir or Shruiglea, in post-nominals; ) is a public university in Stirling, Scotland, founded by a royal charter in 1967. It is located in the Central Belt of Scotland, built within the walled Airthr ...
lecturer Professor Abd al-Fattah El-Awaisi.
David Hasselhoff David Michael Hasselhoff (born July 17, 1952), nicknamed "The Hoff", is an American actor, singer, and television personality. He has set a Guinness World Record as the most watched man on TV. Hasselhoff first gained recognition on the soap ...
was forced to decline his nomination as he could only commit to visiting the university once a year. MacAulay was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree by the university in 2005.


2004 – Lorraine Kelly

Election: 27 February 2004
Installation: 28 April 2004
Lorraine Kelly Lorraine Kelly (born 30 November 1959) is a Scottish television presenter. She has presented various television shows for ITV and STV, including '' Good Morning Britain'' (1988–1992), ''GMTV'' (1993–2010), ''This Morning'' (2003–2005, ...
–
East Kilbride East Kilbride (; ), sometimes referred to as EK, is the largest town in South Lanarkshire in Scotland, and the country's sixth-largest locality by population. Historically a small village, it was designated Scotland's first "new town" on 6 Ma ...
-born
television presenter A television presenter (or television host, some become a "television personality") is a person who introduces or hosts television show, television programs, often serving as a mediator for the program and the audience. It is common for people ...
. Beat
Lesley Riddoch Lesley Anne Riddoch (born February 1960) is a Scottish radio broadcaster, activist and journalist who lives in Fife. During the 1990s, she was a contributing editor of the ''Sunday Herald'' and an assistant editor of ''The Scotsman''. Since 2004, ...
and
David Shayler Delores Kane (born David Shayler, 24 December 1965) is a former British MI5 officer and a conspiracy theorist. Kane was prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act 1989 for passing secret documents to ''The Mail on Sunday'' in August 1997 that al ...
to the post. Lorraine Kelly was awarded honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree by the university in 2008.


2007 – Craig Murray

Election: 16 February 2007
Installation: 26 September 2007
Craig Murray Craig John Murray (born 17 October 1958) is a Scottish author, human rights campaigner, journalist, and former diplomat. While he was the British ambassador to Uzbekistan (2002–2004), he exposed the violations of human rights in that count ...
, a former British Ambassador to
Uzbekistan , image_flag = Flag of Uzbekistan.svg , image_coat = Emblem of Uzbekistan.svg , symbol_type = Emblem of Uzbekistan, Emblem , national_anthem = "State Anthem of Uzbekistan, State Anthem of the Republ ...
, graduate of the university and twice president of the university's
Students' Association A students' union or student union, is a student organization present in many colleges, universities, and high schools. In higher education, the students' union is often accorded its own building on the campus, dedicated to social, organizatio ...
. He resigned as an ambassador over differences with the
Foreign and Commonwealth Office The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is the ministry of foreign affairs and a Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom, ministerial department of the government of the United Kingdom. The office was created on 2 ...
relating to the use of torture and extraordinary rendition in Uzbekistan. Murray was elected by students on 16 February 2007 by a vote of 632 to 582, beating competition from former Scotland rugby captain and
British and Irish Lions The British & Irish Lions is a rugby union team selected from players eligible for the national teams of England national rugby union team, England, Ireland national rugby union team, Ireland, Scotland national rugby union team, Scotland, and ...
star
Andy Nicol Andrew Douglas Nicol (born 12 March 1971) is a former Scotland international rugby union player. A scrum-half, Nicol won 23 caps for Scotland and had brief spells as a replacement on two British & Irish Lions tours. Rugby Union career Amateu ...
. The rectorial installation of Craig Murray took place on 26 September 2007 in the new Heathfield teaching building. In his Address, the new rector discussed the structure of education in Scotland, creating a university environment better adapted to the needs of undergraduates and the status of ancient university government, including a commitment to campaign for the incorporation of the position of rector at all universities in Scotland. The University Senate refused Murray the customary honorary degree awarded to rectors on the grounds that he was not a distinguished individual.


2010 – Brian Cox

Election: 12 February 2010 Informal Installation in Student Union: 25 October 2010 Formal Installation at Caird Hall: 17 November 2010 Brian Cox,
CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...
, a Dundee-born film and stage actor, who also helped to support a fundraising campaign for the university's £21million
Sir James Black Sir James Whyte Black (14 June 1924 – 22 March 2010) was a Scottish physician and pharmacologist. Together with Gertrude B. Elion and George H. Hitchings, he shared the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1988 for pioneering strategies for rational ...
Centre. Cox beat
Robin Harper Robin Charles Moreton Harper, (born 4 August 1940) is a Scottish politician, who was a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Lothians region (1999–2011). He was co-convener of the Scottish Greens (2004–2008). Harper became a ...
,
Green Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495570 nm. In subtractive color systems, used in painting and color printing, it is created by a com ...
Member of the Scottish Parliament Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP; ; ) is the title given to any one of the 129 individuals elected to serve in the Scottish Parliament. Electoral system The additional member system produces a form of proportional representation, where ...
for the
Lothians Lothian (; ; ) is a region of the Scottish Lowlands, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills and the Moorfoot Hills. The principal settlement is the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, while other signific ...
, and Nikolai Zhelev, a professor at the
University of Abertay Dundee Abertay University () is a public university in the city of Dundee, Scotland. In 1872, Sir David Baxter, 1st Baronet of Kilmaron, left a bequest for the establishment of a mechanics' institute in Dundee and the Dundee Institute of Technology w ...
and the
Bulgaria Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey t ...
n
Honorary Consul A consul is an official representative of a government who resides in a foreign country to assist and protect citizens of the consul's country, and to promote and facilitate commercial and diplomatic relations between the two countries. A consu ...
to Dundee. Cox received 1034 votes to Harper's 315 and Zhelev's 273. Brian Cox was re-elected unopposed in 2013. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree by the university in 1993.


2016 – Mark Beaumont

It was announced in January 2016 that cyclist
Mark Beaumont Mark Beaumont may refer to: * Mark Beaumont (cyclist) (born 1983), English cyclist born in Swindon, adventurer, broadcaster, documentary maker and author * Mark Beaumont (journalist) (born 1972), English music journalist {{hndis, Beaumont, M ...
had been elected unopposed in succession to Brian Cox.


2019 – Jim Spence

In February 2019 it was announced that broadcaster Jim Spence had been chosen as the new rector in succession to Beaumont. Spence, who obtained a law degree from the university in 1986, was reported to be "more than a little surprised" but "deeply honoured" to be chosen for the post. In March 2021 it was announced that he was to stand down as rector. He said this decision was due to "a change in his commitments" which meant that he was unable to devote enough time to supporting students. Spence was a controversial figure, coming to loggerheads with students over key issues.


2021 – Keith Harris

A special election to replace Jim Spence was held at the end of November 2021. Artist's Manager Keith Harris defeated Mike Arnott, the secretary of the local Trades Union Council, by 101 votes to 95. An alumnus of the university, Harris is a former president of
Dundee University Students' Association Dundee University Students' Association (DUSA) is the students' association, legal representative and students' union for matriculated students of the University of Dundee. It is known locally as 'The Union'. Membership of the body is automat ...
. He said that he wanted " to use the position to make sure that all students are positively impacted by their time at the university".


Archives

The university's Archive Services hold a special collection of records relating to the rectors of the university as well as the papers of Gordon Wilson and Lord Mackie of Benshie.


References


External links


Video about Peter Ustinov's time as rector produced by the University of Dundee
{{Rectors of the University of Dundee University of Dundee
Dundee Dundee (; ; or , ) is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, fourth-largest city in Scotland. The mid-year population estimate for the locality was . It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firt ...
Dundee-related lists