New Vice-Chancellor Joins St Mary’s

New Vice-Chancellor Anthony McClaran has today joined St Mary’s University, Twickenham.

Anthony joins St Mary’s from the Australian Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) where he has served as Chief Executive since 2015. Prior to moving to Australia, he was Chief Executive of the UK Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and Chief Executive of UCAS. He has held senior roles at the University of Hull and the University of Gloucestershire.

Anthony said of joining St Mary’s, “I am honoured to be joining the University today. St Mary’s drew me back to the UK because of its reputation as a values-driven university, firmly rooted in its Catholic foundation and committed, for 170 years, to delivering outstanding education. I look forward to the day soon when the St Mary’s community can all return to campus and life can return to normal.

“I would like to thank former Vice-Chancellor Prof Francis Campbell and Interim Vice-Chancellor Dave Hartnett for all they have done, especially in light of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and I look forward to leading St Mary’s on the next steps of its journey.”

Speaking at the time of Anthony’s appointment, Chair of the University Board of Governors Bishop Richard Moth said, “We’re delighted to welcome Anthony to St Mary’s. He brings a wealth of experience of the UK and international higher education sectors which will benefit the University greatly. Anthony will help lead the university to its next stage of development, following the historic achievements under Francis Campbell’s tenure as Vice-Chancellor.”

St Mary’s University recently achieved its highest ever position in all three of the UK-based university league tables. St Mary’s has been rated as the top university in London for student satisfaction. It hosts the only faculties in the UK with the ability to offer ecclesiastical degrees, the Mater Ecclesiae College, and its long-standing Education program was recently re-confirmed as Ofsted ‘Outstanding’. St Mary’s is at the cutting edge of new educational developments, including accelerated degrees in technical theatre and liberal arts, and unique study abroad opportunities.