Professor Joanna Newman appointed Vice-Chancellor of Goldsmiths
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Professor Joanna Newman MBE, FRSA has been appointed Vice-Chancellor of Goldsmiths, University of London.
Professor Joanna Newman, Goldsmiths' new Vice-Chancellor
With outstanding skills and experience of higher education in the UK and internationally, Professor Newman joins from SOAS University of London where she has been Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) since 2023.
She is Goldsmiths’ second female Vice-Chancellor and is the 14th leader of the University since opening as part of the University of London in 1905.
Professor Newman said: “Goldsmiths is one of the world’s most distinctive and creative universities, and it is an honour to be appointed its next Vice-Chancellor.
“I am excited by the opportunities sparked by its global reputation, built on a rich history and deep academic foundations. As a progressive university, Goldsmiths has a vital role to play in today’s rapidly-changing world.
I will use my experience and scholarship to champion our mission and values, strengthen our distinctive identity in teaching, research, and social impact, and navigate the challenges facing the sector with confidence and resilience.
Professor Joanna Newman
“In doing this we will support our students to achieve their ambitions, and forge fulfilling careers. Whether in the arts, humanities or social sciences, our graduates make a difference to the world through their talent, imagination, and commitment to positive change. This is the clearest expression of what makes Goldsmiths so special.”
The new Vice-Chancellor will join Goldsmiths in September 2026. Professor David Oswell will remain as Interim Vice-Chancellor until then before returning to his substantive role of Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange.
At SOAS Professor Newman has been responsible for education strategy, academic planning, quality assurance and institutional performance across research and education.
Achievements in this role include delivering institution-wide academic reform and improving student outcomes and reducing attainment gaps through a targeted institutional approach. Professor Newman has also delivered improved continuation rates, NSS improvements year-on-year and enhanced institutional positioning and performance in global rankings.
The appointment was made following a recruitment process which included consultation with students and staff to understand the qualities required in the next leader of Goldsmiths. The appointment was ratified by Goldsmiths’ Council at a meeting on 23 June.
Professor Newman brings outstanding experience to lead Goldsmiths through a time of change for our sector. This is matched by a deep understanding of Goldsmiths’ purpose and unique place in higher education in the UK and globally, which will help us build a bright future for our institution.
Tom Sleigh, Chair of Council
“I would also like to thank Professor Oswell for his leadership this academic year and his ongoing commitment to our university.”
Before joining SOAS, Professor Newman was the first female Secretary General of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), an international network of 500 universities.
Prior to this Professor Newman was Vice-Principal (international) of King’s College London. Her previous positions include director of Universities UK International and head of higher education at the British Library.
Professor Newman was a faculty member in the Department of History at SOAS, and was a Senior Research Fellow in History at King’s College London, and an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Southampton, specialising in the history of antisemitism, the Holocaust, migration, transnational history, refugee studies and Caribbean history.
She was awarded a Parkes PhD Studentship at the University of Southampton, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London. Her most recent publication is Nearly the New World: The British West Indies and the Flight from Nazism, 1933-1945, Berghahn, Oxford and NY, 2019.
Professor Newman has been a strong voice in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in international higher education and championing at intergovernmental levels the case for equitable access to higher education.
She is also a member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network’s Leadership Council, and a member of the High-level Advisory Group for Mission 4.7, a new initiative to accelerate policy and research efforts on education for sustainable development. She is a board member of the Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA) and Advance HE.