Professor Duncan French, Pro Vice Chancellor, and Head of College of Health & Science has decided to leave the University after thirteen years at Lincoln. Duncan shared the message below with colleagues this morning.

Following over thirteen years at the University, arriving in February 2012, I’ve decided that the time is now right to explore new opportunities. To prevent uncertainty, I have decided to leave the University at the end of 31st July 2025, which will then allow the appointment of a successor to begin.

Having arrived as the Head of Lincoln Law School until 2018, taken on the role of the first PGT Dean for the University, been the PVC / Head of College for Social Science during the Covid pandemic and then, more recently, established the College of Health & Science, it has been a busy thirteen years. I was also truly honoured to take on the role of the LGBTQI+ Senior Champion, as well as being on the Board of the University of Lincoln Academy Trust for a number of years and working closely with senior NHS colleagues to secure significant and strategic developments across numerous areas of common interest.

I am particularly pleased, in recent years, to have supported – sometimes in unseen ways, as is often the role of a Head of College – the latter stages of the successful accreditation of an independent undergraduate medical degree, the achievement of the E3 grant to establish the Lincoln Institute for Rural and Coastal Health, and the reorganisation of the College of Health & Science to face the future robustly and confidently with a continuing broad array of STEM and health-related disciplines.

There always remains more to do but I am sure the next generation of leaders will pick up the baton and carry on doing great work for the students and the region. I wish them all the best.

I have always also tried to remain research active in the field of international environmental law, as well as supervising some great research students. Recent collaborative work on the legal and governance opportunities concerning the planetary boundaries has re-energised my research bug.

However, carrying forward all of these endeavours and having never moved to Lincolnshire has not always been easy and has often been to the detriment of spending time with my children, and also my partner, Alec, to whom I now wish to give more time and attention.

As I move on, can I thank all those colleagues in the College and across the University who I have worked with over the years. A special thanks to my colleagues who made up the various College Leadership Teams, in both Social Science and Health & Science.