President

Murray Edwards College, Cambridge is seeking to elect a new President (Head of House) to succeed Dorothy Byrne from September 2026. The Governing Body invites applications from individuals with a distinguished record of achievement and leadership in academia or another professional field.

Set in iconic 1960s buildings, and with fabulous gardens, the College is a diverse and vibrant community with a collaborative and inclusive ethos dedicated to providing academic excellence in the education of outstanding women from all backgrounds and championing gender equality.

The College (originally named New Hall) was founded in 1954 as a college for women

students at the University of Cambridge. Today it comprises a mixed-gender fellowship of 78 GB Fellows, 32 Bye Fellows, 260 postgraduate and 350 undergraduate students and around 120 staff.

Candidates should be committed to furthering the College’s aims, values and ideals, and supporting the highest level of research and education. They should have the ability to combine vision, ambition and consensus building in their leadership, along with the operational acuity to oversee the running of the College.

The office of the President requires a wholehearted participation in the life of the College community. The President will enjoy engaging with Fellows, students, and staff as well as alumnae, donors, and friends of the College.

Murray Edwards is more than just an educational institution.  Amongst other qualities, it is home to an extraordinary collection of women’s art that is integral to the life of the College.  It offers a world-class Cambridge education in a modern, comfortable home – and it's a place that students love very much. 

Applicants should submit a full curriculum vitae, including comprehensive details of key achievements and responsibilities, along with a covering letter addressed to the Search Committee, which fully addresses the competencies summarised in the role description and outlines their interest in Murray Edwards College to murrayedwards@minervasearch.com

For an informal discussion, please email murrayedwards@minervasearch.com

The closing date for applications is Thursday 31 July 2025.

It is anticipated that in-person meetings and interviews with shortlisted candidates will take place at Murray Edwards College in November 2025 and January 2026.

Murray Edwards College is a diverse community of students, staff, Fellows and Bye-Fellows.

In order to offer an environment in which everyone has the opportunity to thrive, we expect that all members of our community are treated with dignity, fairness and respect.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and to creating an inclusive culture that values and welcome diversity in all areas of the College.

Decisions and activities within the College, for example around admissions/appointment, progression or exclusion/dismissal shall be based on objective criteria such as conduct, merit and fulfilling the requirements of the member’s role in the College and no member shall be treated less favourably on account of a protected characteristic (defined by the Equality Act 2010 as age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation).

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