Information on Loughborough

Loughborough Universitys Vice Chancellor named Woman of the Year

Posted on 18/03/2008
P. Klein

award

Loughborough University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Shirley Pearce, CBE, has been named ‘Woman of the Year’ at the prestigious Women of Achievement Awards 2008.

Organised by Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce, in association with International Women’s Day, the annual awards are designed to celebrate the achievements of women in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Professor Pearce joined Loughborough University as Vice Chancellor in 2006. On taking up the post she set about instilling a sense of team leadership that would enable the University to build on its success. In 2007, under her guidance, the institution continued to flourish.

Highlights include the selection of Loughborough to host the £1 billion Energy Technologies Institute, in partnership with the universities of Birmingham and Nottingham, the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and Advantage West Midlands; winning the Times Higher Award for ‘Best Student Experience’ for the second year running and the ‘Outstanding Support for Overseas Students’ award; and securing top 15 rankings in national university league tables.

Before joining Loughborough Professor Pearce was a Professor of Health Psychology at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Dean of the Institute of Health. In June 2005 she was made a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, for services to the NHS.

Speaking about the ‘Woman of the Year’ award, Professor Pearce said: “Such successes are testimony to the enthusiasm, dedication and hard work of all our staff and students, and I feel very proud to receive this award in recognition of their efforts which enable the University to go from strength to strength.”

Professor Pearce was presented with her award at a special ceremony held at the Walkers Stadium in Leicester on Friday 14 March.