22/06/2026
We are thrilled to announce that Professor Charlie Jeffery CBE will be our new Vice-Chancellor and President.
Currently Vice-Chancellor at the University of York, a role he has served with purpose and distinction since 2019, Professor Jeffery is a highly respected leader in the sector, bringing with him a deep-rooted interest in the role of universities in promoting economic development and creating opportunities for wider access to education, both here in the UK and internationally.
Building on Southampton’s global reputation for excellence with real-world impact, he will bring a focus on preparing graduates to flourish in a rapidly-changing job market and on harnessing research to the benefit of our economy and society.
Professor Jeffery will take up the position on October 1, shortly after Southampton has played host to the British Science Festival, and as the university prepares to enter its 75th anniversary year.
Professor Jeffery said: “I am honoured to be joining the University of Southampton at such an exciting moment.
“I am hugely impressed by Southampton’s commitment to partnership working in the region and beyond. It is more important than ever that universities engage what they do with the communities they serve, and I look forward to building on this rich tradition of civic partnership to deliver impact locally, nationally and globally."
