Cantor quits early

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Brian Cantor, will be leaving the University earlier than was previously thought.

Cantor, 65, has accepted a new position as Vice Chancellor at the University of Bradford and is expected to take up that role in September.

As Vision reported last month, Cantor’s successor, Dr Koen Lamberts, will join York in January 2014. University registrar David Duncan has said the current Deputy Vice Chancellor, Dr Jane Grenville, will become Acting Vice Chancellor for the three month period of 1st October to 31st December.

Cantor said he was “proud and deeply honoured” with his new role. “It is a great University and a great city. I look forward to working over the next few years with the University’s staff, students, alumni, friends and partners, to help build its future strength and success,” he said.

The news has brought mixed reactions from staff and students.

YUSU President Kallum Taylor told Vision: “Even though it is earlier than we expected, we respect Brian’s decision and wish him well with his new challenge. The interim gap between outgoing and incoming Vice Chancellors will be a trying time for the University’s Senior Management Group, but I’m confident that they’ll be able to see us through without any disruption under Jane Grenville’s stewardship. It is important, though, that business continues at a steady pace. There is too much going on for the University to just sit and wait for Dr Koen Lamberts to arrive.”

And Rosie Brear, a third year Philosophy student, said: “I feel a bit nervous having that long period of time with no one properly in charge. It seems like the changeover could be a bit of a shambles, especially when there are so many decisions that could be viewed as controversial in the pipeline, such as semesterisation.”

David Duncan has expressed his gratitude towards Cantor, telling Vision: “Professor Brian Cantor has earned huge respect not only in York but across the higher education sector – this is reflected in his appointment as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Bradford. We look forward to continuing to work with him in the context of the Yorkshire Universities group and wish him and his partner Gill all the very best for the future.”