St Andrews to honour its Principal

The University of St Andrews will honour its own Principal later this month during the traditional St Andrew’s Day graduation ceremony.  Dr Brian Lang, who retires from the University at the end of the year, is one of five ‘great Scots’ to be granted an honorary degree.

Dr Lang will join fellow honoraries Sir Jackie Stewart, Simon Pepper, Bridget McConnell and Dr Barbara Rae for the ceremony on Thursday 27 November.  Both Dr Lang and Simon Pepper are being honoured for their services to the University as Principal and Rector respectively.

Dr Lang, who joined the University in January 2001, will take on the role of honorand as well as Principal and Vice-Chancellor on this occasion.  Though normally charged with overseeing Graduation from the other side of the lectern, Dr Lang will switch positions to collect his degree.  After almost eight years in service, he will join the ranks of the thousands of students he has witnessed graduate over the years.

Edinburgh-born and educated, Dr Lang’s tenure at St Andrews has co-incided with some of the most important developments in its near 600 year history, including a £100m investment in estate.  The outgoing Principal is credited with leading the University through a particularly challenging period, sustaining its position as one of the UK’s leading higher education institutions.

Outside of the University, Dr Lang is Chair of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Deputy Chair of the National Heritage Memorial Fund (and Chair of the HLF’s Committee for Scotland).

Dr Lang will be conferred his degree (Doctor of Laws) during the afternoon ceremony by Chancellor Sir Menzies Campbell, and will be joined on stage by Bridget McConnell (Doctor of Literature).  Bridget, the Chief Executive of Culture and Sport Glasgow, is no stranger to the Younger Hall – she graduated from the same stage with an M.A. (Honours) in Fine Arts in 1982.

Speaking ahead of the event, Sir Menzies commented, “Brian Lang has been an outstanding Principal of this University.  He leaves St Andrews in a pre-eminent position in Scotland and ranked among the best in Britain.  He has consistently provided leadership, drive and good judgement.  We are greatly in his debt.”

During the morning ceremony, honorary degrees will be conferred upon Sir Jackie Stewart (Doctor of Science), outgoing University Rector Simon Pepper (Doctor of Laws) and the artist Dr Barbara Rae (Doctor of Literature).  Mr Pepper, former Director of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Scotland, has served his three year term as Rector and his replacement was named last week as Scotland’s FOI Commissioner Kevin Dunion.

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS

FURTHER DETAIL ON PRESS ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE DAY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE NEARER THE TIME.

Issued by the Press Office
Contact Gayle Cook on 01334 467227 / 07900 050 103, email [email protected]
Ref:  St Andrew’s Day Grad
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