Cathal BarryDr Francis Campbell “delighted” to be joining St Mary’s
Former British Ambassador to the Vatican, Dr Francis Campbell has been appointed principal of Mary’s University College, Twickenham.
Dr Campbell, who is a parishioner of Westminster Cathedral, was born in Newry in Co. Down and is currently Head of the Policy Unit and Director of Innovation at UK Trade and Investment. He will join St Mary’s in April 2014 and work alongside Interim Principal Dr Arthur Naylor until the end of the academic year during a handover period.
Making the announcement, St Mary’s Chair of Governors Bishop Richard Moth said Dr Campbell is a committed Catholic whose “experience in the public sphere, which includes service overseas, will enable him to foster St Mary’s place on the world stage”. “St Mary’s can look forward to new opportunities and developments, built on the best of its traditions and commitment to excellence,” he said.
Commenting on his appointment, Dr Campbell commented: “I am delighted to be joining the St Mary’s community at this exciting time in the University College’s history. It is an immense privilege and honour to be entrusted with this task and in the coming months and years I look forward to working with the students, staff, governors and alumni to build on the immensely rich legacy handed onto us by those who served St Mary’s throughout its 164-year history.”