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Provost Rachel Mills

Provost Rachel Mills will be leaving Sussex in the summer to take up a new role at King’s College London.

Professor Mills will take on the newly created role of Senior Vice President (Academic), where she will be the university’s chief academic officer, leading the work to shape their academic vision and priorities and drive excellence across educational and research programmes.

During her time at Sussex, Rachel has overseen all the Schools and supported them through an important year.

Through the University’s Size and Shape programme, she has focused on improving the student experience, excellence in research and enterprise, and investment in our university for future success.  Working with Heads of School she has introduced a new academic planning cycle to improve the learning experience of our current and future students.

As the University Sustainability Champion, she took over the sponsorship of the University strategy with the student and wider community and enabled delivery against ambitious targets across all areas of campus operations, education, research and enterprise, as Sussex works towards becoming one of the most sustainable universities in the world.

Denise Holt, Chair of Council, said: “Rachel has been instrumental in driving forward our Sussex 2025 ambitions over the past year and her input into Size and Shape has ensured that the outcome supported our academic strategy.  This, alongside the refreshed annual academic business planning process will enable Schools to deliver on their plans. She is leaving Sussex in a better position to deliver what is needed for our current and future students. We wish her the very best for her new role at King’s.”

Interim Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Maguire, said: “Rachel has been such a huge asset to Sussex. In her role as Provost, she has helped improve many academic processes and practices, and has been instrumental in a number of important innovations. She will be greatly missed by me and very many others at the University.”

Rachel adds: “It’s been a privilege to work with such talented, passionate and committed colleagues. as Sussex celebrates its 60^th anniversary. The work we have delivered in the last year, puts Sussex in the strongest position as it looks forward to its next 60 years.

“Our new five-year School plans are the first part of the next chapter for Sussex and the work we are doing with colleagues right across the University will ensure that Sussex students, staff and alumni can realise their full potential and make a real difference for society.”

Rachel will be taking up her new position in August, when our new Vice-Chancellor, Sasha Roseneil, will take on the line management of the Heads of School, and Professor Stephen Shute will be returning to UEG to lead on student recruitment for the duration of the current cycle.