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On Thursday 2 July, Vice-Chancellor Professor Sasha Roseneil emailed all University of Sussex staff. You can read the full text of the email below.

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to share the sad news that Professor Michael Luck, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, is leaving the University at the end of November 2026 to take up the role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost at the University of Bristol. 

Michael has been Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost since September 2023. He is a highly respected and valued member of the University Executive Team, Council, and Senate, and is my deputy for official University business. Michael’s time with us has been a period of constant change. He has overseen the establishment of our Faculty structure and has worked closely with the Executive Deans in navigating the very difficult financial headwinds that we are facing. He has played a crucial role in delivering the first year of the Recovery and Rebuilding Strategic Plan, particularly in relation to student recruitment, and he has led a more rigorous and systematic focus on academic performance that is already producing reputational benefits. 

Michael's calm, compassionate leadership exemplifies the Sussex values, and he will be a great loss to the University. On a personal note, I will miss Michael's wise counsel, and our long, intense discussions about the best way to navigate these exceptionally challenging times.  

Michael said: “It has been a privilege to provide leadership to the academic community at Sussex during this critical time in the University’s history. It has been a period that has presented many challenges, and I have been hugely and consistently impressed with the response of our community to those many challenges. You are kind and supportive of each other, while retaining professionalism and intellectual rigour in your teaching and research. It is my firm belief that the difficult work we have collectively delivered over the past three years, including bringing colleagues together into Faculties, has made Sussex stronger and more prepared to deliver Sussex 2035. I wish everyone at Sussex well and look forward to watching the achievements of this distinctive and creative intellectual community from afar, after the current period of financial stabilisation has been delivered.”

We will begin the process of recruiting Michael's successor shortly, but in the meantime, I am very pleased that we have the benefit of Michael's energy and commitment until the end of November, and that we will have an opportunity to thank him properly for his contribution to Sussex next term.

Best wishes,

Sasha

Professor Sasha Roseneil
Vice-Chancellor

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