St Mary’s Announces Appointment of New Vice-Chancellor

St Mary’s University, London has today announced the appointment of Dr Øystein Lund as its new Vice-Chancellor following an extensive international recruitment process.

Øystein brings with him extensive experience in higher education, diplomacy and ministry that will be a significant benefit to the University community.

He is currently Counsellor for Research and Education at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in London, where he has worked on UK-Norway cooperation in higher education, research, innovation and skills since 2022.

Øystein succeeds Professor Anthony McClaran who will be leaving the University at the end of academic year, and he will be formally joining the University at the start of August.

Previously he held senior leadership roles at NOKUT, the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education from 2014-2022. He worked at MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society in Oslo from 1993 until 2014, initially as an associate professor before becoming Director of Academic Affairs in 2004 and Dean of Studies and Deputy to the Rector in 2009.

Outside of his academic and diplomatic work, Øystein is a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Oslo. He was first ordained in the Church of Norway in 1994, before being received into full communion with the Catholic Church in 2009. He was ordained deacon in 2013 and priest in 2014.

Archbishop Richard Moth and St Mary’s Chair of Governors, said, “On behalf of the Board of Governors, I am delighted to welcome Rev Fr Dr Øystein Lund as our new Vice-Chancellor. His experience in academia, diplomacy, and leadership will be of enormous benefit to the university community. St Mary’s University is at an exciting time in its development following many significant achievements under our outgoing Vice-Chancellor Professor Anthony McClaran, whom we wish well for all his future endeavours.

“The St Mary’s Community came together last year to reflect on our 175^th Anniversary and celebrate all that has been achieved so far by our remarkable university community. We now look ahead to important initiatives like the opening of the School of Medicine and the Dubai Campus, which will deepen our impact and broaden our global reach. I am confident that Øystein is the right person to lead the University into this next stage of our academic journey and I will be praying for his and the University’s success.”

Speaking of his appointment, Dr Øystein Lund said, “I am honoured to have been appointed to such an important role in Catholic higher education in the UK. What draws me most to St Mary’s is its ability to combine academic excellence with a genuine commitment to human flourishing, rooted in the Church’s long tradition of learning, scholarship and inquiry.

“Professor McClaran has overseen considerable success during his time as Vice-Chancellor, and I look forward to building on this in the future. I am eager to begin working with colleagues, students and partners to strengthen the University’s impact and expand opportunities for future generations. I am excited to help shape the next chapter in St Mary’s story, serving communities locally, nationally and internationally.”