Installation of Principal and Vice-Chancellor
Dr Louise Richardson was installed as the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews on Wednesday 25 March 2009 in a ceremony at Younger Hall, North Street, St Andrews.
Over 1000 Students, staff, alumni, guests and members of the public gathered in Younger Hall to witness Dr Richardson's installation and later took part in Academic Panels in celebration of the day's events.
"St Andrews has chosen a scholar and academic leader of international repute to guide it into a seventh century of academic achievement and exploration - we look forward with great anticipation to a new era of academic leadership," said Ewan Brown, Senior Governor of the Court of the University of St Andrews.
Dr Richardson is the 10th Principal of the University of St Andrews.
Although founded in the 15th Century and the third-oldest university in the English speaking world, St Andrews did not appoint its first Principal with responsibility for the entire institution until 1859 when Sir David Brewster was asked to take the post.
During the ceremony, Dr Richardson was first installed as Principal by a senior member of Senate, then as Vice-Chancellor by University Chancellor Sir Menzies Campbell, after which she officially donned the robes of office.
She then addressed her students and staff.
After the installation ceremony, the University staged Academic Panels in the Science, Humanities and Social Sciences in Parliament Hall in Dr Richardson's honour.
Panels comprising leading academics and thinkers from the UK and the United States addressed the challenges facing Science, Humanities and Social Sciences in the 21st Century.
