Rectorial election - About - University of St Andrews

Brian Baumgartner

Brian Baumgartner, or as most students will know him, Kevin from the Office (USA) wants your support to be the next Rector of the University of St Andrews. His award-winning acting career has brought laughter to students in St Andrews as well as fans around the globe. With experience on stage, television, and behind the scenes, Brian knows how to communicate and will bring his warm and fun personality to St Andrews. A storyteller by trade, he knows how to speak for you and will elevate your voice to be heard by the University.

This summer, Brian visited St Andrews and fell in love with the town’s culture and history, not just the golf. If elected, he would continue the storied tradition of comics and performers serving as Rector, engaging with students, and bringing his humour and love for St Andrews to the role. He would be honoured to be your Rector and represent you on Court.

Dr Arthur Bernhoff

Dr Arthur Bernhoff (BA, MSc, LLM, PhD) is an alumnus of the University of St Andrews, where he completed a PhD in International Relations, having previously obtained a BA in International Security and Conflict Resolution and an MSc in Homeland Security.

His doctoral research took him to conflict and post-conflict areas of the Middle East, including several years living in Lebanon, where his fieldwork required navigating complex political, cultural and security environments.

After completing his PhD, Arthur served seven years with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine. Following closure of the mission in 2022, Arthur returned to academia, completing a Master of Laws in Human Rights at the University of Edinburgh. He currently holds an analytical role with the Ministry of Defence and remains a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Deployable Civilian Expert. He is also writing a book about his years with the OSCE.

His career has centred on listening, representation, negotiation, navigating diverse and dynamic environments, and finding consensus across divides.

As Rector, his priorities would be simple: to be present, to listen, and to act. He would be a strong and independent voice for students, bringing their concerns to Court and working with integrity to turn those concerns into practical action and tangible results.

Arthur wants to give back to the University that gave him so much — and to help ensure that every student, whatever their background or circumstances, has the opportunity to thrive at St Andrews.

Mark Brunner

Mark Brunner believes all students deserve a strong, effective voice at the highest levels of the University — and someone who will take the time to listen, understand their concerns, and help turn those concerns into action. As the proud father of a St Andrews graduate, Mark has spent considerable time in St Andrews over the years, giving him a genuine connection to the student experience.

He has served as a guest lecturer at the School of International Relations and has developed a deep appreciation for the University and its community. Mark brings a combination of public service experience and business leadership, including having led large organisations, working across the public and private sectors, and serving on boards of institutions, including College of William & Mary. He currently serves as Chief Revenue Officer at a technology company. These experiences have taught him how to listen to different perspectives, build relationships, navigate complex organisations and, when necessary, push for change.

Mark will bring the student perspective into discussions about the issues that shape University life — from budgets and financial priorities to academic policies, affordable housing, mental health, and student services. He will work constructively with University leadership and staff while maintaining the independence necessary to represent students honestly and effectively.

When students feel that an issue is stuck or that the normal channels are not working, Mark will be someone who can open doors, bring the right people together and help get things moving.

Dr Q Manivannan

As a Member of Scottish Parliament (MSP), and as a proud St Andrews alumnus, I will contribute to the University of St Andrews’ efforts to uncover its potential as a university of solidarity, sanctuary, excellence, and innovation. I have worked as an Assistant Warden at David Russell Apartments and Fife Park for a year, I have taught over 300 students and was awarded the Best Graduate Teaching Assistant Award through student nominations.

I have fought against Turnitin usage long before its most recent concerns – and will continue to. I have led efforts in solidarity with Palestine, against antisemitism, and against the mistreatment of the past Rector Stella Marris.

It’s my honour to represent our student population, to sit with the feelings of belongingness that we all deserve to feel, and to coordinate with Scotland’s wider higher education and cultural sector to bring new modes of support for our wee bubble.

I know what it’s like to be a student at St Andrews, I know what it’s like to be a support staff member here, and I worked as an Anti-Casualisation Officer with UCU St Andrews during my time there. But also, as an MSP, I know how bureaucracy and institutional red tapes can paralyse even the best institutions from achieving their full potential. Students deserve safe and affordable housing, they deserve more artistic spaces, and they deserve the opportunity to express their anger at the state of the world, without fear of risk of isolation. Our student and staff unions deserve support, and I am here to help.

Dr Conor Philip

I am Conor Philip, a 26-year-old doctor and recent ScotGEM graduate of the University of St Andrews, now working as an FY1 doctor in Dundee.

I am an avid golfer, enjoy skiing and running recreationally, and have a particular love of music and jazz. I play alto saxophone, bagpipes, bass guitar and other instruments. I also host an interview podcast, Conor's Crew, enjoy quizzing, and previously competed in University Challenge.

If elected Rector, my priorities would centre on three areas:

student life beyond the classroom
mental health, wellbeing and safety
belonging and inclusion

I would seek to engage regularly with students involved in arts, music, societies and sport, and understand the barriers they encounter. I would listen to students' experiences of mental health support and raise recurring concerns through the appropriate University structures. I would also seek out the experiences of students who feel unsafe, excluded or underrepresented, including women and ethnic minority students.

Underlying these priorities would be accessibility. I would provide regular opportunities for students to speak with me, both in person and online, work constructively with existing student representatives, and take student concerns seriously within University governance.

As Rector and a member of University Court, I would approach the role with the responsibilities of University governance and charity trusteeship in mind. Above all, I would aim to be an accessible and visible Rector: someone students can actually speak to, who listens carefully and ensures their concerns are heard within University decision making.

Edison Yau

Shortbread, anyone? I'm Edison, a 2026 St Andrews medicine graduate and current student doctor who is proud to be standing for a position that should belong to students. Instead of offering a list of my achievements and titles, I want you to know the person behind the name. One who walks the Coastal Path in the St Andrews rain, bakes for medical societies and charities, adores bonfires and treasures the friendships that made it home for me.

I'm a student doctor because medicine brings together the humanities and sciences, compassion with rigour and debate with discovery. The Rectorial office hasn't seen this balance in generations: a graduate of Science or Medicine from St Andrews has never been Rector.

I don’t want to be remembered for the loudest intervention, a personal agenda or my more-than-occasional tea breaks. I want to be the Rector who listens, whether on the phone or at student meetings. I will make myself accessible to students, hear you directly and amplify our collective voices in Court.

We enter a new era through the Making Waves campaign, and students must have a meaningful voice in shaping the projects: from inclusion and sustainability to investment for groundbreaking research and innovation. Every student should feel safe and included at Scotland's oldest university.

I am not running to add another title to a CV. I'm running because I love St Andrews, I’m ready to show up, and I believe the Rector should be here too, not just in photos.