New Rector of Exeter College announced

He is currently principal and president of King's College London, where he is also professor of social history.  Professor Trainor will take up the position on 1 October 2014, succeeding Ms Frances Cairncross, CBE, FRSE.

He was born and raised in the USA, studying American civilization at Brown University before reading modern history at Merton College as a Rhodes Scholar.He served as president of Universities UK from 2007 to 2009, having been vice-chancellor of the University of Greenwich and vice-principal at the University of Glasgow. An expert in 19th and 20th century British elites, Professor Trainor was knighted for services to higher education in 2010.

Professor Trainor said: 'I am excited by the prospect of becoming Rector at Exeter, following in Frances Cairncross's remarkable footsteps. The breakthrough acquisition and innovative vision of the Walton Street campus will expand the college's footprint significantly and have an important impact on reducing student hardship by providing affordable, high-quality, central Oxford accommodation for 90 undergraduates within a collegiate environment.'

Ms Cairncross said: 'I could have no better successor than Sir Rick Trainor. Throughout his career as a vice-chancellor, scholar and student, Professor Trainor has championed the importance of academic excellence in a community of multi-disciplinary scholarship. His commitment to excellence in teaching and research, and a passion for student support and welfare, will provide the college with strong leadership in a changing and competitive field of international education and scholarship.'

Professor Trainor will be pre-elected formally to the Rectorship by Exeter’s governing body on 10 October 2013, in accordance with the college statutes.