In 1995, Dr Christine King was appointed Vice- Chancellor of Staffordshire University and became one of the very few female Vice-Chancellors in the UK.
Under her leadership, the University became known as a successful provider of Higher Education, famous for its impressive graduates, its flexibility, the focus of its staff on their students and its willingness to innovate.
It grew in size, income and reputation, regionally, nationally and internationally. Chris says this success is due to “the energy, diversity, talents and flexibility of our whole community of staff, from professors to porters”.
Her achievements were recognised publicly, when she was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for her Services to Higher Education in the 2007 Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.
As the UK’s longest serving Vice-Chancellor, and the recipient of a number of impressive honours, including honorary degrees from the Universities of Edinburgh, Birmingham, Portsmouth, Central Lancashire and Derby, Chris lists amongst her proudest achievements the award of lifetime membership of the Students’ Union at Staffordshire University.
She is now proud to accept the University’s recognition. Passionate about equality and diversity, she has pioneered the presence of women in senior positions in Higher Education, and was a founder member and past Chair of the through the glass Ceiling network of senior women managers, and co-author of the book of the same title.
As a researcher on the third Reich and the Holocaust, she has published and spoken internationally, including at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC. She has also written on the area of pilgrimage, both medieval and modern, and will continue to publish and speak on both of these areas of research.
She is currently engaged in work to support people with dementia. She admits to two of the many hobbies in her life; walking by the sea and Elvis Presley.
Despite international recognition, her heart remains here in Staffordshire, the home of the University she served for fifteen years. In this context, as a contributor in her own right and through Staffordshire University’s impact on the area, the Award of Honorary Doctor of Staffordshire University is bestowed upon Professor Christine King for her services to the local and regional communities.