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Professor Irene Tracey was formally admitted as the 273rd Vice-Chancellor (総長) of the University in a ceremony in Oxford’s Sheldonian Theatre on 10 January 2023.

The Chancellor (名誉総長) of the University, Lord Patten of Barnes, gave an address welcoming Professor Tracey to her new role, and then Professor Tracey made a speech outlining her vision for the University. 

The Chancellor’s speech can be found here.

The Vice-Chancellor’s speech can be found here.

More information about Professor Tracey’s background and the ceremony can be found here.

Professor Irene Tracey originally comes from Oxford and attended the University as an undergraduate. She subsequently spent much of her career in Oxford eventually becoming the Nuffield Professor in Anaesthetic Sciences, and most recently Warden of Merton College. She is a highly distinguished researcher and leader in the field of neuroscience and an expert in pain perception and analgesia.

Professor Tracey takes over the role of Vice-Chancellor from Professor Dame Louise Richardson.