President and Vice-Chancellor of our University since 2010, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell’s (or ‘Nancy’ as she prefers) term of office is coming to an end this summer. We spoke to Manchester’s first female leader about her time here, what she’ll miss the most and the memories that will stay with her forever.
With the spring greenery of Alan Gilbert Square visible through the window, Nancy sits down in her office of 14 years for one of her final interviews as President and Vice-Chancellor. She’s reflective, knowing that soon the grass will fill with students revising in the sunshine as we head into another exam season here on campus. Her last exam season in post.
She inherited the vision for our green spaces from her predecessor, Professor Alan Gilbert, and now she’s putting plans in place to hand over to her successor, Professor Duncan Ivison, this summer.
“It feels much more like a campus than it did,” she says. “Alan Gilbert started that, but I’ve been pleased to continue it. Looking out now as it’s getting warmer and we’re seeing students on the grass – it’s really nice.”
Under her leadership, Manchester’s green agenda has extended far beyond the carefully cultivated gardens that seamlessly knit the Oxford Road campus together. Nancy has elevated social responsibility as one of our core goals, giving it equal weighting with research and discovery, and teaching and learning.
The University subsequently took the top spot in the UK and Europe in the 2023 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for our contribution towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. We’re also the only university to maintain a top ten position for five years running – evidence of our continued commitment to sustainability. Nancy acknowledges, however, that there is still work to be done as we support our city to become zero carbon by 2038.
“I’ve told Duncan he’s got a fair bit to do,” she says.
"I WANTED TO GET SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY DEEPLY EMBEDDED IN OUR UNIVERSITY AND TO CEMENT A STRONG SERIES OF PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS GREATER MANCHESTER AND BEYOND."
There are things I never expected to do
When asked what her priorities would be if she was starting in the role now, she says “financial sustainability and zero carbon.
“There’s much more I wish I could have done. Systems that need sorting out and improving parts of the campus. You can’t do everything. But equally, there are things I never expected to do as well as things I wanted to achieve and have.
“I wanted to get social responsibility deeply embedded in our University and to cement a strong series of partnerships across Greater Manchester and beyond. I never envisaged we would have the new engineering building or Sister (formally ID Manchester).”
The engineering building, known as MECD, is to be named after Nancy and the honour was kept a closely guarded secret from her, much to her disbelief.
“I hoped I would get Emeritus status, and then they told me about the name of the building, which was a complete surprise!
“I said, ‘that can’t be possible because it has to be approved by the Planning and Resources Committee, which I chair, Senate, which I chair, and by the Board’. And they just looked at me and said, ‘that’s all been done’.”
Becoming the first female leader of the University was never something Nancy set out to do. In her previous position as Vice-President for Research, she was asked if she would apply for the role and, initially, she refused. “I said I don’t think I’m good enough to do the job,” she recalls.
After a period of reflection, she realised that very often women will list the parts of a job they can’t do rather than the parts they can do. So, instead, she wrote a list covering what she believed she could do and what at the time she couldn’t. On balance, Nancy realised that she could in fact apply.
Musing on her leadership qualities, Nancy recognises that her impulsivity has mellowed since taking on the role, and experience has taught her to take a step back in certain situations. Over time she taught herself to recognise when she needed to put her natural friendliness to one side.
Leadership does not have to fit a mould: “I looked at Alan Gilbert; he was a great Vice-Chancellor and many of his strengths were different to mine. He was a great orator and writer. Equally, I was persuaded I had skills in communication that were different to his but just as valid. That gave me confidence.”
May I set off a rocket?
When it comes to stand out memories, there are many. But it was a trip to Sweden that provided one of the most memorable moments in her tenure. She laughs as she remembers a desire to hide under the table when, at a Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm, Professor Sir Andre Geim – one half of the research duo who first isolated graphene – used his speech to air strong opinions about a particular academic journal, and European bureaucracy around research funding.
She cherishes the fond memories of time spent with our donors in the UK and around the world. Then there’s the feeling of pride when thousands of people joined the celebrations on Oxford Road for the bicentenary Light Up event in January 2024, along with our global centres in Dubai, Shanghai and Hong Kong, each lighting up in the University’s iconic purple.
It’s her memories of interactions with Manchester students, however, that make her smile the most.
"I REMEMBER ONE DEGREE CEREMONY, SHAKING HANDS WITH A STUDENT WHO THEN CARTWHEELED DOWN THE AISLE."
Nancy Rothwell with Brian Cox, Konstantin Novoselov and Andre Geim
“I remember one degree ceremony, shaking hands with a student who then cartwheeled down the aisle.
“Then another who asked very politely ‘May I set off a rocket?’ And I said yes, imagining it’d be a small rocket. It wasn’t – it was massive and showered the whole stage in confetti. She didn’t do it above my head, so that was alright,” she says.
Over the years, students have also surprised and impressed our President. The daughter of a single mother and refugee working three jobs who came to the University via the Manchester Access Programme told Nancy that she was going to become a human rights barrister. And, despite facing challenges along the way, that same law student returned years later having achieved her goal.
She also remembers a student who overcame huge physical adversity and got a first class degree and, of course, Laura Nuttall, who received her degree while battling an aggressive brain tumour, before passing away less than a year after she graduated in 2022.
“And these are just some of the many, many inspirational students who come from all walks of life and do incredible things,” she reflects.
Not one for goodbyes
The University’s calendar of key annual events means a great deal to Nancy. Seeing the thousands of new students on Oxford Road during Welcome Week will be something she’ll miss, as well as graduation days where campus fills with proud parents and staff, and graduates have their pictures taken with flowers and balloons in front of Whitworth Hall.
“I’ll still be around and coming to things,” she adds. “And it’s still completely full-on and probably will be until midnight on 31 July (her final day in office). The University has a bright future and there’ll be a little less pressure for me, although I won’t be doing nothing by any means.”
Asked how she will feel during her last week, Nancy admits it will be sad, and it’s just as well she’s staying on as Professor Emeritus as she’s not a fan of goodbyes or being the centre of attention.
“Of course, I love the university events. I just hate events held for me. I would happily just slide away quietly, but I’m not allowed to do that. I have lots of time to settle into the idea of leaving mentally,” she says.
"I MEAN, 14 YEARS. IT’S A LONG TIME. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHALLENGING TIMES BUT OVERALL, IT HAS JUST BEEN AN ENORMOUS PRIVILEGE."
Wrapping up our conversation, Nancy reassures us on her ongoing commitment to the University and the city of Manchester.
“I could never have been anywhere else,” she exclaims. “And even now, anything I do afterwards – other than little bits and pieces – I’ve said I’m not going to do anything major with any other university.
“Manchester. Always The University of Manchester. It’s very much part of my heart.”
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