Rare Privilege

Napier-born Dr John Hood has given his retiring Vice-Chancellor’s Oration at the University of Oxford after a five-year term. In his final address, Dr Hood reviewed the 2008-09 academic year and reflected on “aspects of evolution and change” at the University during his tenure. In conclusion, Dr Hood said his role was “a rare privilege”. “I am but one among many and have been supported by the knowledge and skills of all those around me. I am humbled, thrice humbled, to have been able to be of service to this institution.” Dr Hood has been appointed president and chief executive of The Robertson Foundation — a major grant-making body focusing on education, environment, medical research, and religion — in the United States. He will take up his new post at the beginning of next year and will be based in New York. Dr Hood was appointed vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford in 2004, the first time in the institution’s 900 year history a vice-chancellor was elected from outside the University’s current academic body.