This is a very simple, short message to say how delighted I am to finally be with you and starting the role as the new Principal. A new academic year is always a magical time but also one inevitably full of thoughts, doubts and questions. I hope that as your Principal, working with the leadership team and including our SU officers, that we can be available for you and help you navigate the weeks ahead.
I feel hugely honoured, excited and, I will confess, just a little daunted to be taking on this role, aware of the significant and important educational history that sits behind it. It was genuinely special to be able to spend my very first day in office taking part in the Open Day yesterday (Saturday 1 October); this was a wonderful opportunity to meet students and staff, as well as learn all about the College alongside visiting families and, of course, to experience the wonderful Egham campus in full swing.
I am looking forward to getting to know everyone better over the coming weeks – there are a range of meetings being set up for me to come and visit schools and teams at which I hope student representatives will be very present. I am also working on arranging some specific student focused discussion meetings over the coming months. I will be very much in listening mode in these sessions, but I will also try and help you get to know me and the kinds of hopes and aspirations I have for the future here at Royal Holloway ahead of us, taking the opportunity later in the academic year to really start co-creating and crafting the next chapter of our College’s story together.
Thank you for welcoming me into the Royal Holloway community.
I can’t wait to meet you.
Professor Julie Sanders
Principal.