Professor Eric Neumayer, Interim LSE President and Vice Chancellor
Photograph by Ken Benoit
6 July 2023
Dear members of the LSE global alumni community
It is with great pleasure that I write you my first message as LSE’s Interim President and Vice Chancellor.
LSE is a very special place to me, and I am deeply committed to our institutional mission, embodied by our incredible staff, students, alumni, friends and partners, to be the world’s leading social science university, with the greatest global impact. I firmly believe in the power of education and research to drive positive change in society, and I am honoured to have the opportunity to lead LSE in fulfilling this mission.
As you may know, my relationship with our School spans many years, starting in 1993 when I arrived here to begin a master’s degree in Development Studies. I later gained my PhD in the same department and, thereafter, joined the faculty. Since then, I have held various positions, including Head of the Department of Geography and Environment, and most recently, Vice President and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Planning and Resources). Over this time, I have been fortunate to witness first-hand the incredible achievements and transformative impact of our esteemed institution.
In this interim role, I am fortunate to be supported by a strong and capable senior team in the form of the School Management Committee. This includes Ben Plummer-Powell, who provides exceptional leadership as Chief Philanthropy and Global Engagement Officer. Together with our talented faculty, dedicated staff, brilliant students and extraordinary global alumni community, we will forge a path of progress and innovation.
Over the next 12 months, our priority will be to stay the course on our ambitious School strategy, LSE 2030. This overarching plan encompasses major improvements to our technology and infrastructure, a comprehensive strategic overhaul of our research environment, the expansion of our Extended Education offer, and the grounding of all School operations in principles of sustainability.
In addition, I am committed to advancing our Shaping the World Campaign, after recently reaching the remarkable milestone of raising £250 million against our target of £350 million and an exceptional 96 per cent of our 100,000 volunteering hours target. Our Campaign plays a pivotal role in supporting our core School goals for 2030, and these achievements show the strength of our bond with alumni, friends and partners. I am deeply appreciative of your collective commitment and generosity in ensuring our Campaign’s momentum.
I eagerly look forward to connecting with as many of you as possible over the coming months. I am particularly keen to learn from your experiences; your perspectives are invaluable as we continue to shape the future of our School together.
There could be no greater honour for me than to serve our School in this role, and I look forward to working with you all. Let us seize the opportunities before us and continue to make LSE a beacon of knowledge and positive change.
With my very best wishes
Professor Eric Neumayer, Interim LSE President and Vice Chancellor