University of Wollongong's decision to appoint its first ever female Vice-Chancellor has been welcomed across the board.
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Wollongong Lord Mayor was impressed one of the city's own was returning to Wollongong following a stellar international career.
Professor Patricia Davidson, who becomes UOW VC in May next year, is the current Dean of the School of Nursing at Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, USA.
"She came from Johns Hopkins, that's got to be one of the best medical schools in the world," Cr Bradbery said.
"She obviously has an impressive CV, and to have her being a graduate herself from University of Wollongong is great."
Read more: UOW appoints first female vice-chancellor
Federal Member for Cunningham, Sharon Bird also backed the appointment.
"Having been the first woman MP from the Illawarra to have been appointed as a Parliamentary Secretary and Minister in Federal Government I am thrilled to see the appointment of the university's first female Vice Chancellor. It is also great to see another Wollongong success story of a local graduate achieving internationally and bringing that experience back to Wollongong," Ms Bird said.
"I have worked very well with both Prof Gerard Sutton and Prof Paul Wellings during my time and I look forward to working with Patricia Davidson next year.
"Prof Davidson will be taking over during very tough economic times for both the University of Wollongong and our region and I will continue to lobby this government for better support for the Illawarra."
UOW Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Strategy) Professor Alex Frino said Professor Davidson's appointment to lead the university was an exciting and historic one.
"The first alumni of the university to become Vice-Chancellor. She obviously knows the university well and understands its role in the community, but it is also a great signal to our students about what UOW graduates are capable of achieving," Professor Frino said.
"In her current role as Dean of Nursing at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Professor Davidson is running a Faculty that is actually bigger than our university, so her experience in leading a world-class institution of size will be a great asset - as will be her other global roles with the World Health Organisation and the International Council on Women's Health Issues.
Professor Davidson comes from a great research university and is an internationally-renown researcher in the fields of nursing, cardiovascular science and global health - so what better time to have someone with those skills joining UOW when the whole world is facing such a massive health crisis with the pandemic!
- OW Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Strategy) Professor Alex Frino
"Professor Davidson comes from a great research university and is an internationally-renown researcher in the fields of nursing, cardiovascular science and global health - so what better time to have someone with those skills joining UOW when the whole world is facing such a massive health crisis with the pandemic!"
The Illawarra Business Chamber (IBC), also welcomed the appointment.
"Professor Davidson is a highly credentialed academic and tertiary administrator who is an excellent choice to succeed Professor Paul Wellings in mid-2021," said Adam Zarth, executive director of IBC and Illawarra First.
"The University is one of our region's largest employers, and the position of Vice-Chancellor is integral as one of the Illawarra's key business and community leaders.
"Professor Wellings has made an outstanding contribution in this role, and on behalf of the business community I look forward to continuing our strong relationship with Professor Davidson and welcoming her back to the region."
National Tertiary Education Union acting UOW branch president Rodney Vickers also supported the move to replace the departing VC Paul Wellings, with Prof Davidson.
"I look forward to meeting her and it is great to see someone with a strong academic background being appointed," Mr Vickers said.
"We'd like to work in a constructive and collaborative manner with the new VC."
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