Principal

The Governing Body of Newnham College, Cambridge intends to elect a new Principal to succeed Alison Rose as Head of House from September 2026. Founded in 1871 to secure women’s full and equal access to the University of Cambridge at a time when such ambitions were discouraged, Newnham has spent over 150 years building a world-class academic community rooted in intellectual rigour, championing ‘pioneers and pathfinders’, and advocating for the transformative power of education. We are proud to remain the only Oxbridge college with both a women-only fellowship and student body — a distinction that speaks to our continued commitment to the advancement of women’s scholarship.

We seek a new Principal who will uphold Newnham’s traditions while guiding its future with purpose — someone who will represent the College with distinction, advocate for women’s academic leadership, and offer an inspiring example to our students as they prepare to shape the world beyond Cambridge.

Today, Newnham brings together more than 700 undergraduate and postgraduate students and 60 Fellows whose work spans every field of academic endeavour and we are home to two international research centres. Newnham is a place where ideas are valued, where diverse perspectives are nurtured, and where education is understood not only as the transmission of knowledge but as a foundation for leadership, creativity, and contribution.

The College’s elegant and architecturally significant buildings are set within extensive gardens and grounds directly adjacent to the large University Sidgwick site, where many Arts and Humanities subjects are based. The academic life of the College is supported by the large and beautiful College library, which also contains important archives and special collections. The academic community is further supported by 130 staff in administrative and operational departments.

The last decade has seen the College realise the potential of the new Dorothy Garrod Building as a centre for research, teaching, and social connections, open to neighbouring University sites and inviting confident collaborative engagement. In addition, we have raised £25m through our ‘Shaping Newnham's Future’ fundraising campaign; continued in the provision of new academic positions through external funding; provided continued and increasing financial support for postgraduate scholarships; founded the Margaret Anstee Centre for Global Studies; and contributed to intercollegiate initiatives such as the Laidlaw Scholars leadership programme for undergraduates.

Newnham’s academic staff conduct award-winning research and teaching to ensure an educational experience for our students which enables women from all backgrounds to reach their full potential. The College also plays a significant role in the promotion of women’s academic careers, which it supports through a growing range of research fellowships, including those aimed at scholars from the Global South, and through the affiliation of postdoctoral researchers from across the University and allied institutions.

We now invite applications from suitably qualified women to lead Newnham into its next chapter as Principal. The ideal candidate will bring a record of distinction and leadership in academia or another professional field, and a deep commitment to advancing women’s education and scholarship. She will have the personal qualities to lead the College community, the vision to help shape long-term College strategy, and the capacity to have oversight of the running of the College, working with a strong academic and administrative team. Above all, she will understand the importance of shaping a collegiate environment in which women from all backgrounds are empowered to thrive — as thinkers, as scholars, and as future leaders in their chosen fields.