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The death of The Rt Hon Lord Campbell of Pittenweem
We are saddened by the loss of The Right Honourable Lord Campbell of Pittenweem CH CBE KC FRSE, our Chancellor, who died in London at the age of 84. On 15 October, family, friends, political and University colleagues gathered at Port of Menteith Church in Stirlingshire to remember, give thanks, and acknowledge this loss.
Menzies Campbell, or 'Ming' to the thousands who knew him, was one of the great political figures of the modern era and a constant friend and champion of Scotland’s first university. He was appointed Chancellor of the University of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø in 2006, and presided over the Chancellor’s Circle – our community of legacy pledgors – since its inception in 2011.
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ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø in the News
October 2025
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Welcome to the October issue of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø in the News. This month, you can read about the appointment of the University's new endowed Chair in Artificial Intelligence, find student news and updates – including successes from Saints Sport – and hear from Professor Sabine Hyland of the School of Divinity about her research into an Indigenous Peruvian form of proto-writing.
As always, please get in touch if you would like to share an , submit an , or reconnect with fellow alumni and friends of the University.
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Professor Lars Kotthoff
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New Chair in Artificial Intelligence appointed
Professor Lars Kotthoff has been appointed as the Johann and Gaynor Rupert Chair in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Based in the School of Computer Science, the position will explore and advance the critical role of AI, both now and in the future.
This position was made possible by a generous gift from regular participants of the who collectively donated £3 million for an endowed Chair in Johann and Gaynor Rupert’s name, in recognition of the years of participation in the Dunhill Links Championship and by way of thanks for Mr Rupert’s contribution to golf, and to ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø.
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Links Collegiate success for Golf Scholar
Saints Sport Golf Scholar and third-year Economics undergraduate Ellie Monk claimed the individual stroke play title at the 2025 ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Links Collegiate played on the Jubilee and Old Course from 13-15 October.
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Links and NBC Sports hosted the third ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Links Collegiate in which the University of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø competed against teams from Princeton University, Michigan State University and the University of California, Berkeley.
Ian Muir, Director of Golf at the University of St Andrews, said: “Ellie’s performance over the last two days was an amazing show of composure and competitive spirit. To win on home soil, against such a strong international field, is a testament to her dedication and the strength of our programme. We’re incredibly proud of her achievement and excited to see what’s next in her journey.”
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This year’s Bobby Jones scholars from Emory University (L-R): David Lee, Lucas San Miguel, Elizabeth Martin, and Lydia King (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
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ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø welcomes new Bobby Jones Scholars
The University has welcomed four new recipients of the Robert T Jones (Bobby Jones) Scholarship, who have travelled from Emory University to spend a year studying and forming new friendships at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø.
The incoming scholars were hosted by the , whose support helps to provide these scholarships, at this year’s Dunhill Links Championship in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, where they had the opportunity to see some of the world’s greatest golfers play the Old Course.
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Renowned British tenor James Gilchrist
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Laidlaw Music Centre appoints new Honorary Professor of Singing
The renowned British tenor James Gilchrist has been appointed as the University's new Honorary Professor of Singing.
Joining the University’s Laidlaw Music Centre, which opened in 2022 thanks to support received during the 600th Anniversary Campaign, James will share his expertise with current and future student singers, as well as contributing to the wider work of the Centre.
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ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Playwriting Award recipient Milly Sweeney with her Stage Debut Award for Best Writer
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One award leads to another for young playwright
Young playwright Milly Sweeney, whose play Water Colour was commissioned as part of the 2024-2025 has been named Best Writer in .
The St Andrews Playwriting Award – a University of St Andrews’ initiative, run in partnership with , and – brings a debut play from an unproduced playwright living in Scotland to the stage, providing a launchpad for new voices.The Award is funded by philanthropic support.
Alan Cumming, Artistic Director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre and honorary graduate of the University of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, said: “Milly Sweeney is a great new Scottish voice and I am proud her first play opened at Pitlochry Festival Theatre. Her Stage Debut award is just another example of the promise and great future she has.”
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Dr Sara Lodge
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Dr Sara Lodge shortlisted for Wolfson History Prize
Dr Sara Lodge, Senior Lecturer in the School of English at the University of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, has been shortlisted for this year’s prestigious for her book The Mysterious Case of the Victorian Female Detective.
The annual prize, worth £50,000, aims to highlight the best historical writing being produced in the UK. The winner of the Wolfson History Prize 2025 will be announced on Tuesday 2 December 2025.
is an independent grant-making charity with a focus on research and education. Since 1955, the Wolfson Foundation has awarded over £1 billion (£2 billion in real terms) to projects across the UK, all on the basis of expert peer review.
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The fourth annual Home International Rowing Beach Sprints Regatta
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Rowing successes for Saints Sport
It has been a stellar month for Saints Sport with the fourth annual Home International Rowing Beach Sprints Regatta bringing together the best of beach sprint rowing from across the four home nations to compete for the prestigious Guin Batten Trophy.
In the final race of the day, University of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Boat Club athlete Tom Mitchell and Saints Sport scholar Hansine Marshall powered through the waves to claim .
Hansine and Tom, along with fellow Boat Club athlete Cam Buchan, have been selected to at the 2025 European Rowing Coastal and Beach Sprint Championships.
The University's Boat Club is led by Director of Rowing, Lewis McCue, who was recently named at the 2024-2025 Scottish Rowing Awards.
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Alumni Carol Services in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø and London
All are warmly invited to join us for this year's Alumni Carol Services in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø and London. The services provide an opportunity to meet fellow graduates and catch up with old friends. Please note, seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
- London Alumni Carol Service, St Columba's Church, Pont Street – Wednesday 10 December at 7pm
- ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Alumni Carol Service, St Salvator's Chapel, North Street – Monday 15 December at 7pm (Tickets are not required)
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Professor Sabine Hyland studying a khipu with a hand-held microscope.
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Saints Spotlight: Professor Sabine Hyland
Professor Sabine Hyland is a Reader in the School of Divinity. In this month’s Saints Spotlight, she discusses her research into an Indigenous Peruvian form of proto-writing made of knotted, mixed-fibre strings known as khipus, and the previously uncovered knowledge they could hold about the Inca Empire.
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Dame Joanna Lumley in conversation at the 2025 Sands International Film Festival
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Save the date: Sands International Film Festival of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø 2026
The hugely successful Sands festival returns – for its fifth year – from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 April 2026.
Produced by the Byre Theatre and the University of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, with the University’s Department of Film Studies as a key partner, Sands is made possible through generous sponsorship from the Russo Brothers’ independent studio AGBO, and donations from the Murphy Family, and other valued supporters. This unique collaboration – combining AGBO’s ongoing commitment to mentorship with Festival Director Ania Trzebiatowska’s artistic leadership – enables Sands to bring world-renowned filmmakers to ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø while continuing to support new and diverse creative voices.
At the heart of Sands is a commitment to nurturing the next generation of filmmakers, championing diverse voices, and creating meaningful opportunities for students and early-career artists.
For 2026, we are delighted to be offering a small number of Sands Patrons packages, to include complimentary and priority ticketing along with invitations to exclusive VIP events with Sands participants, filmmakers, and other supporters during the Festival. To register your interest in becoming a Sands Patron, please email developmentevents@st-andrews.ac.uk.
Programme details and announcements for the 2026 festival will follow in the new year – stay tuned via the .
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General Council
The next meeting of the General Council of the University of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø will take place on Saturday 29 November at 10.30am in Parliament Hall, South Street, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, KY16 9JU. Tea and coffee will be available from 10am.
General Council members will be sent a link to the billet (meeting paper) before the meeting. Printed copies will be available at the meeting or can be requested in advance from the General Council Office.
To register your attendance, please email generalcouncil@st-andrews.ac.uk with your name, maiden name if applicable, year of graduation, degree, and subject of study.
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Alumni Stories
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Stuart Butler at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø in the 1960s
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Stuart Butler (BSc 1968; MA 1971; PhD 1978) is a public policy expert with over 40 years’ experience in healthcare, budget, education, and more. Stuart credits ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø as laying the foundations for his career in public policy research, which culminated in his retirement from the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C, last year.
As the first in his family to attend university and the recipient of grant funding as a student, Stuart funds a Wardlaw Scholarship as his way of 'paying forward' the gift he received.
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Jill Craig conducting the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø and Fife Community Orchestra (StAFCO)
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Gillian ‘Jill’ Craig (MA 1977) discusses her lifelong love of music, developed during her studies at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø. From her undergraduate lectures on Beethoven to working with the University’s Music Centre over the past 45 years, Jill reflects on her St Andrews story ahead of the 70th anniversary of the .
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To share your Alumni Story, please contact us at deveditorial@st-andrews.ac.uk. You can also submit an Alumni Profile using our brief .
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Alumni Authors
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Catriona Wilson (BSc 1999) and Rebecca Wilson (PhD 2019)
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SaintsFunder: 150 years of music
The University of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Music Society was established in 1876 and is both the University's largest and oldest music-making society. In April 2026, the Music Society will celebrate its 150th anniversary.
To mark the occasion, members hope to host a four-day festival (16-19 April 2026) showcasing the rich history of the society and the wider music community in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø.
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Saints Talk
Dr Graham Bruce of the School of Physics and Astronomy will give our next Saints Talk on Thursday 30 October at 5.15pm (BST), entitled ' 'Drink, Drugs and Toxic Books – recent adventures in spectroscopic sensing'.
Register below to attend.
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Inscription opportunities: leave a lasting mark
Become part of the ceremonial heart of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø with an inscribed seat plaque inside – or a flagstone outside – the Younger Hall. Both seat plaques and flagstones can be inscribed as a lasting memory of your time at the University – or as a gift to one of our graduates.
Contact Katie Birrell, Development Officer, at kjb21@st-andrews.ac.uk for more information.
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Coffee Connect: final opportunity to get involved
Coffee Connect is our exclusive mentoring programme, brought to you in partnership with the University's Careers Service. Coffee Connect is designed to support students and recent graduates by fostering connection, inspiration, and shared experience.
Mentors and mentees are matched for online conversations that can spark new ideas, build confidence, and open doors. Since its launch five years ago, over 4,000 alumni and students have signed up to have a relaxed chat over a virtual coffee. This year, the programme is open for students and recent graduates (up to three years after graduation) to be mentored by alumni, current parents who are part of our Family Programme, and friends of the University.
Applications close on Friday 31 October.
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Lululemon x University of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø collection
Following a sold-out first launch, our 'Lululemon x University of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø' collection is back in stock. Explore the range online and in-store at the University of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Shop.
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Laidlaw Live
Look out for the latest Laidlaw Music Centre live-streamed concerts and access high-quality music – wherever you are in the world.
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