Reception with the Vice-Chancellor
Reception with the Vice-Chancellor
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Prentice, is delighted to welcome you to a drinks reception at the iconic University Library.
Since its first recorded beginnings in 1416 as a small chest of manuscripts for Cambridge scholars, the University Library has grown into a physical collection of ten million books, maps, manuscripts and archives, encapsulating thousands of years of human thought and discovery. Now housed in architect Giles Gilbert Scott’s art deco masterpiece, the collection tells the stories of Cambridge and the world, across more than 4000 years and in thousands of languages and dialects.
You will have the opportunity to see a newly unveiled exhibition, The Footlights Illuminated, curated by current Footlights members to explore the history and identity of the world-renowned comedy group. Alongside, there will be bespoke displays of the Library’s unique treasures, created for one evening only, and the opportunity to catch up with old friends and new.
Speakers
Professor Deborah Prentice
Professor Deborah Prentice became the University of Cambridge’s 347th Vice-Chancellor on July 1, 2023.
An eminent psychologist, Professor Prentice carried out her academic and administrative career at Princeton University, which she first joined in 1988. She rose through the academic ranks and took on administrative responsibilities of increasing scope, chairing the Department of Psychology for 12 years, serving as Dean of Faculty for three years, and then serving six years as Provost, with primary responsibility for all academic, budgetary, and long-term planning issues.
Her academic expertise is in the study of social norms that govern human behaviour – particularly the impact and development of unwritten rules and conventions, and how people respond to breaches of those rules. She has edited three academic volumes and published more than 50 articles and chapters, and she has specialised in the study of domestic violence, alcohol abuse and gender stereotypes.
The University Council nominated Professor Prentice for appointment as Vice-Chancellor in September 2022.
Booking information
In-person lectures at the Sidgwick Site as part of Alumni Festival cost £15 per person.
Booking for this event is now closed.
