College principal to step down (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)
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St Mary's University College principal to step down
3:00pm Saturday 9th January 2010 in News By Chris Wickham
Leaving: Arthur Naylor
The principal of Twickenham’s university college is to stand down in the summer after nearly two decades in charge.
Arthur Naylor, 60, will leave St Mary’s University College at the end of the academic year, three years after overseeing one of the largest changes in its history.
The principal of 18 years was presiding when it was given the power to award its own degrees to students from autumn 2007, and when it changed its title from college to university college.
Dr Naylor, who lives in Strawberry Hill, was appointed as the first lay principal in 1992 – for most of the 20th century St Mary’s was run by the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) with ascensionist priests holding the position of principal.
Since taking over Dr Naylor has seen a large expansion in student numbers, and has also overseen the beginning of a project to restore Strawberry Hill, the historic house on St Mary’s grounds.
He has also seen many sporting milestones, with the university college set to host the South Africa Olympic team prior to the 2012 Games.
He said: “I would like people to say that over that time, a time of growth, expansion and change, St Mary’s maintained its ethos and character, its commitment to high academic standards and, as has been the case since its foundation in 1850, to wider access to education at all levels.
“I would like to think whoever becomes principal has a strong platform to work from in what will be challenging years ahead.
“I think that, overall, what I like most about where we are is we have tried to keep true to what we are about.
“Education is central to what we do, and theology is important as a church university college.”
Bishop George Stack, of St Mary’s chair of governors, said: “Generations of graduates of St Mary’s University College have good reason to be grateful to Arthur Naylor for his inspirational leadership, dedicated commitment and passionate concern for their social, spiritual and academic formation during their time at the university college.
“I am joined by my fellow governors in recording the debt owed by the university college for his tenure as an outstanding principal during a time of enormous change in the field of higher education.”
