Vice-Chancellor receives CBE during Buckingham Palace ceremony

The President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton, Professor Mark E Smith, has formally received his CBE, awarded in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours last June.

Professor Smith was given his CBE by HRH The Duke of Cambridge during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. 

“For the award to be for two of the things I feel are really crucial for society and I care so passionately about is great,” said Professor Smith who was given the honour ‘for services to Research and Higher Education’. “I want to acknowledge and thank all the people who have worked with and supported me to be able to make a contribution to these fields.”

A Fellow of the Institute of Physics, Professor Smith was previously Vice-Chancellor at the University of Lancaster before taking up his appointment at Southampton in October, 2019.

Throughout his academic career, Professor Smith has published more than 380 papers concerning advanced magnetic resonance techniques to understand a range of problems in materials physics including structural problems from disordered condensed matter such as biomaterials, glasses and nanocrystals.

Professor Smith also holds a number of external appointments including membership of Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Board; Senior Independent Member of UKRI EPSRC’s Council; and board member of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, chairing their Research Wales Committee.

He chairs the Financial Sustainability Strategy Group for Higher Education and Chairs the University and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA). He has recently been appointed as a Council member of the All-Party Parliamentary University Group.

He is also Chair of HECSU and Graduate Prospects and in December 2014 he became a Trustee and Board Member of Jisc.