Professor Dame Sally Mapstone DBE, FRSE

Professor Mapstone was the UUK President from 2023 to 2025, having previously served on the UUK UK Board as Vice President, Scotland and as Convener of Universities Scotland. During her time as President, Professor Mapstone was a member of the UUK Resources Committee, Governance and Nominations Committee and the Woburn House Development Group.  

Professor Mapstone has been the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews since 2016.  

Professor Mapstone is a medievalist, and a leading figure in Scottish and UK higher education policy development and reform. She is an emeritus Fellow of St Hilda’s College, Oxford, and an honorary Fellow of Wadham and St Cross Colleges. At Oxford, Professor Mapstone also took on several senior leadership roles including Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Personnel and Equality (2009–2011) and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education (2011–16). In the latter role, she assumed responsibility for Oxford's strategy and policies for teaching, learning, student support, and admissions. 

Professor Mapstone currently serves as Chair of the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) board. She has previously held several sector leadership roles, including Vice-Chair of the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland and trustee of UCAS.