Duncan Rice

Professor
Sir Duncan Rice
Principal of the
University of Aberdeen
In office
1996–2010
Succeeded by Prof Sir Ian Diamond
Personal details
Born 20 October 1942
Aberdeen
Spouse(s) Susan Rice CBE
Alma mater University of Aberdeen
Profession Historian

Professor Sir (Charles) Duncan Rice was Principal of the University of Aberdeen from September 1996 till 1 April 2010. He was previously Dean of the Faculty (1985–91), and Vice-Chancellor (1991–96) at New York University in the United States.

Early life

Rice was born in Aberdeen and studied History at the University of Aberdeen, graduating with a First in 1964. He then began lecturing at the University while completing a PhD at the University of Edinburgh, awarded in 1969.[1]

Career

In 1970, Rice was appointed Assistant Professor of History at Yale University, and was promoted to Associate Professor in 1975. In 1979, he was appointed Professor History at Hamilton College, in Clinton, New York, and in 1985 as Professor of History and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at New York University, being promoted to Vice-Chancellor in 1994. In 1996, he was appointed Principal of the University of Aberdeen.[1]

Rice has published widely as a professional historian, and has received honorary degrees from New York University and the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen as well as fellowships at Harvard and Yale, and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He serves on the Heritage Lottery Fund Committee for Scotland, is Honorary Vice-President of Scottish Opera and is Chair of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (Europe).[1]

He has previously served on the Boards of Scottish Enterprise Grampian, Scottish Opera/Ballet, BT Scotland, and The National Trust for Scotland. He was Chairman of the Circumpolar Universities Association from 1997–1999, is a former Chairman of the UK Socrates-Erasmus Trust, and a former member of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association Board. He was knighted in 2009 for services to higher education.[1]

Personal life

Sir Duncan Rice is married to Susan Rice, CBE, the Managing Director of Lloyds Banking Group Scotland. They have three children and live in Old Aberdeen. His interests include hillwalking, contemporary literature, and opera.

Duncan Rice is also a cousin of the Scottish painter Jane Cartney.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Principal's Biography". University of Aberdeen. Retrieved 5 December 2009.