Jesus College have announced that British diplomat Lindsay Skoll will take up the role of Principal from next year. She is the first woman to be elected to the position in the College’s history.
Skoll has been HM Ambassador to Austria since 2021, and will succeed Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt in leading the College. The researcher, known for interdisciplinary work in artificial (AI) and web science, will retire after eleven years in post.
A graduate of the University of Nottingham, Skoll has had a long career in international relations. Currently, the UK Permanent Representative to the UN in Vienna, she was recognised in the 2019 New Year’s Honours List.
She has previously worked in Russia, the Seychelles, and North Korea as Deputy Head of Mission. In 2016, she led the UK Government response to the Zika Virus epidemic.
One Jesus student told Cherwell that “the tutors involved in selecting Lindsay were very excited about a lot of their options, so she must have stood out as a really fantastic choice for the College”.
The same student noted intrigue among the student body about the potential for a future college dog, given the presence of a furry friend on Skoll’s Instagram page.
Skoll will join Jesus College in August 2026. Other new heads of house elected for next summer include Professor of English Seamus Perry at Balliol College.
In the shorter term, CEO of Royal Society of Medicine Michele Acton will join St Hugh’s College as Principal in September, succeeding former Chancellor candidate Elish Angiolini.
