YORK St John University has appointed a new vice-chancellor to take over from Professor David Fleming later this year.

Professor Karen Stanton, who is currently deputy vice-chancellor at Glasgow Caledonian University and has previously held positions at King’s College London and at the universities of Nottingham, Birmingham and Sheffield Hallam, will start her new role on September 1.

Her previous areas of responsibility have included internationalisation, marketing and communications, fundraising, business and community engagement.

Before her roles within higher education, she worked as a researcher for the Home Office and at the BBC.

Ann Green, pro cChancellor and chairman of the university’s board, said she was confident the university would “continue its highly successful trajectory” under her leadership. She thanked Professor Fleming, who is retiring from York St John and higher education altogether in September because of ill health, for his contribution and commitment to York St John University over the last five years.

Professor Stanton said York St John had enjoyed significant success in recent years under Professor Fleming’s leadership and her appointment was a “great honour”.

She said: “The university is recognised for its outstanding student experience and has built a reputation for its commitment to the region’s economic, social and cultural success.

“At such an interesting time for the higher education sector, I believe York St John has a great opportunity to develop further as a university that is focused on quality, community and raising aspirations.”