Many congratulations to our Principal-Elect, Professor Sarah Springman, who has been made a Dame Commander in the New Year Honours list. 

Professor Sarah Marcella Springman CBE is one of the world’s most accomplished academic geotechnical engineers and a pioneer in the study of soft soil mechanics, ground improvement and mass movement of slopes, renowned for research, teaching and academic leadership. She is also an acclaimed international champion triathlete and sports administrator. In 1997 she was appointed Professor at the leading Swiss University, ETH Zurich. There she established a world-leading research group in soil mechanics using bespoke laboratory centrifuges for effective physical modelling of complex soil structures. In this sector, engineering expertise in soil mechanics can play an important role in tackling the effects of climate change. In 2015 she became Rector of ETH Zurich. In 2021 she was appointed Principal of St Hilda’s College, Oxford.

We look forward to welcoming Dame Sarah to St Hilda's College in the New Year.