St Catherine’s College Master announces retirement
On 23 January, the Master, Professor Kersti Börjars, announced that she will be retiring at the end of Trinity Term 2024.
Since arriving at Catz in January 2020, Kersti has been at the heart of the College community. She will be remembered among other things for the care and concern she has shown for the wellbeing of the College and its members, and for the energy and professionalism she has brought to the Mastership.
During her four years in Office, Kersti has helped to navigate the College through some especially challenging periods, including the Covid pandemic and the discovery of RAAC throughout the College site. She has also overseen some significant initiatives, including a complete review of the College’s Statutes and By-Laws, confirming our commitment to the traditional Oxford model of academic self-governance.
Kersti is the first female Master of the College, and will leave us in the same year in which we celebrate “50 years of women at Catz”.
We will find a fitting way to mark the Master’s time in Office and her many and varied contributions to the College in due course. In the meantime however, we are pleased to say that Kersti has agreed to remain in post until 23 July 2024 to oversee a smooth transition in the Office of Master. With this in mind, we will shortly be commencing the search for her successor, who will lead a major fundraising campaign for the college over the coming decade.
Professor Börjars said: “Being Master of St Catherine’s College has been the greatest privilege, and I very much look forward to remaining part of the Catz community and serving the College in any way I can.”