Professor Paul Brunton will become the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Division of Health Sciences from next month.
In three weeks Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, Professor Paul Brunton, will vacate his role and take up a new position within the University as Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Division of Health Sciences.
But he doesn't really feel like he's leaving. “I'll be over the road and keeping an eye on the Faculty of Dentistry – along with everything else,” Professor Brunton explains.
As development of the new Faculty of Dentistry progresses, he will have no option about “keeping an eye” on the building, as it becomes a feature of the University's health precinct. In the first year of his tenure as Dean of the Faculty he was instrumental in the new facility's development, with approval granted under his watch.
"I have enjoyed leading and working with a wonderful group of colleagues and increasing the Faculty's international presence and standing."
“It's so much better than I ever imagined, it's going to be such a fantastic facility,” he enthuses.
Professor Brunton replaces Professor Peter Crampton who announced last October that he was going to step down from his roles as Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Division of Health Sciences and Dean of the Otago Medical School.
A former British dental researcher and educator, Professor Brunton arrived in New Zealand in January 2015 to take up the role of Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry.
He had previously been Director of Student Education at the University of Leeds' School of Dentistry.
He has thoroughly enjoyed his time in the Faculty and alongside overseeing planning and development of the new facility, his highlight has been success in promoting the Faculty internationally.
“I have enjoyed leading and working with a wonderful group of colleagues and increasing the Faculty's international presence and standing,” Professor Brunton explains.
“We have signed a record number of MOU's with partner universities which has brought a combination of more international students and new research collaborations.”
He is however, looking forward to a new challenge moving into a broader role leading the Division of Health Sciences, which incorporates the Faculty of Dentistry.
“I relish a new challenge and it is a privilege to lead the division through what I believe is going to be a period of unprecedented chance with significant infrastructure projects being developed alongside a new hospital planned for Dunedin.”
Professor Brunton will take up his new role on 2 July.
"It will be my privilege to hand over the reins to Paul with the knowledge that the Division will be in excellent hands."
Professor Crampton says he is delighted to learn that Professor Brunton is his successor.
“It will be my privilege to hand over the reins to Paul with the knowledge that the Division will be in excellent hands,” Professor Crampton says. “I am confident he will find the role as enjoyable, interesting and rewarding as I have.”
In an email to Divisional staff last week, Professor Crampton says It had been a tremendous pleasure and privilege to work with so many talented academic and professional colleagues over the past seven-and-a-half years.
“I am immensely proud of the achievements of the Division over this time and I thank everyone for their positive values, belief in the University, commitment and incredibly hard work.”
Professor Crampton will continue in his role as Dean of the Otago Medical School in the immediate future, until Professor Brunton has time to appoint his successor.
When he steps down from the Pro-Vice-Chancellor role, he will remain at the University and plans to teach and research in the area of Māori health at Kōhatu, the Centre for Hauora Māori.