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Port Vale Chair Becomes Keele University Chancellor
11 May
Summary
- Carol Shanahan appointed as Keele University's new chancellor.
- She is the first woman to hold the role since Princess Margaret.
- Shanahan is recognized for community service and co-founding a tech firm.
Carol Shanahan, the chair of Port Vale FC, has officially been named the new chancellor of Keele University in Staffordshire. This historic appointment makes her the first woman to assume this distinguished role since Princess Margaret, who served from 1962 to 1986. Shanahan, who received an honorary degree from Keele in 2022 for her extensive community work, stated she is "honoured beyond words" by the appointment.
Her career highlights include co-founding the technology firm Synectics Solutions in 1992 and establishing the Hubb Foundation in 2018 to support families. Awarded an OBE in 2020 for services to the Stoke-on-Trent community, she also received the freedom of the city in 2025. Professor Kevin Shakesheff, Keele's vice-chancellor, praised Shanahan's exemplary values, which resonate deeply with the university's commitment to education, social justice, and community engagement.
