Despite having retired as Vice-Chancellor of The University of Queensland, Professor John Hay, AC, will retain his academic title.
In November, the University Senate conferred the title of Professor Emeritus on Professor Hay, effective from the date of his retirement, December 31, 2007.
Professor Emeritus titles are awarded to departing Professors in recognition of distinguished academic service to the University, and are determined by an absolute majority vote of the 22-member Senate.
Those conferred an Emeritus title may continue to be regarded as Professors of the University, even though their employment contract has ceased.
During Professor Hay’s 12-year term as Vice Chancellor, UQ’s teaching and research reputation improved dramatically, making him a more than worthy recipient of an Emeritus title.
Professor Hay led the development of a nationally unprecedented series of research institutes and centres at UQ with funding in excess of $800 million, and forged close bonds with both State and Federal Governments, as well as private benefactors such as The Atlantic Philanthropies.
He chaired the body representing Australia’s leading research-intensive universities, the Group of Eight, from January 2002 to May 2003, and Universitas 21, a consortium of comprehensive, research-intensive international universities.
In 2003, Professor Hay was awarded a Centenary Medal for contributions to Australian higher education, and in 2007 was announced as a “Queensland Great” by then State Premier, Peter Beattie, in recognition of his lifetime achievements in the history and development of the “Smart State.”
In 2004 Professor Hay was made a Companion of the Order of Australia.
Also conferred the title of Professor Emeritus at the November Senate meeting was Professor John de Jersey, AM.
Professor de Jersey began his career with UQ in 1971 as a Senior Tutor in the Biochemistry Department and was promoted to the positions of Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Reader and Sub-Dean of the Faculty of Science.
Professor de Jersey was Head of the Department of Biochemistry from 1992-2000 and Head of the School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences from 2001-2004.
In 1996 he was promoted to Professor and, from 2005, was Deputy Executive Dean and Director of Research for the Biological and Chemical Sciences Faculty.
In 2005, Professor de Jersey was made a Member of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours list for service to science education, research in the field of enzyme biochemistry and molecular biology, and academia.
Professor de Jersey was a member of the University Senate from 1999-2007.
Like Professor Hay, Professor de Jersey retired on December 31, 2007.
Media inquiries: Penny Robinson at UQ Communications (3365 9723, penny.robinson@uq.edu.au)
