Professor David Coslett is Interim Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Plymouth University. A distinguished and long serving academic, with a career spanning 25 years in the UK HE sector,

David was previously Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) where he was responsible for Student Experience, Curriculum Development, Academic Partnerships and External Relations. Prior to this, he held posts as Pro Vice-Chancellor for Cultural Engagement and Dean of the Faculty of Arts. For a number of years he was Head of the School of Art and Performance at the former Exeter College of Art and Design.

An expert in Theatre in Education and a champion of the university and city’s cultural agenda, David was formerly secretary of the UK Council of University Deans of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities. He serves on a number of Boards and Trusts, including the South West Film & Television Archive, and is Vice-Chair of the Plymouth Culture Board.

He is a director of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership Board and is a member of the University Alliance, which represents a number of key entrepreneurial universities expressly committed, through their research and teaching, to working as anchor institutions, driving socio-economic prosperity for their cities and region.

David holds degrees from the Universities of Cardiff, Leeds and Durham and is a diplomate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.