Prof Sir Chris Frayling leaves the College to Dr Paul Thompson

Sir Neil Cossons, chairman of the College Joint Selection Committee of three members of the Council and three members of the Senate, announced the appointment of Paul Thompson as the new Rector and Vice-Provost with effect from September, 2009 when the current Rector, Sir Christopher Frayling, steps down from the post.

Paul Thompson, 49, born in Oxford, holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Bristol, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of East Anglia. He is Director of the Smithsonian Institution’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, the only museum in the United States devoted to historic and contemporary applied art and design.
Paul Thompson’s wide-ranging knowledge of, and passion for arts education is well established. Prior to taking up his current position at the Cooper-Hewitt Dr Thompson was Director of the Design Museum in London, from 1992 to 2001. Before directing the Design Museum, Dr Thompson was Curator of Contemporary Design there, from 1988 to 1992.  From 1987 to 1988, Paul Thompson worked at the Design Council. Outside the world of galleries and museums, he has worked diligently to heighten awareness of the role design plays within an increasingly global society. In 2000 Paul Thompson was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal College of Art for services to art and design education.