Sister Dr Bernadette Porter RSCJ (Bernie) has the unique honour of having held the title of Roehampton student and Vice-Chancellor. Bernie began her Roehampton journey as a student at Digby Stuart College in the early 1970s. After completing her PhD at King's College, she returned to join the teaching staff of the newly formed Roehampton Institute of Higher Education (RIHE). She recalls: “I loved my student days at Roehampton. It was such a friendly and happy environment. When I got the chance to come back to teach on the Secondary PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate of Education) course, I did not hesitate for a moment. I wanted to continue the individual care and encouragement for each student that I had experienced there.”
Bernie was appointed Principal of Digby Stuart College in 1987 and Pro–Rector of the Roehampton Institute in 1993. She eventually went on to become Rector in 1999, leading Roehampton on an ambitious five-year journey which saw the organisation transition from an institute of the University of London, to a partner in the Federal University of Surrey, before proudly achieving independent University title in the summer of 2004. At this point, Bernie became Roehampton's first Vice-Chancellor - at the time, one of very few female Vice-Chancellors in the UK. Bernie says of her appointment: “We were in the midst of the process to attain university status. It was a demanding but exciting time in Roehampton’s history. I was asked to apply for the role of Rector/Vice-Chancellor. I agreed but was always clear that they should choose the most suitable person for the post. The shortlist for the post was four men, all holding Pro-Vice Chancellor positions, and myself: a younger, less experienced, female candidate. Imagine my surprise when I was appointed as Roehampton’s first female Vice Chancellor!”
After retirement from Roehampton in the autumn of 2004, Bernie continued her work within Catholic education as Chair of the Diocesan Education Committee, and of course with the Society of the Sacred Heart, first as Provincial Treasurer and today as Treasurer General. Bernie was made a CBE in the Queen's Honours in 2005 and the award of Fellow of the University in 2006.
What advice does Bernie give to young girls and women looking to come to Roehampton? “Believe in yourself, have inner conviction about your strengths and weaknesses. Work on the strengths and the weaknesses! Love others for what they are and imagine what they can be. Know and harness the power of relationships. At Roehampton, you will find friends for life!”