Murdoch appoints Eeva Leinonen as new Vice Chancellor

By Madura McCormack

Professor Eeva Leinonen will become Murdoch University’s Vice-Chancellor from 2016.

Professor Leinonen is the university’s first female Vice-Chancellor and replaces Professor Andrew Taggart, who has been acting in the role since October 2015.

The university has been on the hunt for a new Vice-Chancellor since the controversial resignation of Richard Higgott late last year.

The Murdoch Senate referred Mr Higgott to the Corruptions and Crime Commission (CCC) for suspected misconduct.

It is unknown at this time the stage of the investigation.

Previously the Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Wollongong, Professor Leinonen has a background in psychology and linguistics.

Her most recent citations focus on children, speech, and children with autism-spectrum disorder, particularly with Aspergers.

She was also Deputy Vice Chancellor for 19 years at the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom.

Professor Leinonen said in the statement that she saw Murdoch as a university with a ‘solid foundation, a strong research focus, and an impressive vision’.

This story will be updated as new information becomes available. The Murdoch University Wikipedia page has somehow already been updated.