Katrina Hancock to leave Development Office

At the end of March 2017 we’ll be saying goodbye to Katrina Hancock, Fellow and Director of Development, as she takes time out to spend more time with her family.

After 12 years working for the College, 10 of which as Director of Development, she will be leaving on a high as we celebrate the formal opening of Cohen Quad and raising £50m for the Exeter Excelling campaign on 18 and 19 March.

She admits that it was a hard decision to make as working for Exeter is more than ‘just a job’ but is looking forward to this next stage in her life and focussing more on her children (Rose, 6 and Toby, 4) and some of the pro bono work that she’s already doing outside of College life.

She intends to remain in touch with Exeter, as an alumna, but plans to give her successor, Pamela Stephenson, Associate Director of Development at the University of Western Australia, some space to settle in first!

Here she shares her thoughts ahead of leaving Exeter:

‘It is with mixed feelings that I leave Exeter at the end of this month having worked for the College for over 12 years, as well as having been a student here (with my now husband) for four years in the 1990s. Exeter is very much my home and the students, staff, fellows, alumni, parents and friends really are an extension of my own family – and I will miss everyone very much.

‘It has been a real joy and privilege to be part of the Exeter family for so long and I am thrilled to have been able to raise £50 million for current and future generations of students from those who have gone before – your generosity has been exemplary: thank you. So much has been achieved here that sets Exeter apart from other Oxford colleges, not least the construction and opening of Cohen Quad, and that would not have been possible without the tremendous support of the whole Exeter family and the hard work of my wonderful colleagues in the Development Office.

‘I’m delighted that Pamela Stephenson will be taking over from me later this year – she is currently at the University of Western Australia in Perth where she is Associate Director of Development, having previously worked at the British Library, the Natural History Museum and the University of Glasgow.

‘Thank you for your friendship and support over the years and I’m sure I’ll see you again. Floreat Exon!’

Katrina Hancock