Graduate defeats sitcom star and MSP to become new rector at St Andrews University
A St Andrews graduate has been elected as the university’s new rector.
Dr Arthur Bernhoff becomes the 56th rector after students turned out to vote in record numbers. He takes up his post on November 1.
He pledged to be a “present, listening, and effective” rector, committed to representing the views of all St Andrews students and to be in service of the diverse student body as a whole.
Dr Bernhoff, who lives locally, was elected in the fourth round of voting, securing 3135 votes ahead of actor The Office US star, Brian Baumgartner, who was in second place with 1553 votes. Green MSP Dr Q Manivannan came third with 1243 votes and was eliminated in the third round.
Mr Mark Brunner was fourth with 874 votes, Edison Yau fifth with 382 votes, and Dr Conor Philp sixth with 140 votes.
A total of 5425 votes were cast - a 45% turnout that was almost double the last rector’s vote in 2023. It was also the biggest response to an election in recent history.
The new Rector, who completed his PhD at St Andrews, holds an analytical role with the Ministry of Defence and remains a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Deployable Civilian Expert.
Dr Bernhoff said: “I am honoured and humbled by the level of support that I received during the campaign and the election from all the different parts of the student body.
“Over the past few weeks, and particularly in the last few days, students have very generously talked to me about their experiences, and shared their perspectives. As a proud alumni, it has been a great pleasure and a privilege to reconnect with the University where I have spent some of the most formative years of my life.
“I look forward to working with the student body, Students’ Association, University staff, and members of the Court to help make the University even stronger, where students from all backgrounds, and of all characteristics can thrive and build strong foundations for lives beyond their time in higher education.
“I intend to be a proactive rector, accessible to all students of our vastly diverse student body. I am committed to my campaign promise of representing the views of all St Andrews students as a neutral, unbiased advocate of their concerns. I promise to be present, listening, and effective.”
The Rector is one of the University's most distinctive and historic roles, serving as President of the University Court representing the interests of students at the highest level of the University's governance. The post-holder serves a three-year term.
Dr Bernhoff will be formally installed at a ceremony in 2027 and take part in the traditional Rector’s Drag as part of the celebrations.
The day before the installation, the Rector is 'delivered' into town, usually by a novel form of transport, and is then escorted by students to meet student groups, clubs and societies around town. The Drag ends with a reception at the Students' Association, sometimes followed by a torchlight procession from St Salvator's Quad to the end of the pier.