Lancaster University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark E. Smith has been awarded a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2019.

Professor Smith, a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, was Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick before joining Lancaster in 2012 and leading the University through a period of sustained success.

British honours are awarded on merit, for exceptional achievement or service. Professor Smith was given the honour ‘for services to Research and Higher Education’.

He said: "I have to admit it was one of those letters you receive totally out of the blue that has left me feeling both very proud and humbled. That peers have chosen to nominate me for this honour means so much.

“For the award to be for two of the things I feel are really crucial for society and I care so passionately about is great. I would want though to acknowledge and thank all the people who have worked with and supported me to be able to make a contribution to these fields.”

Professor Smith holds a number of external appointments including membership of Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Board; Senior Independent Member of UKRI EPSRC’s Council; and board member of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, chairing their Research Wales Committee. He chairs the Financial Sustainability Strategy Group for Higher Education and Chairs the University and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA). He has recently been appointed as a Council member of the All-Party Parliamentary University Group. He is Chair of HECSU and Graduate Prospects and in December 2014 he became a Trustee and Board Member of Jisc. Regionally in the North West of England, Professor Smith is a member of the LEP Board for Lancashire and also serves on the North West Regional Leaders Board.

He has published more than 380 papers concerning advanced magnetic resonance techniques to understand a range of problems in materials physics including structural problems from disordered condensed matter such as biomaterials, glasses and nanocrystals.