Head of Department 1983-1992

Professor Ian Wand was one of the first academics to join the Department of Computer Science in the early 1970s and became the second Head of Department in 1983. 

During his time at the University of York he worked hard to grow the department and develop its research reputation. Ian was not only a wonderful academic, leading the team that built one of the first compilers for the Ada programming language, he proved a superb administrator, starting the process of building the Department up to the size, scale and reputation it enjoys today. He understood immediately the importance of a strong research environment (even before research assessment exercises, for which he would later become a superb panel chair, were envisaged), and used the Department’s research reputation to attract large numbers of well-taught, able students. He was able to navigate the world of the University without any desire for self-aggrandisement, but through the deployment of logical arguments designed to attract more staff, students, money and reputation to the benefit of the subject and Department he loved.

He was appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of York in 1999, remaining in the role until his retirement in 2002, and was a leading figure in many university projects including the establishment of the Hull York Medical School.