{{Short description|British linguist (born 1944)}} {{other people||Martin Harris (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Use British English|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Sir Martin Harris | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}} | image_upright = | image = <!--If this is specified, "image" should not be.--> | alt = | caption = | order1 = | office1 = 7th President of Clare Hall, Cambridge | term_start1 = 2008 | term_end1 = 2013 | predecessor1 = Ekhard Salje | successor1 = David Ibbetson | order2 = | office2 = Chancellor of the University of Salford | term_start2 = 2007 | term_end2 = 2009 | predecessor2 = Sir Walter Bodmer | successor2 = Irene Khan | order3 = | office3 = Vice-Chancellor of the Victoria University of Manchester | term_start3 = 1992 | term_end3 = 2004 | order4 = | office4 = Vice-Chancellor of the University of Essex | term_start4 = 1987 | term_end4 = 1992 | predecessor4 = Sir Albert Sloman | successor4 = Ron Johnston <!-- Personal --> | birth_name = Martin Best Harris | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1944|6|28}} | birth_place = Ruabon, Wales | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|df=y|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | death_place = | citizenship = }} '''Sir Martin Best Harris''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}} (born 28 June 1944) is a British academic and former university vice-chancellor.

==Life and career== {{BLP sources section|date=January 2023}} He was born at Ruabon, Wales, the son of William Best Harris, afterwards City Librarian of Plymouth, and educated at Devonport High School for Boys in Plymouth, at Queens' College, Cambridge and at the School of Oriental and African Studies. He began his academic career at the University of Leicester in 1967, where he lectured in French Linguistics.

He spent fifteen years at the University of Salford as a Senior Lecturer, Professor of Linguistics, Dean and, later, Pro-Vice-Chancellor. From 1984 to 1987 he was a member of the University Grants Committee.

His first appointment as Vice-Chancellor was at the University of Essex in 1987, where he succeeded the founding Vice-Chancellor, Albert Sloman.

His most prominent academic appointment was Vice-Chancellor of the Victoria University of Manchester from 1992 until its dissolution in the formation of the new University of Manchester in 2004. During his time in Manchester he also at various times Chairman of both the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals (now UUK), and of its Health Committee, a member of the Commission for Health Improvement and a member of the Department of Health – Department for Education and Skills Strategic Learning and Research Advisory Group: StLAR, and Chair of the Clinical Academic Staff Advisory Group of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association.

Harris' appointments since retirement from the University of Manchester include Deputy Chairmanship of the North West Development Agency 2002–2008, Director of Fair Access at the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) 2004–2012, and Chancellor of the University of Salford between 2005 and 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.salford.ac.uk/news/details/273 |title=News: Sir Martin Harris Appointed University Chancellor |accessdate=12 August 2008|date=24 January 2005 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050206171908/http://www.salford.ac.uk/news/details/273 |archivedate=6 February 2005 }}</ref>

He became President of Clare Hall, Cambridge in 2008 and stepped down in 2013.

== Books == *Martin Harris (1978) ''The Evolution of French Syntax. A Comparative Approach.'' London: Longman. *Nigel Vincent & Martin Harris (eds) (1982) ''Studies in the Romance Verb: Essays Offered to Joe Cremona on the Occasion of his 60th Birthday.'' London: Croom Helm. *Martin Harris & Nigel Vincent (eds) (1988) ''The Romance Languages.'' London: Croom Helm. (2nd ed. London: Taylor & Francis, 1997).

== Past positions ==

*Vice-Chancellor of the University of Essex from 1987 to 1992. *Vice-Chancellor of the Victoria University of Manchester from 1992 until 2004. *Chairman of review of graduate education in England and Wales (the Harris Report) 1995-96. *Chairman of the Clinical Standards Advisory Group 1996. *Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals (CVCP), now Universities UK, from 1997 until 1999. *Founding Chair of the North West Universities Association 1999–2001. *Chairman of a review of university careers services for the Department for Education and Skills 2000. *Commissioner for Health Improvement 1999–2002. *Honorary President of the National Postgraduate Committee 2001–2004 *Deputy Chair of the North West Development Agency 2002–2008 *Director of Fair Access at the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) 2004–2012 *Chairman of Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited 2006–2015 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ipe.com/chairman-retires-at-uk-universities-superannuation-scheme/10007389.article|title=Chairman retires at UK Universities Superannuation Scheme}}</ref> *President of Clare Hall, Cambridge 2008–2013

== Present positions ==

*Honorary Fellow of Queens' College, Cambridge.

== Honours ==

HM The Queen appointed Professor Harris Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1992 and Knight Bachelor in her New Year Honours List 2000 for services to higher education.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/12/99/new_years_honours/584131.stm Honours List, ''BBC News'', 31 December 1999] Accessed 29 August 2007</ref>

The ''Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama'' at the University of Manchester is named in his honour.

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading== *Beckett, Francis "Powerful persuader: director of Offa Sir Martin Harris is certain he can achieve everything necessary for Offa's success—without using sanctions", ''AutLook''; Association of University Teachers; Jan. 2005, pp.&nbsp;16–17

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20051205104410/http://www.salford.ac.uk/news/details/289 Sir Martin Harris installed as Chancellor of University of Salford] at Salford.ac.uk * [http://www.martinharriscentre.manchester.ac.uk/ Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama]; the University of Manchester

{{s-start}} {{s-aca}} {{Succession box | title = Vice-Chancellor of the University of Essex | years = 1987&ndash;1992 | before = Sir Albert Sloman | after = Ron Johnston }} {{s-bef|before= Professor Sir Walter Bodmer}} {{s-ttl|title= Chancellor of the University of Salford|years= 2007–2009}} {{s-aft|after= Dr Irene Khan}} {{s-bef|before = Ekhard Salje}} {{s-ttl|title = President of Clare Hall, Cambridge|years = 2008–2013}} {{s-aft|after= David Ibbetson}} {{s-bef|before=Sir Mark Richmond }} {{s-ttl|title=Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester |years=1992–2004 }} {{s-aft|after=Alan Gilbert }} {{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Martin}} Category:1944 births Category:Living people Category:People from Ruabon Category:Academics of the University of Salford Category:Vice-chancellors of the Victoria University of Manchester Category:Academics of the University of Leicester Category:People associated with the University of Essex Category:People associated with the University of Salford Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Category:Knights Bachelor Category:Language education in the United Kingdom Category:Linguists from the United Kingdom Category:Alumni of Queens' College, Cambridge Category:People educated at Devonport High School for Boys Category:Chancellors of the University of Salford Category:Presidents of Clare Hall, Cambridge Category:Alumni of SOAS University of London