Selwyn College has announced the election of Suzanne Raine, a former head of the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, as its new Master.

Raine, who will take up the role at the beginning of Michaelmas term, will be the 14th Master of the college, and the first woman to hold the post.

At a formal election meeting of the fellows on Tuesday (19/2), Raine was unanimously chosen as the new Master. She will succeed Roger Mosey, the current head of the college, when he steps down at the end of the academic year.

Raine is a graduate from Peterhouse, where she achieved a double first in history, and served in the Foreign and Commonwealth office for 24 years between 1995 and 2019, during which time she had postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan.

Currently, she is a visiting professor at King’s College, London, as well as a member of the Public Interest Board of EY, deputy chair of the board of trustees of the Imperial War Museum and a member of the board of trustees at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).

The new Master said: “It is wonderful to have been elected Master of Selwyn College. Its distinctive and confident approach has made it a vibrant community, of which I am excited to become a part. The college has shown clearly that it is possible to be academically excellent and open and welcoming to all; I look forward to working with every element of the community to learn and shape what comes next.”

Roger Mosey’s retirement was announced in July 2024, and he steps down as the longest-serving incumbent head of a Cambridge college, having been in the post since 2013. In his time as Master, he has overseen the construction of Selwyn’s new Bartlam Library and the completion of Ann’s Court.

Prior to his appointment, Mosey served as head of BBC Television News, overseeing the broadcaster’s coverage of the 2008 and 2012 Olympic games. In a comment for Varsity, Mosey said: “The election is, of course, a matter for the fellowship. But I think they have chosen wisely. The college will be in safe hands, and this remarkable community will continue to thrive.”