Inaugural Director of Little Hall

Professor Peter Tregear has been appointed as the inaugural Director of Little Hall, a landmark student residence in Carlton made possible by a generous $30 million gift from philanthropists Jane Hansen and Paul Little.

Professor Tregear’s career spans across Australia and the United Kingdom. He is currently the Dean of St Mark’s College in Adelaide. Prior to that, he was Teaching Fellow and Director of Undergraduate Studies at the University of London, Professor and Head of the School of Music at the Australian National University and Executive Director, Academy of Performing Arts at Monash University.

He also served as Dean and Deputy Warden of University of Melbourne’s Trinity College between 2006 and 2008.

University of Melbourne Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Life) and Deputy Provost Professor Kerri-Lee Krause said Professor Tregear is an experienced and highly regarded academic leader.

“Peter has an enduring commitment to enhancing the quality of the student experience and to expanding the horizons of talented students. These qualities are particularly apt given the flagship academic enrichment program that will define the experience of Little Hall residents,” Professor Krause said.

“The ground-breaking Hansen Scholarship Program forms part of the Little Hall offer, and Professor Tregear will work closely with Associate Professor Heather Benbow in supporting the talented Hansen Scholars to reach their full potential. We look forward to Professor Tregear bringing creativity and academic depth to his leadership of this landmark initiative.”

Professor Tregear said the opportunity to lead the establishment and development of a new residential academic community was irresistible.

“It is a great honour to be given the chance to help realise Jane Hansen and Paul Little’s great philanthropic vision. Little Hall and the Hansen Scholarship Program together offer students from diverse backgrounds the chance to experience the manifold benefits of residential campus life and is set significantly to enhance the intellectual and cultural life of both the university and the city,” Professor Tregear said.

Professor Tregear will start in the role from 1 December 2020. Little Hall, which is due to be completed in December 2020, will complement the existing suite of high quality accommodation options for University of Melbourne students.