David Bell (university administrator)

Sir David Robert Bell KCB DL (born March 1959) is a public policy analyst who is Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Sunderland.

[10] Bell had left "under a cloud", according to Times Higher Education[11] when it emerged that Reading had returned a £20 million deficit, largely because of its Malaysia campus.

[12] It was announced in an email from Bell on 18 September 2024 that St Mary's Childcare Centre based at City Campus will close permanently on 23 July 2025.

This means that it is subsidised by the University, with the subsidy for 2023/24 projected to be in excess of £250,000... Last academic year, the service was used by 45 families, including 17 members of staff and 11 students.

[14] Bell says that due to the cost of the relocation estimated at £9.4million, it has instead decided to close the course in summer 2026, with recruitment stopping from September [2024].

"[24] It is of note that during this period of layoffs and restructuring, a new executive member of staff was appointed, for the position of Pro Vice Chancellor of Learning and Teaching.

Previously free, the Student´s Union has a petition online calling for this to be removed, in recognition of the increased cost of living and job insecurity that students are facing.

[28] Bell was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2011 Birthday Honours[29] and a Deputy Lieutenant of Tyne & Wear in 2020.