Dame Sally Mapstone DBE FRSE (born 1957) is a British academic who has been Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews since 2016.

She read English language and literature at Wadham College, Oxford between 1975 and 1978, graduating with a first-class honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.

[citation needed] She then returned to the University of Oxford to undertake a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree at St Cross College.

On 1 September 2016, Mapstone took up her position as the 11th Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews, and was formally installed in post on 29 November 2016.

She took a strong interest in diversity issues at Oxford, and launched the university’s mentoring scheme for senior women, Ad Feminam, in 2012.

[citation needed] In June 2020, Mapstone discussed racism and the Black Lives Matter movement in a weekly update to students.

[18][19] On 12 June 2020, Mapstone offered a public apology on behalf of the university for its past failures in supporting BAME students and staff,[20] the first Scottish Principal to do so.

On 21 November 2021, she wrote in an email to students about how she hoped that “trans rights will continue to be the subject of positive personal, academic and political discourse in society”.

[citation needed] In the video, she says: “At St Andrews it is our goal to make the university a safe and supportive one in which you can become the very best version of yourself academically, but also personally.

[30] In May 2017, she became the first UK university leader to be honoured by the Foreign Policy Association, which presented her with a medal to recognise her leadership in international higher education, and made her an honorary fellow.

[35] Mapstone was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Aberdeen in 2019 for her contribution to the field of Older Scots literature and for her record of leadership in higher education and widening access.