Gerald Pillay

Gerald John Pillay (born 21 December 1953) is a South African theologian and ecclesiastical historian. He was vice chancellor and rector of Liverpool Hope University in England from 2003 until the end of 2022.

Early life and education Pillay was born on 21 December 1953 in Natal in South Africa. His ancestors had come from India to the then British colony of Natal, and he grew up in Durban under apartheid. He studied at the University of Durban-Westville (a university established for Indian South Africans), graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1975, a Bachelor of Divinity (BD) degree in 1978, and a Doctor of Theology (DTheol) degree in 1985. He also studied philosophical theology at Rhodes University, graduating with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in 1984.

Liverpool Hope University On 1 September 2003, Pillay was appointed rector of Liverpool Hope University College. He became the first vice chancellor and rector when Liverpool Hope was granted full university status in July 2005.

Honours In 2005, he was elected a Life Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts (FRSA).

In 2013, he was presented with an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Hope College.

Pillay was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to higher education.

Selected works