Alison Ann Trotter (23 January 1932 – 14 July 2022) was a New Zealand historian. She was the first woman to be appointed pro vice-chancellor of the

University of Otago , image_name = University of Otago Registry Building2.jpg , image_size = , caption = University clock tower , motto = la, Sapere aude , mottoeng = Dare to be wise , established = 1869; 152 years ago , type = Public research collegiate u ...

Early life and education

Alison Ann Trotter was born in

Hāwera Hāwera is the second-largest centre in the Taranaki region of New Zealand's North Island, with a population of . It is near the coast of the South Taranaki Bight. The origins of the town lie in a government military base that was established i ...

, New Zealand on 23 January 1932, daughter of Pan and Clement George Trotter. She was educated at Hāwera Main Primary School, before undertaking her secondary schooling at St Cuthbert's College in Auckland from 1945 to 1949, where she was head girl in her final year. She graduated from the

with a master of arts in 1953, followed by teacher training at Auckland Training College.

Career

Trotter taught history and social studies at

Epsom Girls' Grammar School , motto_translation = ''Through difficulties to greatness.'' , coordinates = , type = State Single Sex Girls Secondary (Year 9–13) with Boarding Facilities , established = 12 February 1917 , MOE = 64 , principal = Lorraine Pound , colo ...

from 1959 to 1968, where she influenced

Helen Clark Helen Elizabeth Clark (born 26 February 1950) is a New Zealand politician who served as the 37th prime minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008, and was the administrator of the United Nations Development Programme from 2009 to 2017. She was ...

, later prime minister of New Zealand. She left to study in England, completing a Master of Arts degree at the

School of Oriental and African Studies SOAS University of London (; the School of Oriental and African Studies) is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the federal University of London. Founded in 1916, SOAS is located in the Bloomsbury ar ...

, followed by a PhD at the

London School of Economics , mottoeng = To understand the causes of things , established = , type = Public research university , endowment = £240.8 million (2021) , budget = £391.1 millio ...

, where her research focussed on Asian history. In 1973, Trotter returned to New Zealand to lecture in Asian history at the

, rising to become a full professor in 1993. She served as pro vice-chancellor at the University of Otago from 1993 to 1997, the first woman to fill this role. Trotter was appointed an

Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rend ...

in the

1997 Queen's Birthday Honours The 1997 Birthday Honours were announced on 14 June 1997 for the United Kingdom and on 2 June 1997 for New Zealand.New Zealand list: Queen's Birthday Honours are announced on or around the date of the Queen's Official Birthday in the United Kingd ...

, for services to historical research. She retired from the University of Otago in 1998, receiving the title of emeritus professor, and moved to Wellington. Trotter died in

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...

on 14 July 2022.

Selected publications

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trotter, Ann 1922 births 2022 deaths Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit New Zealand historians University of Otago alumni University of Otago faculty People from Hāwera People educated at St Cuthbert's College, Auckland Alumni of the London School of Economics New Zealand schoolteachers Alumni of SOAS University of London