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Birkbeck College now has seven female professors. This places us fourth in your league table (THES, July 26) with 15.9 per cent, not joint 29th with 6.8 per cent.

The two Oxford academics, Jennifer Hornsby and Nicola Lacey, mentioned in Gillian Morriss-Kay's article last week now have chairs at Birkbeck. The secretary of the college is also a woman.

Many talented young women are now being appointed to lectureships and to junior administrative positions. I am optimistic that many of them will end up in top jobs in the not too distant future.

Tessa Blackstone Master, Birkbeck College University of London.