Professor Dame Jacqueline Wilson honoured at the 2017 BAFTAs

• Monday, November 27, 2017

The University of Roehampton’s Chancellor - Professor Dame Jacqueline Wilson - has been awarded the Special Award at the 2017 British Academy Children’s Awards (BAFTAs) on Sunday 26 November

Dame Jacqueline is a celebrated children’s author and former children’s laureate and has written more than 100 books in a career that has spanned over 35 years.

She was appointed Chancellor at the University of Roehampton in 2014 and has been a Professorial Fellow since 2008.

Dame Jacqueline’s books for children have sold over 40 million copies in the UK and have been translated into 34 different languages. They have also been adapted for television, including the story of Tracy Beaker for the BBC, Girls in Love for ITV and The Illustrated Mum, which was broadcast on Channel 4 and was awarded an EMMY and two BAFTAs.

As well as being the Chancellor at Roehampton, Dame Jacqueline has also played an active role in supporting the University more widely. This includes teaching on both the Children’s Literature and Creative Writing postgraduate degrees, offering master classes to all students and attending open day and graduation ceremonies.

The Jacqueline Wilson Scholarship was established in her honour, which is an annual postgraduate scholarship based at the University’s award-winning National Centre for Research into Children’s Literature.

Vice-Chancellor Paul O’Prey CBE said: ‘I’m delighted that Dame Jaqueline has been awarded the Special Award, it is thoroughly deserved. She is hugely popular as a children’s author and also continues to be an inspiration in her role as Chancellor for the University’.

For more information about the British Academy Children’s Awardsvisit their website.