University of Roehampton’s honorary doctorates announced
- Thursday, July 26, 2018
Over 2,850 students look forward to their promising futures after celebrating their graduation from the University of Roehampton this week.
There were six ceremonies spread across two days and graduates had their degrees conferred by University Chancellor, Professor Dame Jacqueline Wilson, and Pro Chancellors, The Very Reverend Dr. John Hall and Sir David Bell at the Royal Festival Hall on London’s South Bank. The ceremonies also saw the University award two honorary degrees, the Chancellor's Prize for Outstanding Alumni Achievement.
Roehampton Pro-Chancellor and Dean of Westminster Abbey, The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, was awarded Fellow of the University. The award was conferred by our Chair of Council, Sir David Bell, and was in recognition for the enormous contribution that he has made to both Whitelands College and Roehampton, including most recently as Chair of the University’s Development Board, which oversaw fundraising for the University’s Library.
Matt Henry was awarded the Chancellor's Prize for Outstanding Alumni Achievement for his contributions to the arts. He graduated from Roehampton with a degree in Drama and Sociology and has gone on to achieve huge success as a singer and actor. He was awarded an MBE in the 2017 New Year's Honours list and has received a Grammy nomination for his solo performance on the London Kinky Boots recording. In 2016 he won the Laurence Oliver Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance as Lola in Kinky Boots. Matt recently returned to Roehampton to give the key note at the Roehampton Students' Union LGBTQ+ Conference and addressed the themes of the conference; empowerment, leadership and celebration.
The Rt. Hon the Baroness Scotland QC was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws for her exceptional career, and her commitment to social justice, equality and to education. Her distinguished career as a lawyer is also something that is particularly relevant for our graduates this year, which sees our first cohort of Law students completing their degrees.
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, journalist, author and academic, was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters. Yasmin has written for the Guardian, Observer, Sunday Times and New York Times, amongst others on topics including immigration, diversity and multiculturalism issues. This year sees her embark on a research project looking into the well-being of troubled young Muslims and work with practitioners on effective responses.
See pictures from the ceremonies on our #WeAreUR blog site.