Roehampton awards British television presenter June Sarpong OBE an honorary doctorate
- Tuesday, February 14, 2023
June Sarpong OBE, renowned broadcaster, activist, and author, has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Roehampton London. Her career began in the 1990’s, when she landed an internship at KISS FM radio station and went on to become one of the most recognisable faces on British television.
Throughout her prolific broadcasting career, June has presented with the likes of Will Smith, for Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebrations, has been a panellist on Loose Women and Sky News’s “The Pledge” and hosted an array of popular television programmes. In 2005, when she was a host on Channel 4’s show “T4”, was given unprecedented access to Prime Minister Tony Blair, on a T4 special: When Tony met June.
June is a passionate advocate for change in the workplace and a champion for greater representation throughout the media. She has written four books on diversity issues, including: ‘Diversity’, ‘The Power of Women’, ‘The Power of Privilege’ and her new book ‘The Only One in the Room’. In 2019 June was appointed to the BBC as its first ever Director of Creative Diversity. In her role, she is responsible for improving the BBCs on air-talent portrayal and developing strategies to support both on air and product talent representation and portrayal across the BBC and its partners.
During her speech at the graduation ceremony, Professor Sara Houston, Research and Knowledge Exchange Director for the School of Arts and Digital Industries, said: “In recognising her commitment to the creative industries, diversity and inclusion, business, entrepreneurship and social activism, June’s energy, and values mirror those of many of our own graduates here at Roehampton. June Sarpong is eminently worthy of the degree of Doctor of Arts honoris causa”.
The School of Arts and Digital Industries at Roehampton has been training professional creatives for many decades. Offering a variety of vibrant programmes and pathways into careers through communications, design, performing arts, film and media production, computing and a host of other industries and roles. To know more about our School and academic offer, please click here.