UEL appoints first cohort of honorary EDI Fellows
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Published
12 November 2025
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The University of East London is proud to announce the appointment of its inaugural cohort of Honorary Fellows in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) a significant milestone in our continued commitment to advancing inclusion, belonging and social justice across the institution and the wider higher education sector.
This distinguished group of Fellows brings a breadth of experience and expertise spanning the full spectrum of protected characteristics, including race, gender, disability, LGBTQ+ identities, religion and belief, age, and socioeconomic disadvantage. Collectively, they represent scholars, practitioners, policy leaders and community advocate whose work has shaped national and international conversations on equity.
Why this matters
UEL has become recognised for its sector-leading EDI achievements from securing the Race Equality Charter Silver Award and Athena Swan Silver to driving nationally acclaimed work on anti-racism, intersectionality, inclusive
education, and student success.
Appointing Honorary EDI Fellows marks the next stage of our evolution:
- Deepening the intellectual foundation of our EDI work
- Strengthening accountability to the communities we serve
- Embedding external challenge, expertise and thought leadership into our institutional plans.
As an innovative and careers-first university, we understand that excellence in EDI is not a static achievement but an ongoing responsibility. Our Fellows help us hold ourselves to the highest standards ensuring our commitments remain
ambitious, evidence-led and informed by lived experience.
A milestone moment: Inauguration on 26 November 2025
To formally welcome the Fellows to the UEL community, the University is hosting an inaugural ceremony on 26 November 2025, recognising each Fellow for their influence, leadership, and ongoing partnership with the University.
The occasion marks the beginning of a year-long programme of engagement, featuring strategic advisory sessions, community conversations, collaborative projects, and contributions to teaching, research, leadership development, and policy shaping.
Driving meaningful impact
The Honorary EDI Fellows will support UEL through:
- Advising on strategic priorities across the institution’s EDI portfolio
- Strengthening inclusive research and practice
- Supporting our efforts to eliminate degree awarding gaps
- Enhancing inclusive leadership capability
- Enriching student and staff experience
- Amplifying the voices of underrepresented groups
At UEL, EDI is central to our mission and our identity. By appointing these Fellows, we reinforce our commitment to building an environment where everyone students, staff and partners can thrive, contribute, and succeed.
Looking ahead
The Fellows will play a vital role in supporting the implementation of our new institutional EDI Strategy and influencing broader sector debates at a time when equity in higher education remains both urgent and essential. We look forward to working with and learning from this exceptional group of leaders as we continue to shape a future-focused, socially just and inclusive university.
Appointing our Honorary EDI Fellows is an investment in accountability, ambition and excellence. Their diverse expertise will help us sharpen our strategy, strengthen our evidence base, and accelerate change across the institution. This is how we ensure UEL continues to lead the sector by learning from those who push the boundaries of inclusion every day.”
Dr Jummy Okoya – Dean OIE
Meet our EDI Fellows:
