Honorary Degrees at UEL
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Honorary Degrees at UEL
Every year the University of East London recognises the extraordinary achievements of a handful of individuals who are making a difference in our world. Honorary degrees celebrate individuals who have had a transformative impact and who represent diverse backgrounds and fields of endeavour. They provide inspiration and leadership to the graduates of the University. Past recipients have included:
- Leading academics in all disciplines
- Creative minds in arts and performance
- Athletes of extraordinary achievement
- Public intellectuals and opinion-makers
- Visionary leaders in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors
- Contributors of long-standing and exemplary service to the University
- Community builders and philanthropists
Winter 2024 honorary degree recipients
Jane Barnes
A champion of East London schools, who has shaped the education of teachers and pupils for almost half a century, Mrs Barnes was awarded an honorary doctorate in education in 2024.
See Mrs Barnes' full profile
Donna Coote
Ms Coote graduated with a bachelor’s degree in immunology from the University of East London. She was awarded an honorary doctorate in health sciences awarded posthumously in 2024.
See Ms Cootes' full profile
Ketan Sheth
A long-standing councillor, serving on Brent Council, Mr Sheth is widely known for his work supporting vulnerable people. Ketan Sheth was awarded an honorary doctorate in law in 2024.
See Mr Sheth's full profileHonorary degree recipients
Honorary degrees are the University's way of recognising exceptional people and the things they have done to make a difference in the world. Every year, a select group of distinguished people, whose work and achievements fall in line with our values, are awarded a University of East London honorary degree at our graduation ceremonies.
Nicola Lloyd
Honorary Doctorate in Arts awarded in 2017
Nicola Lloyd is the commissioning editor on ITV’s factual entertainment team, one of the most important jobs in British commercial television. She began her TV career after graduating from the University of East London in 2001, initially working in post-production.
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She moved into programme production, becoming a producer/director on hit shows like I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, before becoming a series producer and executive producer. Ms Lloyd crafted the blueprint for the acclaimed Channel 4 series First Dates in that latter role, winning a BAFTA award in 2015. She joined ITV in 2016 and has stayed there ever since, commissioning programmes including Ghislaine, Prince Andrew and the Paedophile, The Real Games and Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Road Trip.
Mark Stephens CBE
Honorary Doctorate in Law awarded in 2001
One of the best-known names in the legal profession, Mark Stephens studied law at the North East London Polytechnic (now the University of East London) and the Vrije Universiteit in Brussels.
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In 1983 he co-founded Stephens Innocent, a law firm specialising in media law and intellectual property cases. His list of high-profile clients includes James Hewitt, the army officer who had an affair with Diana, Princess of Wales and Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks.
He has held many charitable, regulatory, government, and academic posts including Chair of the Board of Governors at UEL and Chair of the Contemporary Art Society. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2011 for services to the legal profession and the arts.
Victor Adebowale CBE
Honorary Doctorate in Science awarded in 2007
After studying at the University of East London, Baron Adebowale began his career in local authority social services, where he served in roles focusing on alcohol and drug addiction. In 1996 he joined the youth homelessness charity Centrepoint as chief executive.
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He was appointed a CBE in 2000 and a year later he became a life peer and CEO of Turning Point, a social care organisation focusing on mental health, substance abuse, and employment services.
In 2021 Baron Adebowale was appointed chair of the NHS Confederation, an influential role that allows him to continue advocating for systemic changes in the healthcare system. He is a visiting professor at the University of Lincoln and holds an MA in Advanced Organisational Consulting from the Tavistock Institute and City, University of London.
Rick Scannell
Honorary Doctorate in Law awarded in 2005
Graduating from the University in 1982, Mr Scannell became a barrister in 1987. His practice covered immigration and asylum law at all levels, including the Supreme Court and international courts.
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He became one of the country’s most prominent lawyers in the fields of immigration, human rights, and European Union law.
Made a special advocate to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission in 1998, he resigned in protest in 2005 when the government refused to release detainees despite a Law Lords ruling that their detention was illegal. He left the bar in 2010, going on to set up a successful property company with his wife.
Martine Wright MBE
Honorary Doctorate in Science awarded in 2013
Martine Wright lost both her legs above the knee, following the 7/7 bombings in 2005. But her response to her injuries was life-affirming and inspirational. She learned to fly, ski and parachute, married and had a son.
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Most famously, after trying sitting volleyball during her rehabilitation, she won a place on the GB team, gaining selection for the 2012 Olympics.
Her resilience and bravery saw her win a BBC Sports Personality Award in 2012, while in 2016 she received an MBE for her services to sport and for her work as a role model to amputee athletes. She has also been heavily involved in the campaign for better compensation for the victims of the 7/7 attacks and currently works as a motivational speaker. Her autobiography, Unbroken, won the Cross Sports Book of the Year award in 2017.
Leroy Logan MBE
Honorary Doctorate in Arts, awarded in 2013
After working in medical research, Leroy Logan MBE changed careers and joined the Metropolitan police in 1983. He rose to the rank of superintendent and became one of the most distinguished police officers of his generation.
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His tireless work as founding chairman of the Black Police Association helped to change the face of the London force and advance policing for all.
Awarded an MBE in 2000, in recognition of his efforts, he retired from the police in 2013 after 30 years of exemplary service. His memoir, Closing Ranks, My Life as a Cop, detailed the racism and discrimination he faced in the Met, even as he rose up the ranks. It was later made into a much-praised TV drama by Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen. Since retiring from the force, Mr Logan has continued to influence policing policy and become a highly respected commentator on policing and wider social justice issues.
Recent list of honorary degree recipients
To view the Recent list of honorary degree recipients please click below.
2023
- Professor Mark Radford - Honorary Doctorate in Health
- Dame Alwen Williams - Honorary Doctorate in Science
- John Viney - Honorary Doctorate in Leadership
- Eva Omaghomi - Honorary Doctorate in Community Engagement
- Radhikaraje Gaekwad - Honorary Doctorate in Arts
- Professor Mohamed Ayman Ashour - Honorary Doctorate in Architecture
- Reece Parkinson - Honorary Doctorate in Media and Communications
- Nero Ughwujabo - Honorary Doctorate in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
2022
- Damian Corneal, Honorary Doctorate in Technology
- Stephanie Boyce, Honorary Doctorate in Law
- Kalifa Kalifa, Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration
- Roshane Thomas, Honorary Doctorate in Journalism
- Anulika Ajufo, Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration
2021
- Caroline Alexander CBE - Honorary Doctorate in Science
- Mercy Nabirye - Honorary Doctorate in Arts
- Bethany Shriever - Honorary Doctorate in Sport
- Tony Carr MBE - Honorary Doctorate in Science
- Jason Strelitz - Honorary Doctorate in Science
- Anusha Shah - Honorary Doctorate in Engineering
- Alex Scott - Honorary Doctorate in Sport
- Zakir Khan - Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration
- Lawrence Okolie - Honorary Doctorate in Sport
- Roger Flanagan - Honorary Doctorate in Engineering
- Marcus Barnett - Honorary Doctorate in Criminology
2019
- Mike Jervis - Honorary Doctorate in Education
- Lewis Iwu - Honorary Doctorate in Letters
- Wendy Matthews - Honorary Doctorate in Science
- Mark Thurston - Honorary Doctorate in Technology
- Kathryn Halford - Honorary Doctorate in Science
- Dinesh Bhugra - Honorary Doctorate in Science
- Gerison Lansdown - Honorary Doctorate in Education
2018
- Renata Codello - Honorary Doctorate in Architecture
- Catherine Roche - Honorary Doctorate in Psychology
- Terry Lyle - Honorary Doctorate in Social Sciences
- Amy Lame - Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration
- Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of the Ashanti - Honorary Doctorate in Education
- Steven Armstrong - Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration
- Abdul-Aziz Yari Abubakar - Honorary Doctorate in Social Sciences
2017
- Ruth Holdaway - Honorary Doctorate in Science
- Sally Phillips - Honorary Doctorate in Social Sciences
- Gina Miller - Honorary Doctorate in Laws
- Rimla Akhtar, MBE - Honorary Doctorate in Science
- Kim Bromley-Derry, CBE - Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration
- Dr Michele Dix, CBE - Honorary Doctorate in Engineering
- Eddie Playfair - Honorary Doctorate in Education
- Jacqui Dillon - Honorary Doctorate in Psychology
- Nicola Lloyd - Honorary Doctorate in Arts
2016
- Jason Leonard, OBE - Honorary Doctorate in Science
- Dr Roland Busch - Honorary Doctorate in Architecture
- Terry Morgan, CBE FREng FIEE - Honorary Doctorate in Engineering
- Keith Pearson - Honorary Doctorate in Science
- Zambry Abdul Kadir - Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration
- Fatou Bensouda - Honorary Doctorate in Laws
- Firoz Patel - Honorary Doctorate in Social Sciences
- Suzanne Turner-Jones - Honorary Doctorate in Education
- Ruby Wax, OBE - Honorary Doctorate in Psychology
- Ann Mitchell - Honorary Doctorate in Arts
2015
- Bobby Barnes, Honorary Doctorate in Science
- Stephen Norris, Honorary Doctorate in Laws
- Jane Calvert-Lee, Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration
- Dr Zaleha Kamarudin, Honorary Doctorate in Laws
- Mor Dioum, Honorary Doctorate in Education
- Stephanie Yorath, Honorary Doctorate in Education
- Mike Brace OBE, Honorary Doctorate in Social Sciences
- Faisel Rahman CBE, Honorary Doctorate in Social Sciences
- Dennis Roberts, Honorary Doctorate in Engineering
- Ashok Amritraj, Honorary Doctorate in Arts
2014
- Nicole Cooke MBE, Honorary Doctorate in Science
- Hazel Blears MP, Honorary Doctorate in Laws
- Antony Jenkins, Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration
- Alan Barrow, Honorary Doctorate in Science
- Elizabeth Filkin, Honorary Doctorate in Arts
- Haydn Evans, Honorary Doctorate in Education
- Barry Hearn, Honorary Doctorate in Science
- Barbara Windsor MBE, Honorary Doctorate in Arts
