Honorary Degrees at UEL
Honorary Degrees at UEL
The University of East London bestows honorary degrees upon individuals of exceptional character, recognising their extraordinary and inspirational contributions to our University and our local and global communities.
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.
Autumn 2023 Honorary Degree Recipients
Honorary Degree Holders
By awarding honorary degrees the University of East London recognises extraordinary achievement, in Britain or abroad, in community, national or international involvement, and honours individuals whose accomplishments are of such generally perceived excellence that they provide inspiration and leadership to the graduates of the University.
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. Nicola 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, Victor 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 Victor 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, Rick 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, Leroy has continued to influence policing policy and become a highly respected commentator on policing and wider social justice issues.
Full list of Honorary Award Holders
To view the full list of Honorary degree holders please click here.
2023
- Professor Mark Radford - Honorary Doctorate in Health
- Dame Alwen Williams - Honorary Doctorate
- John Viney - Honorary Doctorate of Leadership
- Eva Omaghomi - Honorary Doctor in Community Engagement
- Radhikaraje Gaekwad - Honorary Doctor of Arts
- Professor Mohamed Ayman Ashour - Honorary Doctorate in Architecture
- Reece Parkinson - Honorary Doctor in Media and Communications
- Nero Ughwujabo - Honorary Doctor in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
2022
- Damian Corneal, Honorary Doctor in Technology
- Stephanie Boyce, Honorary Doctor in Law
- Kalifa Kalifa, Honorary Doctor in Business Administration
- Roshane Thomas, Honorary Doctor of Journalism
- Anulika Ajufo, Honorary Doctor in Business Administration
2021
- Caroline Alexander CBE - Honorary Doctor of Science
- Mercy Nabirye - Honorary Doctor of Arts
- Bethany Shriever - Honorary Doctor of Sport
- Tony Carr MBE - Honorary Doctor of Science
- Jason Strelitz - Honorary Doctor of Science
- Anusha Shah - Honorary Doctor of Engineering
- Alex Scott - Honorary Doctor of Sport
- Zakir Khan - Honorary Doctor of Business Administration
- Lawrence Okolie - Honorary Doctor of Sport
- Roger Flanagan - Honorary Doctor of Engineering
- Marcus Barnett - Honorary Doctor of Criminology
2019
- Mike Jervis - Honorary Doctorate of Education
- Lewis Iwu - Honorary Doctor of Letters
- Wendy Matthews - Honorary Doctorate of Science
- Mark Thurston - Honorary Doctorate of Technology
- Kathryn Halford - Honorary Doctor of Science
- Dinesh Bhugra - Honorary Doctor of Science
- Gerison Lansdown - Honorary Doctor of Education
2018
- Renata Codello - Honorary Doctorate of Architecture
- Catherine Roche - Honorary Doctorate of Psychology
- Terry Lyle - Honorary Doctorate of Social Sciences
- Amy Lame - Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration
- Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of the Ashanti - Honorary Doctorate of Education
- Steven Armstrong - Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration
- Abdul-Aziz Yari Abubakar - Honorary Doctorate of Social Sciences
2017
- Ruth Holdaway - Honorary Doctorate of Science
- Sally Phillips - Honorary Doctorate of Social Sciences
- Gina Miller - Honorary Doctorate of Laws
- Rimla Akhtar, MBE - Honorary Doctorate of Science
- Kim Bromley-Derry, CBE - Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration
- Dr Michele Dix, CBE - Honorary Doctorate of Engineering
- Eddie Playfair - Honorary Doctorate of Education
- Jacqui Dillon - Honorary Doctorate of Psychology
- Nicola Lloyd - Honorary Doctorate of Arts
2016
- Jason Leonard, OBE - Honorary Doctorate of Science
- Dr Roland Busch - Honorary Doctorate of Architecture
- Terry Morgan, CBE FREng FIEE - Honorary Doctorate of Engineering
- Keith Pearson - Honorary Doctorate of Science
- Zambry Abdul Kadir - Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration
- Fatou Bensouda - Honorary Doctorate of Laws
- Firoz Patel - Honorary Doctorate of Social Sciences
- Suzanne Turner-Jones - Honorary Doctorate of Education
- Ruby Wax, OBE - Honorary Doctorate of Psychology
- Ann Mitchell - Honorary Doctorate of Arts
2015
- Bobby Barnes, Honorary Doctorate of Science
- Stephen Norris, Honorary Doctorate of Laws
- Jane Calvert-Lee, Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration
- Dr Zaleha Kamarudin, Honorary Doctorate of Laws
- Mor Dioum, Honorary Doctorate of Education
- Stephanie Yorath, Honorary Doctorate of Education
- Mike Brace OBE, Honorary Doctorate of Social Sciences
- Faisel Rahman CBE, Honorary Doctorate of Social Sciences
- Dennis Roberts, Honorary Doctorate of Engineering
- Ashok Amritraj, Honorary Doctorate of Arts
2014
- Nicole Cooke MBE, Honorary Doctor of Science
- Hazel Blears MP
- Antony Jenkins
- Alan Barrow
- Elizabeth Filkin
- Haydn Evans, Honorary Doctorate of Education
- Barry Hearn, Honorary Doctor of Science
- Barbara Windsor MBE, Honorary Doctor of Arts