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University of York honours seven

Posted on 7 July 2008

The University of York is to award honorary degrees to the journalist who was the BBC’s ‘voice’ of India for two decades, an economist who conducted an influential Government review of the costs of climate change and to the UK’ Children’s Commissioner.

They will be among seven people to receive honorary doctorates at the University over the graduation period (9, 10 and 11 July).

The University confers honorary degrees each year on people who have made a significant contribution to society. Honorary graduates are selected from nominations by members of the University and often have links with departments or are alumni.

Dr Marye Anne Fox

An expert in organic chemistry, Dr Marye Anne Fox is Chancellor of the University of California, San Diego and was previously Chancellor and Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry at North Carolina State University. She held the Waggoner Regents Chair in chemistry at the University of Texas in Austin. She has also worked as visiting professor at institutions in the US, Europe and Taiwan. Dr Fox has received numerous awards, including the Charles Lathrop Parsons Award for 2005 from the American Chemical Society in recognition of outstanding public service. She has also been honoured with numerous teaching awards, as well as the Monie Ferst Award, a national award recognising outstanding mentoring of graduate students.

Sir David Harrison CBE

Sir David Harrison is Director of the Salters’ Institute of Industrial Chemistry, and his long academic career combines research in physical chemistry with work in higher education, admissions and schools outreach. A Cambridge graduate, he was President of the Institution of Chemical Engineers in 1991-92, and served as Vice-Chancellor of the Universities of Keele and Exeter before returning to Cambridge as Master of Selwyn College and Pro-Vice-Chancellor in 1997. Sir David chaired the Committee of UK Vice-Chancellors and Principals from 1991 to 1993. He has also served as chair of the Government’s Advisory Committee on the safety of nuclear installations, and for nine years he chaired the Council of the Royal School of Church Music. He was made CBE in 1990, and was knighted in 1997.

Dr Richard Shephard

Composer and practitioner of choral music, Dr Richard Shephard, began his musical career as a chorister at Gloucester Cathedral, and was later educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. After graduating, he taught in Salisbury and was a lay vicar in the cathedral choir. Dr Shephard is now a Visiting Fellow in the Department of Music at the University of York, and a member of the University’s Court. He was Headmaster of the Minster School in York between 1985 and 2004. He is now Chamberlain of York Minster and Director of Development for the Minster. He has served on the Archbishops’ Commission on Church Music and on the Archbishops’ Commission on Cathedrals. He was also Visiting Professor in the Music Department of the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee.

Lord Stern of Brentford

Lord Stern is a senior economist and an expert the field of economic development. He held academic posts at the Universities of Oxford and Warwick and the London School of Economics, before working as Chief Economist for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. He was later Chief Economist and Senior Vice-President of the World Bank. Lord Stern is a Fellow of the British Academy and an Honorary Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was Director of Policy and Research for the Government’s Africa Commission. In 2005, he was appointed by the Government to conduct the influential Stern Review, which analysed the economic costs of climate change and policy on the management of climate change. He was knighted for services to economics in 2004.

Professor Sir Albert Aynsley-Green

Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green was appointed by the Government as the first Children’s Commissioner in 2005. He acts as an independent voice for children and young people, championing their interests and bringing their views and concerns to the national arena. He was previously the first National Clinical Director for Children and Chair of the Children’s Taskforce at the Department of Health. He was also Nuffield Professor of Child Health at Great Ormond Street Hospital and at the Institute of Child Health, University College London. He trained at Guy’s Hospital Medical School, University of London, Oriel College, University of Oxford and the University Children’s Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. He has a research interest in the history of children and childhood and their standing in contemporary society. Sir Albert is also a proud grandfather with six young grandchildren.

Sir Mark Tully OBE

Mark Tully worked for more than 20 years as the BBC’s South Asia correspondent, reporting principally from India. Born in the subcontinent, he came to Britain at the age of ten, later studying history and theology at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He returned to India with the BBC in 1965, becoming South Asia correspondent in 1972. Since leaving the BBC in 1993, Sir Mark has worked as a freelance broadcaster and writer. He has written six books and his recent broadcasting output has focused on religion and spirituality, presenting The Lives of Jesus and the Radio 4 programme Something Understood. He was made OBE in 1985 and knighted in 2002. He is also one of few non-Indian nationals to be awarded the Padma Shri for his distinguished contribution to Indian public life

Dr Saleem Badat

Dr Saleem Badat is an alumnus of the University of York, where he was awarded a DPhil in Sociology. He has worked to further progressive education in South Africa for much of his career. Now Vice- Chancellor of Rhodes University, his most recent book is Black Student Politics, Higher Education and Apartheid, and he was also an editor of Apartheid Education and Popular Struggles in South Africa. In 1996, Dr Badat became the first Chief Executive Officer of the Council on Higher Education, advising the South African government on education issues. He is also a trustee of the Harold Wolpe Memorial Trust, which fosters engagement between government, academia and civil society. He still holds an FA coaching qualification from his time at York.

ENDS