Singer Ellie Goulding among those to receive honorary degrees from Kent

Press Office
Graduation ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral

Singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding is among thirteen people due to receive honorary degrees from the University in ceremonies at Canterbury and Rochester cathedrals during July.

Among others to be honoured by the University will be poet and performer Patience Agbabi, conservation biologist Professor Carl Jones, UK space expert Libby Jackson and economics journalist Stephanie Flanders.

The full list of recipients is:


Ellie Goulding is a singer and songwriter, best known for her hit single Love Me Like You Do. Ellie Goulding is an alumna of Kent who studied Drama & Theatre Studies. She will receive her honorary Doctor of Arts degree at a ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral on 18 July, starting at 10.30.

 


Mavis and Ray Nye are campaigners who use social media and advocacy to promote awareness of the asbestos-related cancer Mesothelioma. They are the first married couple to receive honorary degrees together from the University of Kent. They will receive their honorary Doctor of the University degrees at a ceremony at Rochester Cathedral on 9 July, starting at 10.30.

 


Patience Agbabi is a poet and performer who gives particular emphasis to the spoken word. She will receive her honorary Doctor of Letters degree at a ceremony at Rochester Cathedral on 9 July, starting at 14.30.

 


Mark Brookes is an advocate and campaigner for the rights of people with learning difficulties. He will receive his honorary Doctor of Laws degree at a ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral on 15 July, starting at 14.30.

 


Professor Antony Anghie is an academic and international law expert. He will receive his honorary Doctor of Laws degree at a ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral on 16 July, starting at 10.30.

 


Professor Carl Jones MBE is a conservation biologist and Chief Scientist at the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. He will be the 500th recipient of an honorary degree from the University of Kent. He will receive his honorary Doctor of Science degree at a ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral on 16 July, starting at 14.30.

 


Libby Jackson is one of Britain’s foremost space experts, and the Human Exploration Programme Manager for the UK Space Agency. She will receive her honorary Doctor of Science degree at a ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral on 16 July, starting at 19.30.

 


John Gallagher is a solicitor and specialist in housing law who has worked with the charity Shelter for 25 years. He will receive his honorary Doctor of Laws degree at a ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral on 17 July, starting at 10.30.

 


Akaliza Keza Ntwari is an ICT expert and advocate and a member of a UN-convened panel on digital co-operation. Akaliza Ntwari is an alumna of Kent who studied Multimedia Technology and Design. She will receive her honorary Doctor of Science degree at a ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral on 17 July, starting at 14.30.

 


Stephanie Flanders is a journalist who was previously economics editor at the BBC. She now leads Bloomberg Economics. She will receive her honorary Doctor of Science (Social Sciences) degree at a ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral on 18 July, starting at 14.30.

 


Joanna Roper CMG is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Special Envoy for Gender Equality, and former Chair of FCO Women. Joanna Roper is an alumna of Kent who studied Social Anthropology with Linguistics. She will receive her honorary Doctor of the University degree at a ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral on 18 July, starting at 19.30.

 


John Hern is former President of the University of Kent in America. John Hern is an alumnus of Kent who completed his Junior Year Abroad at the University. He will receive his honorary Doctor of the University degree at a ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral on 19 July, starting at 10.30.