University of Glasgow Honorary Degrees 2023

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The University of Glasgow is awarding honorary degrees to recipients in recognition of their achievements in the fields of politics, arts, science, sport and humanities on this year’s Commemoration Day.

The awards will be presented at a special ceremony on Wednesday 14 June which marks the foundation of the University in 1451.

Among the recipients are Booker Prize winning novellist Douglas Stuart , Olympic silver medallist Laura Muir and the Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Sir Chris Whitty. Others recognised on Commemoration Day are businessperson Sandy Black ; economist and director general of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala ;and Mamphela Ramphele , academic and anti-apartheid activist.

Honorary degrees will also be awarded to a host of recipients during the University’s summer and winter graduation ceremonies - including lawyer David Lammy ; dress and textiles historian Barbara Burman ; musician Paul Buchanan ; and actor Bill Paterson.

Dr Gita Gopinath , First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, will also receive an honorary reward before giving a Hunter Foundation Lecture as part of the University’s tercentenary celebrations of esteemed alumnus Adam Smith.

Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal & Vice-Chancellor, University of Glasgow, said: "I’m really delighted to welcome such distinguished individuals from a whole spectrum of backgrounds and disciplines to our University community. Awarding honorary degrees is a way for the University to recognise world-changing achievements and celebrate the successes of these individuals.

"As a civic institution we want to do more to make a positive impact on the communities we serve, and build on the legacy of the innovators, thinkers and creative minds the University has fostered over the past 572 years. Each of our Honorary Graduands has made an important difference in their respective fields, bringing benefit to society and to people’s lives across the globe."

The Commemoration Day ceremony is being held at 11am on 14 June in the Bute Hall at the University of Glasgow.

The full list of honorary degrees 2023 are:

Commemoration Day - Wednesday 14 June 2023

Doctor of Letters (DLitt)

  • Douglas STUART, Author
  • Professor Sir Chris WHITTY, Chief Medical Officer for England

    • Doctor of Science (DSc)

    DOCTOR of the University (DUniv)

  • Sandy BLACK, Businessperson
  • Laura MUIR, Sportsperson
  • Dr Ngozi OKONJO-IWEALA, Economist
  • Mamphela RAMPHELE, Academic and Activist

    • Summer 2023 Graduations

    Doctor of Laws (LLD)

  • David LAMMY, Lawyer
  • Barbara BURMAN, Dress and Textiles Historian
  • Dr Elisabeth KENDALL, Mistress of Girton College, Cambridge University
  • Professor Jane ROBERTS, Professor of English Studies

    • Doctor of Letters (DLitt)

    Doctor of Music (DMus)

  • Paul BUCHANAN, Musician
  • Professor Halina RUBINSZTEIN-DUNLOP, Professor of Physics, University of Queensland
  • Professor Stephen SIMPSON, Academic Director of the Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney
  • Dr Ellen VOORHEES, National Institute of Standards and Technology, USA

    • Doctor of Science (DSc)

    Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (DVMS)

  • Professor Peter HOLMES, Emeritus Professor of Veterinary Physiology
  • Gilbert HOUNGBO, Director General of the International Labour Organization
  • BILL PATERSON, Actor

    • Doctor of the University

    The Hunter Foundation Lecture - Monday 5 June 2023

    Doctor of Letter (DLitt)

  • Dr Gita GOPINATH, First Deputy Managing Director, International Monetary Fund
  • Professor Cecilia ROUSE, Chair, US Council of Economic Advisers

    • Winter 2023 Graduations

    Doctor of Letters (DLitt)

    Doctor of the University (DUniv)

  • JOSH LITTLEJOHN, Co-founder, Social Bite