Honorary graduates 2023/24

Those awarded honorary degrees between 1 August 2023 and 31 July 2024.

The Rt Hon Lord Reed of Allermuir

President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom

Doctor of Laws

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The Rt Hon the Lord Reed of Allermuir (Robert John Reed)

Dr Esther Mombo

Associate Professor in Church History, Gender and Theology, St Paul’s University, Kenya 

Doctor of Divinity

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Dr Esther Mombo

Professor Abdulrazak Gurnah

Novelist and Academic  

Doctor honoris causa

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Abdularazak Gurnah

Ms Reeta Roy

CEO and President, Mastercard Foundation 

Doctor honoris causa

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Ms Reeta Roy

Professor Lesley Yellowlees, CBE

Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, former Head of College of Science and Engineering

Doctor of Science

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Professor Lesley Yellowlees, CBE

Professor Leslie Gabriel Valiant

T. Jefferson Coolidge Professor of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University   

Doctor of Science

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Professor Leslie Gabriel Valiant

Professor Alexander Robert Swan (Robin) Wallace

Emeritus Professor in Renewable Energy Systems 

Doctor of Science

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Alexander Robert Swan Wallace

Gioconda Belli

Poet, novelist and political commentator 

Doctor honoris causa

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Gioconda Belli

Dr Samuel Jebaraj Thevasagayam

Deputy Director – Livestock, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery

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Dr Samuel Jebaraj Thevasagayam

Mr John Campbell, OBE

Former Chairman of Scottish Financial Enterprise, and member of Business School Advisory Board

Master of Arts

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John Campbell, OBE

Dr Rachel Carr OBE and Dr Hugh Rayment-Pickard, MBE

Co-founders of IntoUniversity which supports young people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods to attain their chosen aspiration

Doctor honoris causa (jointly with University of Glasgow)

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Dr Rachel Carr OBE and Dr Hugh Rayment-Pickard, MBE

Professor Anna Frances Glasier

Honorary Professor (University of Edinburgh) and Women’s Health Champion for Scotland 

Doctor of Medicine

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 Anna Frances Glasier

Dr Síofra O’Leary

Former President of the European Court of Human Rights 

Doctor of Laws

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Dr Síofra O’Leary

Mr Stephen John Wordsworth, CMG, LVO

Former British diplomat and Ambassador, executive director since 2012 of the Council for At-Risk Academics

Doctor honoris causa

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Stephen John Wordsworth

Emeritus Professor Emmanuel Kwami Anatsui

Visionary Artist. Professor of Sculpture, University of Nigeria  

Doctor honoris causa

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Emeritus Professor Emmanuel Kwami Anatsui

Ms Maggie Nicols

Leading jazz musician 

Doctor of Music

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Maggie Nicols

Eric Henry Liddell (1902-1945)

Athlete and Missionary, gold and bronze medallist at Paris Olympics 1924

Posthumous award of Doctor honoris causa

Presented to Patricia Liddell Russell, on behalf of her father Eric Henry Liddell.

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Patricia Liddell Russell

Mr Alastair Salvesen, CBE

Chairman of Dovecot Studios, Chartered Accountant and Director of Archangels, Co-Founder and Trustee of Salvesen Mindroom Centre and Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre

Doctor honoris causa