News

University awards 2024 honorary graduates

19 Jul 2024

3 minutes

Professor Sir David Eastwood, Beth Moulam and Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell receive honorary degrees

Beth Moulam awarded — Honorary graduates included former Paralympian Beth Moulam

Each year, Manchester Metropolitan University recognises individuals who merit special recognition for their work or services by granting honorary awards during its Graduation ceremonies.

The first week of graduations (July 15-19) has drawn to a close, with the University awarding the following honorands:

Professor Sir David Eastwood

Professor Sir David Eastwood has been awarded a Doctor of Education degree in recognition of his achievements and contribution to the higher education sector.

Sir David first made his reputation as a distinguished historian, through a series of intellectually precise and deeply researched dives into English political history, placing a particular focus on local and rural communities in the 18th and 19th centuries.  His work has been highly regarded and critically acclaimed worldwide.

In January 2012, Sir David was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant for the county of West Midlands and was awarded a Knighthood in 2014 for services to education, prior to taking on senior leadership roles.

In addition to being a twice-serving Vice-Chancellor, Sir David’s accomplishments include being Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England and Chief Executive of the Arts and Humanities Research Board.

Additionally, Sir David has served on numerous national bodies and committees. He is currently the Chairman of Intu University Partnerships.

Beth Moulam

Beth Moulam has been awarded a Doctor of Health degree in recognition of her work around augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and achievements as a Paralympian.

Beth has been passionate about empowering others with no intelligible speech to be heard and understood since receiving her first AAC device at age four.

While her mainstream school declared she was unlikely to gain any qualifications or do sport, she subsequently graduated with First Class Honors in Social Policy at the University of York and is now studying for a Master of Research Social Policy.

While studying in 2020, Beth joined the UK Sport World Class Programme with UK Boccia, representing Great Britain at the Tokyo Paralympics.

Beth has become a formidable motivational speaker with an international reputation. Since retiring as a Paralympian in 2022, she has twice addressed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on communication rights on behalf of the International Communication Rights Alliance committee.

In 2023, she was recognised in the Disability Power 100 awards as a top 10 UK community advocate and co-authored the Royal College of Speech and Language AAC guidance.

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell has been awarded a Doctor of Education degree in recognition of her services to higher education and the region.

President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester, Dame Nancy is a research scientist in the field of neuroscience, contributing towards major advances in the understanding and treatment of brain damage in stroke and head injury. She will retire this summer after 14 years leading the University of Manchester (UoM).

She has boosted the research profile and reputation of the UoM and is a passionate advocate for education, and for women in STEM. Preston-born Dame Nancy has, throughout her career, been a champion of the North and Manchester especially.

She is a Deputy Lieutenant for Greater Manchester, Chair of the Oxford Road Corridor Board, and a member of the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership Board and the Northern Powerhouse Partnership Board.

Dame Nancy has held a range of national roles, currently including Chair of the Russell Group and co-Chair of the Science Advisory Council. She was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in June 2004 and made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in June 2005 in recognition of her services to science. 