Honorary Graduates & Fellows 2008

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown

Received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters from York St John University, awarded for her outstanding contribution to journalism by York St John University at graduation ceremony at York Minister on Friday 14 November 2008. Yasmin Alibhai-Brown has written for several newspapers after coming to the United Kingdom from Uganda in 1972, and completed her M.Phil in Literature at Oxford in 1975. She has also worked as a broadcaster on radio and television and is the author of several books. Yasmin received an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list in 2001 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for her services within the profession.

Margot Brown

Has worked tirelessly for the Centre for Global Education based at York St John University since 1988, coming from a background in teaching, educational work with OXFAM and tutoring with the multi-ethnic inspectorate of the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA). Margot’s work at the Centre included developing training and publications in human rights education, global issues in modern foreign languages and facilitating workshops in citizenship. She has worked in many countries on global and human rights education, often working alongside the British Council and with many partner organisations in Japan offering a series of Summer Schools. She retired in November 2007.

Rebecca Cooper

Made a huge local, regional and national contribution in her field of work, the self-advocacy movement for people with learning difficulties. Rebecca is a founding member of ‘York People First’, which has a local membership of over 100 people and has provided consultation and training to 29 organisations. She has been involved in and undertaken three national roles concerned with the advancement of learning and public affairs including serving on the National Forum for People with Learning Difficulties. Rebecca herself has learning difficulties and left school with no formal qualifications. This fellowship recognises Rebecca’s dedication to her work and to those with learning difficulties within the local community.

Professor James Walvin

Renowned historian, awarded a Doctor of Letters Honorary Degree to for his exceptional work as a historian of national and international repute, with the quality and importance of his work having been recognised at teaching institutions across the world including the USA, West Indies and Australia.