Alumni engagement and philanthropy

Congratulations to the Class of 2015 - honoris causa 

02 July 2015

Notable individuals from the worlds of science, business, sport, academia, politics and the arts - among them the Nobel Prize winning theoretical physicist, Professor Peter Higgs, the President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Professor Dame Ann Dowling and leading business woman Helena Morrissey - received honorary degrees from Queen's during summer graduation week. 

The list also includes gold medal winning Paralympian Kelly Gallagher and her guide Charlotte Evans, honoured for distinction in sport. The victorious 2014 Ryder Cup European Team Captain Paul McGinley will be presented at a later date.  

Distinguished names from the fields of business and commerce were also recognised including the Chairwoman of the BBC Trust, Rona Fairhead CBE, and the Vice Chairman of Operations for KPMG Shaun T Kelly, who is a key supporter of Queen’s City Scholarship programme.

Thomas Lynch,  Director of Icon, one of the world's largest clinical research organisations, who is a former President of Queen’s Students’ Union and currently Chair of the Queen’s Foundation Board, recevied a DSc Econ for his contribution to business and commerce, as well as for service to the University.

Recognised for exceptional services to education were Professor Louise Richardson, the first female Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews, soon to take up the top post at the University of Oxford, and Zhao Qun, President of the China Medical University, which has a long standing partnership with Queen’s that has led to the development of the China Queen’s College in Shenyang.

The University awards honorary degrees to individuals who have achieved high distinction or who have given significant service in one or more fields of public or professional life, and who serve as ambassadors for Queen’s and Northern Ireland around the world.

This year’s summer graduation ceremonies took place from Thurs 2 - Wed 8 July. 

The full list of those who received honorary degrees is as follows:

  • Professor Dame Ann Dowling,  DSc Eng for services to engineering
  • Charlotte Evans MBE,  DUniv for distinction in sport
  • Kelly Gallagher MBE, DUniv for distinction in sport
  • Rona Fairhead CBE, DSc Econ for services to business and commerce
  • Professor Stephen Furber CBE, DSc Eng for services to engineering
  • Professor Peter Higgs, DSc for services to science
  • Shaun T Kelly, DSc Econ for services to business and commerce
  • Thomas Lynch, DSc Econ for services to business and commerce and to the University
  • Professor Sir Alex Markham, DMedSc, for services to science and medicine
  • Paul McGinley, DUniv for distinction in sport
  • Dr Françoise Meunier, DMedSc for services to science and medicine
  • Helena Morrissey CBE, DSc Econ for services to business and commerce
  • Michael P O’Boyle, LLD for distinction in public service
  • Professor Louise Richardson, DSSc for services to education
  • President Zhao Qun, LLD for services to education

The members of the Honorary Graduates Class of 2015 pictured above are: (L-R), top row - Peter Higgs, Françoise Meunier, Helena Morrissey, Louise Richardson, Sir Alex Markham; (middle) - Zhao Qun, Dame Ann Dowling, Shaun Kelly, Thomas Lynch; (bottom) - Rona Fairhead, Stephen Furber, Charlotte Evans and Kelly Gallagher and Michael P O’Boyle.

Media inquiries to Claire O’Callaghan, Senior Communications Officer, Queen’s University Belfast, telephone +44 (0)28 9097 3087 or contact the Communications Office.

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