June Sarpong OBE receives honorary doctorate from Buckinghamshire New University
Broadcaster and diversity expert June Sarpong OBE has today (Monday 22 July) received an honorary doctorate in a graduation ceremony at Buckinghamshire New University (BNU).
June is recognised by BNU for her 25-year media career and transformational work on diversity and inclusion.
At BNU’s Campus in High Wycombe, June donned a graduate’s cap and gown to receive her award. She said: “I’m incredibly grateful to receive this honorary doctorate from BNU and am thrilled to be here today to accept it.
“It is an honour to receive this recognition from an institution with such a solid focus on diversity and inclusion. BNU and I share a vision for a more inclusive future for organisations and society, and I look forward to seeing how our new relationship can support our work and effect change.”
The doctorate honours June as one of the most recognisable faces in British television, as well as her position as one of the world’s leading inclusion speakers and educators. June has consistently used her platform to advocate for social issues, notably acting as host for Make Poverty History in London’s Trafalgar Square, the UK leg of Live Earth, and Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebrations in London’s Hyde Park.
In recent years, June became the first black woman to sit on the BBC’s Executive Committee and led its Diversity and Inclusion strategy and implementation for the BBC’s 500 million+ global audience.
Among other notable accolades, June is the co-creator of ‘Women: Inspiration and Enterprise Network’, has partnered with the UN’s International Telecommunication Union to found the DNA Summit to combat global challenges, is the founder of Diversify International, a consultancy firm where she advises Founders and CEOs on diversity, inclusion and culture transformation. June is an award-winning author and was awarded an OBE in 2020.
Explaining why June was chosen for this special honour, Professor Nick Braisby, Vice Chancellor of BNU, said “Today Buckinghamshire New University has celebrated June Sarpong’s outstanding achievements and her embodiment of the values of equality, diversity and inclusion which we value so highly here at Buckinghamshire New University.
“We are proud to be a university with widening participation at its core, where our ethos is to make education accessible for everyone. We provide our graduates with the skills, experience and networks they’ll need for the professional world, and association with inspirational people like June reminds our students that they all have the power to create positive change in the industries they choose. June’s work serves as an inspiring example, encouraging us to use whatever platform we have to effect meaningful change."
June’s award was presented on stage by Sarah Williams, Head of School for Business and Law at BNU, who said: “Throughout her career, June has demonstrated expert knowledge and strong ethics. She is recognised and respected for her unwavering commitment to making change and striving for a more inclusive society.
“For her exceptional contributions to the media industry and wider society, we are honoured to recognise June Sarpong OBE with this honorary doctorate.”
Since its establishment over 130 years ago, BNU has transformed lives through its ethos of education for all. From training ex-servicemen post-WWII to its recent focus on issues such as the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on students, and the GTRSB (Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boater) into HE pledge, BNU has a proud history of widening participation to education in Buckinghamshire and beyond.
Today, BNU has a forward-looking focus on equality, diversity and inclusion, launching its new strategy Thrive 28 in 2023, and a focussed Equality strategy to support it.