An Oscar-winner, military veteran, and venture capitalist are among those who are being recognised for their positive contributions to society in Staffordshire and beyond.
Actress Rachel Shenton will become an Honorary Doctor of Arts in recognition of her support for aspiring actors in her home county through establishing the Midlands Screen Acting School.
The honorary degree also acknowledges Rachel’s continued efforts to break down barriers for deaf people around the globe. After winning an Academy Award for her short film ‘The Silent Child’ in 2018, Rachel has been an ambassador for charity Deaflinks and The National Deaf Children’s Society.
Also recognised is Noreen Oliver MBE, founder of The Recovery Group UK, who single handily set up one of the UK’s most successful addiction rehabilitation programmes, saving thousands of lives across the country including within Staffordshire.
Colonel Tim Sandiford OBE will be honoured for his distinguished 30 plus-year career in the military – including service in the Gulf War and leading the Staffordshire Regiment on an exceptionally challenging deployment to Iraq.
Worcestershire County Council Manager Zulkifl Ahmed MBE graduated from Staffordshire University with a LLB (Hons) Law degree in 2010 and will return to become an Honorary Doctor of Laws. The award recognises Zulkifl’s positive impact on children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
Among his many achievements, Zulkifl expertly led Sandwell’s Statutory Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Services through the period of a Written Statement of Action (WSoA) to an exceptional 100 per cent resolution of serious weaknesses in just two years.
The University will also be honouring Jon Moulton who grew up in Tunstall and is now one the UK’s most prolific venture capitalists with a reputation for turning around floundering businesses. The honorary degree acknowledges Jon’s role as an angel investor to start-up companies and his charity work through the Jon Moulton Charity Trust which funds non-commercial clinical trials to ease suffering.
The honorary degrees will be presented during the University’s graduation ceremonies which will take place at the Kings Hall in Stoke on Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 November.
Staffordshire University Vice-Chancellor Professor Martin Jones said: “This Autumn’s honorary graduates each share our University mission to be a force for social good by transforming people, places, and society.
“These awards recognise the tremendous achievements of all our new honorary doctors in their respective fields and how they have used their platforms to support others and instigate positive change.
“I am sure they will provide huge inspiration to our graduating Class of 2023 as they reflect on their own achievements and the impact they can make on the lives of others.”