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Birkbeck welcomes new Fellows

Leading figures recognised for their contribution to College life

Birkbeck welcomes five new Fellows to the College this autumn. Elected annually by the College Governors, the award of a Birkbeck Fellowship recognises individuals who have either given outstanding service to the College or who have attained distinction in their fields or in connection with Birkbeck.

Birkbeck’s 2015 Fellows are drawn from academia, business and public life. They are:

Mrs Joy Manners, former Governor of Birkbeck, and public affairs executive with a 30-year career at the Shell International Petroleum Company. Joy has also served as an independent member of the Council of the University of London.

Mr Daniel Peltz, (pictured), Chief Executive, London Freeholds Ltd and trustee of many charitable organisations. The generosity of Birkbeck alumnus Daniel and his wife Elizabeth made possible the creation of the Peltz Gallery, a flexible exhibition space at the heart of the restoration of the College’s School of Arts in Bloomsbury.

Professor Dorothy Porter,  Professor in History of the Health Sciences, University of California, and former head of the Department of History, Classics and Archaeology  at Birkbeck. Professor Porter has published widely on the history of social medicine, medical ethics, public health and the politics of medicine.

Professor Sir Eric Thomas, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Bristol and co-chair of the International Education Council with universities minister Jo Johnson.  A champion of part-time higher education, among his many public roles Sir Eric has served as President of Universities UK and Chair of the Worldwide Universities Network. He was awarded a Knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2013 for services to higher education.

Hon Mrs Laura Wolfson-Townsley, Chair, Wolfson Family Charitable Trust and a trustee of the Wolfson Foundation. In 2013 the Wolfson family were awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy. Laura is also an honorary fellow of Technion, the Israel Institute of Technology, and of King’s College London.

 

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