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University of Reading

University honours a very special member of staff

Tuesday, 12 July 2011

Fran Connaway

Fran Connaway on her graduation day

At this year's graduation ceremonies, the University awarded an honorary degree of Master of Business Administration to staff member, Fran Connaway in recognition of her contribution to Henley Business School as well as education and society in South Africa.

Fran began as PA to the first Managing Director, remained as MBA Director and then finally Managing Director.  "Fran has been the driving force behind Henley Business School in South Africa for almost 20 years;" said Professor John Board, Dean of Henley Business School.

 "She has extraordinary qualities of drive and of empathy for students and staff and has been a fearless and passionate promoter of Henley's education values and the brand for 20 years.  

"She is respected and loved by alumni, students and staff, as evidenced by the following quote from an alumnus, who was one of almost 400 alumni and students who wrote to Fran upon hearing that she had been diagnosed with cancer - ‘Fran, your contribution to the success of Henley in SA is well documented by all the many luminaries who have passed our way in the recent years with the successful transition of Henley from a small, but powerful business school to the leading educational entity it is now. However, your role as "mother-hen" during my MBA days was as important to the individual students, as you were the one who made the academic year happen for us...I am proud to be able to say that I can include you as one of life's special people that I know personally.'

This year's graduation ceremony also saw two leading figures from the worlds of political history and animal science awarded honorary degrees:

  • Lord Hennessy of Nympsfield (Professor Peter Hennessy, FBA) was presented for the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters. Lord Hennessy is Attlee Professor of Contemporary British History at Queen Mary, University of London. Between 1988 and 1994 he held a Visiting Fellowship at the University of Reading where he taught both History and Politics. Elevated to the House of Lords in October 2010 as a non-political peer, he sits as a cross-bencher
  • Dr Christie Peacock was presented for the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science. Dr Peacock is a graduate of the University of Reading (BSc Agriculture 1980, and PhD 1984). Her career has been devoted to improving the livelihoods of resource-poor livestock farmers in rural Africa and Asia. She is Chairman of Sidai Africa Ltd, Africa's first livestock franchising social enterprise based in Kenya, and a board member of the newly formed FARM-Africa Enterprises. She serves on the Steering Group of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Agriculture and Food for Development; and is a Fellow of the Society of Biology, of the Royal Agricultural Societies, and of the Society of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce.

This was also the first year that the graduation ceremonies were streamed live on video. A twitter feed ran alongside so that absent friends and family could send messages to their graduands; "Sorry we couldn't be there but we watched you on the video. You looked beautiful. From Mama and Papa in Brazil" said one twitter post.  Approximately 36,600 people viewed the live feed from all over the world - notably from China, Malaysia, Cyprus, USA and Germany.