England Cricketer and NASA scientist among those to be honoured during University of Hertfordshire graduation

A former England Cricketer, a NASA scientist and a leading international barrister are among those being honoured by the University of Hertfordshire, as part of its graduation celebrations this month.

Steven Finn, a former international fast bowler who helped England’s Test Team win three Ashes series in five years, will receive an Honorary Doctorate in Sports Science and is one of 14 notable figures and alumni receiving Honorary Awards for their contributions to the University, their fields or the Hertfordshire community.

The Honorary Doctors, Masters and Fellows will be bestowed their awards during the University’s bi-annual, official graduation ceremonies between 3-13 September, alongside nearly 6,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students graduating across 165 courses.

One of the few modern English players to consistently reach speeds of over 90mph, Steven has taken nearly 1,000 Test wickets in total during his professional career. He has also made an equally valuable contribution off the pitch through advocacy on the issue of mental health in professional sport.

Also set to receive an Honorary Doctorate in Science is Dr Nicola J Fox, Associate Administrator at NASA and one of the foremost scientists in the world. Nicola is the de-facto head of the famous space agency, overseeing its considerable $7.8 billion portfolio of space missions, which explore the deep reaches of the cosmos. She is also a world expert on space weather and received the American Astronautical Society’s Carl Sagan Memorial Award in 2021.

Anand Beharrylal KC, one of the world’s leading civil and criminal barristers and a Herts alumnus, will receive an Honorary Doctorate in Law. Among the first law graduates from the University to take Silk, Anand is also a member of the Bar in Trinidad and Tobago and is well-known for taking high profile cases, including those involving human rights.

Another Herts alumnus among those awarded, Wing Commander Manjeet Singh Ghataora OBE, is known for his work inspiring young people and communities, particularly those from underrepresented areas. The RAF Ambassador, who will receive an Honorary Doctorate in Engineering, served as an Engineer Officer for 25 years and received an OBE in 2022 for his outreach work. Having graduated in BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering from Herts in 1998, he is today the most senior Sikh in the Armed Forces.

The Honorary Doctorates, Masters and Fellows, alongside the 6,000 Herts graduates, will have their achievements officiallys commemorated during official graduation ceremonies at St Albans Cathedral over the next couple of weeks.

Professor Quintin McKellar, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hertfordshire, said:

“Congratulations to everyone graduating this year. I am continually in awe of the hard work, determination and passion of our students and this year is no exception. This week is an opportunity for our new graduates to celebrate and reflect on their achievements during their time at Herts. I hope everyone looks back fondly at their time here, as they continue on their paths towards a prosperous and fulfilling future filled with many more successes to come.

“I would also like to especially thank our Honorary Doctors, Masters and Fellows for their outstanding contributions to the Herts community. With several University alumni among them, their successes show how Herts equips its students to contribute on the global stage, in fields of law, science and beyond.”

The full list of Honorary Degrees and Fellowships awarded by the University for 2024 includes:

• Wing Commander Manjeet Singh Ghataora OBE – Honorary Doctor of Engineering – alumnus, Engineer Office in the Royal Air Force for 25 years and the most senior Sikh in the Armed Forces.
• Anand Beharrylal KC - Honorary Doctor of Laws – alumnus and one of the country’s leading criminal and civil barristers. Anand is particularly well known in the Caribbean for taking high profile cases, including those relating to human rights.
• David H Reissner LLB (Hons) – Honorary Doctor of Laws – one of the country’s most experienced and respected authorities on pharmacy law.
• Andrew Lucas – Honorary Doctor of Music – Master of the Music at St Albans Cathedral for 26 years.
• Dr Nicola J Fox PhD – Honorary Doctor of Science – Associate Administrator at NASA and one of the foremost scientists in the world.
• Alison Waters – Honorary Doctor of Science – four-time British National Squash Champion and who has represented the country internationally 140 times.
• Steven Finn – Honorary Doctor of Sports Science – bowler who helped the England Cricket team win three Ashes series in five years. Steven has made an equally valuable contribution off the pitch, talking about mental health in sport.
• Steven Broad – Honorary Master of Science – alumnus and world-renowned authority on wildlife conservation and trade in wild animals and plants.
• Carina Cruz – Master of Science – alumna and Lead Research Nurse for East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust.
• Sally Judges – Honorary Master of Science – Clinical Director of Allied Health Therapies for the Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and Allied Health Professions Lead for the Herts and West Essex Integrated Care System.
• Professor Rodney Day – Fellow – former Dean of the School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science.
• Tina Garvey – Fellow – Chief Executive of Retina UK, a charity that supports people with inherited sight loss.
• Arti Kumar MBE – Fellow – UK National Teaching Fellow and influential published author.
• Dr Lyn Trodd – Fellow – former Dean of the School of Education.

The University of Hertfordshire was ranked first for overall student positivity in the East of England in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2024 and top five overall in the in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024, both for the second year running.