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ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ awards honorary doctorates

Wednesday, 22 July, 2026

LaToyah McAllister-Jones and Gerry McDonald received Honorary Doctorates yesterday (Tuesday, 21 July) for their work in Education and Arts respectively. 

The graduation ceremony was the first of two days held in the Forum, Bath, where 1,500 BSU graduands were awarded their degree by Vice-Chancellor Georgina Andrews and Chancellor Sharanjit Leyl. 

Born in Bristol, Gerry McDonald is Group Principal and CEO of New City College, one of the UK's largest further education colleges, having led its growth through a series of successful mergers. 

A qualified business studies teacher with more than 30 years' experience in further and sixth form education, he has championed curriculum excellence, institutional transformation and widening access to education throughout his career. In 2025, he was appointed CBE for services to Further Education. He received his Honorary Doctorate of Education in recognition of his outstanding contribution to lifelong learning. 

Based in Bristol, LaToyah McAllister-Jones is a respected leader whose work has helped shape the region's arts and cultural landscape through community-led approaches and a commitment to social justice. 

As a founding partner of Citizens for Culture, she has pioneered new ways for residents to influence cultural decision-making across the West of England. During her six years as Executive Director of St Pauls Carnival CIC, she led a major period of organisational transformation, strengthening one of the UK's most significant African Caribbean cultural celebrations for future generations.  

She also serves as Deputy Chair of Bristol Old Vic, contributing to the strategic leadership of one of the country's leading theatres. LaToyah received an Honorary Doctorate of Arts in recognition of her outstanding contribution to culture and community leadership. 

Also collecting an honorary doctorate yesterday was Bath-based barber Eddie Ilic, who started Streetcuts seven years ago, a community project offering free haircuts to homeless people in Bristol and Bath.   

Honorary doctorate recipients are selected through a rigorous annual process that begins with nominations from ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ staff, students and alumni. Nominations are considered by the University's Honorary Degrees and Titles Committee, which recommends a shortlist to Academic Board for approval. The final list is then noted by the Board of Governors before successful candidates are invited to accept the honour. 

Collecting his honorary doctorate, Gerry McDonald said: "I am deeply honoured to receive this award from ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿, to be recognised by a community which champions creativity, inclusion, and the transformative power of education - is profoundly meaningful." 

Gerry continued: "BSU's core purpose - to be the Professionally Creative University for the future - resonates deeply with the values and mission of higher education. I hope what comes next is everything that you hoped for." 

Giving advice to the newly graduated BSU students, LaToyah McAllister-Jones said: "Don't worry if your journey doesn't look like everyone else's. Don't spend your life trying to follow somebody else's map.” 
 
She continued: “Build your own road. One day you may look back and realise that every twist, every turn, through every hill and gully wasn't taking you away from your destination, it was creating the only road that could have led you there. I never imagined that my road would lead me here.” 

Professor Georgina Andrews, Vice-Chancellor of ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ said: "Graduation is the highlight of my year, and it is a great joy to see the hard work of BSU graduands recognised at our ceremonies." 

Georgina added: "I was delighted to present Honorary Doctorates today for remarkable contributions to education, charity and civic life."