Students gathered at the Royal Festival Hall for the 2025 January graduation to celebrate their hard work and achievements. Roehampton was thrilled to be awarding Professor Carol Baxter, Trevor D. Stirling, Joseph Coelho, and Stephanie Slater Honorary Degrees, as well as welcoming esteemed alumna, Rhiannon Lambert, to the stage.
A total of four ceremonies took place on the day, honouring graduates from all programmes, at all levels. Alongside students receiving their degrees, honorary degrees were awarded to Carol Baxter, Trevor D. Stirling, Joseph Coelho, and Stephanie Slater.
Professor Carol Baxter CBE was awarded a Doctor of the University. Carol has had a successful career working across the health, voluntary and academic sectors nationally. Professor Baxter has dedicated her career to addressing health inequity and working to achieve health equity across the system. Carol was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s 2009 Birthday honours list and was inducted into the Nursing Times Nursing Hall of Fame in 2010.
In an interview with Roehampton, Carol’s advice to students graduating was,‘know your core identity and stick to that, don’t be afraid of who you are and follow your dreams.’
Trevor D. Stirling was awarded a Doctor of Laws from the university. Trevor is a Senior Partner at Moore Barlow Lawyers where he established a Major Trauma Service with a focus on rehabilitation. In 2021, he became the first black Senior Partner in a top 100 UK law firm. Trevor has been involved in some of the country’s highest profile actions including the Westminster Terrorist attacks. He is currently establishing the BeTheLadder Foundation to providing grants to young people at risk of underachievement due to their social circumstance.
Joseph Coelho OBE, FRSL was awarded a Doctor of Letters. Joseph is a best-selling, multi-award-winning children’s playwright and author of over 50 books. He is two-time winner of the Indie Book Awards (2019 & 2022) and the 2015 CLIPPA Poetry Award. Joseph’s YA Verse Novel ‘The Boy Lost in The Maze’ was the winner of the 2024 Carnegie Medal for Writing. Joseph was the Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate 2022–2024.
Stephanie Slater was awarded Doctor of the University. Stephanie is Founder and Chief Executive at School Food Matters. She set up the charity in 2007. In 2012 she was invited to join the School Food Plan’s expert panel. Stephanie is now co-Chair of the School Food Alliance. In 2021, Stephanie brought together leading charities in the School Food Review, a group calling for reform of school food policy so that no child misses out on the nutrition they need to thrive.
Stephanie shared her advice with graduates, encouraging them to ‘find work with purpose, find something that is meaningful where you feel you can make a difference but above all, find something you really enjoy.’
Rhiannon Lambert was invited as an alumni inspiration speaker, acknowledging her incredible career path since graduating from Roehampton. Rhiannon also received the Chancellors Award in October last year. Rhiannon is one of the UKs leading Registered Nutritionists. In 2016, Rhiannon founded London’s leading Harley Street Clinic, Rhitrition. Rhiannon is a two times Sunday Times Bestselling Author and the host of chart-topping podcast ‘Food for Thought’, which now has over 8.4 million downloads.
Congratulations to all our graduates, we wish you all the best for the future.
Stay in touch through the University of Roehampton Alumni Association.