Dr Rowan Williams To Become Fellow At Glyndwr Uni

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams is ‘delighted’ to be made a Fellow of Glyndŵr University and looks forward to watching it develop as a ‘leading institution’ in Wales.

Dr Williams, Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, is being honoured for services to social justice as part of the Wrexham University’s Graduation programme this week.

From Wednesday to Friday, hundreds of students will receive their degrees, while Dr Williams joins businessman and graduate Dr Graham Jackson, former Glyndŵr Pro Vice Chancellor Kate Sullivan and Michael Cant and Prof Peter Toyne – former members of the University’s Board of Governors – in receiving a Fellowship.

The first Welshman to hold the post of Archbishop of Canterbury, he is acknowledged internationally as a scholar, writer and teacher, having paid particular attention to contemporary cultural and interfaith issues.

“I am very delighted to be receiving a Fellowship at the University,” said Dr Williams
 
“Glyndŵr University demonstrates the continuing and passionate commitment of the people of Wales to the highest standards of education for all, and I look forward to watching it develop as a leading institution in the process of nurturing intelligent, critical, creative citizens of the next generation.”

Ceremonies will take place on Wednesday for Creative Industries and Health Sciences and Psychology.

On Thursday, Applied Social Sciences, Education, and Business and Management students will be presented with their degrees, while on Friday it is the turn of Biology and Environment, Chemistry, Engineering and Applied Physics, Computing, and Early Childhood and Family Studies.

Dr Jackson, chairman of KK Fine Foods in Deeside, graduated from Glyndŵr University with a Masters’ degree in Business Administration (MBA) and a PhD in 2011.

He has championed the principles of lean manufacturing and attracted £1million of Pro-Act Government funding for companies in the North Wales area.

Having been the chairman of seven companies and floated 12 businesses on the Stock Exchange he is well placed to develop academic and commercial links for the region. He is currently supervising several PhD entries in the Glyndŵr Business School, and will be honoured for services to industry this Wednesday.

He said “I am delighted and honoured to be made a Fellow of such a progressive university and share the joy and excitement of all those students graduating in 2013.”

“As part of my acceptance address I will include my email details and an open invitation to all graduates to use me as a sounding board and gateway to the commercial world.”

“Being part of the class of 2013 enables me to give back to the Glyndŵr family of students some of the entrepreneurial contacts and knowledge I have gained over the years.”