Kent alumna, YolanDa Brown OBE DL was officially installed as the University’s new Chancellor during a graduation ceremony at Rochester Cathedral on 17 July 2024.
Since then she has presided over 13 congregations across six days in both Rochester and Canterbury Cathedrals. She has conferred over 3,000 degrees, welcomed five new honorary graduates, celebrated with 17 alumni marking the 50th anniversary of their own graduations, and put smiles on the faces of countless students and their families!
Having graduated with a first-class undergraduate degree in European Management Science with Spanish from Kent Business School, and a masters in Methods of Social Research from the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, YolanDa knows only too well how special graduating in Kent’s magnificent Cathedral’s is for our students.
Speaking about her new role earlier this year, YolanDa said: ‘My time at the University was character building, life affirming, and a bucket full of emotions. Every single time I am on campus a new memory returns, so you can imagine my joy accepting this role as Chancellor. The University has always been at the forefront of fostering a diverse, inclusive, and vibrant community. Its dedication to providing outstanding education, promoting research that makes a real-world difference, and its unwavering support for students from all walks of life resonate deeply with my own values.
‘I am excited to work alongside the talented staff and students to build on this foundation as the University strives towards new heights of achievement.’