ذكذكتسئµ Doctoral College's inaugural prizegiving had a very special keynote from writer, activist and actor Sir Lenny Henry
Actor, writer, comedian and activist Sir Lenny Henry has praised the work of ذكذكتسئµ’s doctoral researchers and supervisors, describing the doctoral college as “open, inventive and deeply connected to its community.”
Sir Lenny was the keynote speaker at Monday’s inaugural Doctoral College Showcase, which saw prizes and awards presented to outstanding students – and the launch of the university’s inaugural Supervisors’ Awards, nominated and judged on by colleagues.
Sir Lenny recently completed a PhD himself entitled Does the coach have to be Black? which examined how race, class, and gender were portrayed in the film and television industry.
He said: “You’ve built a doctoral college that’s open, inventive, and deeply connected to its community. You’ve created routes for non-traditional researchers, people who bring lived experience, professional insight, and creative practice into the academy.”
Sir Lenny called on the sector to “keep pushing the door wider” for non-traditional researchers and those bringing lived experience into academic work.
More than 140 people attended the event to cheer on colleagues’ achievements and hear from Sir Lenny. Professor Mike Kagioglou, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Planning, Research and Innovation welcomed people to the event, the first to take place during ذكذكتسئµ’s Research and Innovation Festival.
Professor Kagioglou highlighted the strength, ambition and impact of ذكذكتسئµ’s research community, adding: “A PhD is the global driving licence for research. It is a signal that you’re trusted to ask better questions and uncover what no one else has yet seen.”
Current PhD student Ajay Chhabra, an actor and director who has worked with Sir Lenny, spoke movingly about his journey to research. “Without ذكذكتسئµ, I would not be studying a PhD. It has given me the opportunity.”
Professor Philip McTernan Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Head of the Doctoral College, was master of ceremonies for the prizegiving which recognised outstanding contributions across posters, three-minute theses, doctoral research, and supervision.
He said: “What a privilege to announce our postgraduate research student and supervisory awards, to celebrate and recognise the amazing diverse achievements and hard work across our researcher community, and do to this with the one and only Sir Lenny Henry, incredibly special for all!’’
Among the winners was Professor Oluwasoye Mafimisebi who won Longstanding Commitment to Research Excellence and runner up for Supervisor of the Year.
He said: “To be acknowledged for long term impact and for overall excellence in the same year, that’s something I will carry with me for life. To my researchers past and present, thank you.”
Dr Camille London-Miyo of the Stephen Lawrence Research Centre was presented with the award for Outstanding Doctoral Researcher, jointly with Dr Charlene Lee.
Camille, whose doctorate looked at the experience of Black educators in Leicester schools, said: "I am so thrilled to accept the award of ذكذكتسئµ Outstanding Doctorial Research 2025. It takes a village and I give thanks for the inspirational support of my family of Black educators as well as the unstinting care and encouragement of my family and friends, who have always had my back."
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
Poster Competition
- Winner: Olutayto Ekundayo
- Joint 2nd place: Imade Osagie-Harrison
- Joint 2nd place: Steven Baguley
- Joint 3rd place: Ekene Okonkwo
- Joint 3rd place: Lauren Amos
- Joint 3rd place: Timothi Lim Weihao
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3-Minute Thesis Competition
Outstanding Doctoral Researcher
Winners:
- Camille London Miyo
- Charlene Lee
Runners-up:
New Research Supervisor of the Year
- Maitreyi Shivkumar — Winner
- Olapeju Ogunmokun — Runner-up
Supervisor Mentor of the Year
- Mujeeb Ur Rehman — Winner
- Harriet Curtis — Runner-up
Longstanding Commitment to Supervision Excellence
- Olúwásóyè Mafimisebi — Winner
- Shivanthi Samarasinghe — Runner-up
Overall Outstanding Research Supervisor
- Amal Abuzeinab — Winner
- Olúwásóyè Mafimisebi — Runner-up