For the latest updates from your alumni community
Every year, the New Year Honours list celebrates the achievements and contributions of extraordinary individuals who have dedicated themselves to making a difference in society. This year, we are thrilled to announce that 15 of our outstanding University of Bristol alumni have been honoured for their services across health, community, education, the arts, and more. We are immensely proud to highlight their remarkable accomplishments and the profound impact they continue to make.
Celeste Lo (MA 2012), Vice-Chairperson for the Hong Kong Branch of the Alumni Association, exemplifies the spirit of volunteering. From organising events, to creating connections among the Bristol graduate community, Celeste is dedicated to strengthening alumni relationships, empowering students through scholarships, and keeping the Bristol spirit alive in Hong Kong. (more…)
Geraldine Keefe (MEng 2000) is the new Chair of the University of Bristol Foundation, working to strengthen the University’s community of over 4,500 Bristol graduates in the US. She is the head of Investment Banking for the Midwest Region at Goldman Sachs. Passionate about education and music, Geraldine holds a number of board roles, including at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Old Town School of Music, and The Posse Foundation Chicago Advisory Board. Here, she shares the story of her start at Bristol and how it’s impacted her life today.
We were fortunate to speak with one of this year’s esteemed honorary graduates, Laura Trevelyan (BSc 1990, DLitt 2024). She graduated with a degree in Politics before becoming a BBC journalist serving as UN Correspondent, New York Correspondent then anchor of BBC World News America. After discovering her family’s historic links to the transatlantic slave trade, Laura made the documentary ‘Grenada: Confronting the Past’ to investigate the story and discover how to address this legacy. Laura and her family made a formal apology for their family’s role in slavery as part of a larger reparations plan, and she is now a committed philanthropist and campaigner for reparatory justice. She is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Letters honoris causa in this summer’s graduation ceremonies. (more…)
Each year, the King’s Birthday Honours list recognises the outstanding achievements and dedicated services of individuals committed to our society. This year, we are delighted to announce that 18 remarkable Bristol alumni and staff have been recognised for their contributions to health, community, education, the arts, and more.
We take great pride in celebrating their accomplishments and the incredible impact they have made. (more…)
In celebration of Bristol’s 2024 Alumni Award winners, the University hosted a special dinner in The Orangery at Goldney Hall, bringing awardees and their guests together to honour the remarkable achievements of these Bristol graduates. (more…)
Earlier this month, Bristol graduates based in China enjoyed a China Graduation Celebration in Shanghai. (more…)
During his time at the University of Bristol, Saint Lucian politician George Odlum (BA 1959) was the first Black student in any UK university to become president of the Students Union and went on to become a leading voice in Caribbean politics during a time of significant social change. Although Odlum died 20 years ago, his legacy lives on. Below, Dr Anderson Reynolds shares insights into Odlum’s life from his recently published book, They Called Him Brother George: Portrait of a Caribbean Politician. (more…)
NASA astronaut and University of Bristol alum Colonel Anne McClain (MSc 2005, Honorary DEng 2023) returned to the University recently to accept her Honorary doctorate, and talk about her space experience, her journey to becoming an astronaut, and the next decade of space exploration. Colonel McClain’s incredible career has seen her fly 20 different aircraft as a Senior Army Aviator, train as a US Navy test pilot, and serve as a Flight Engineer on the International Space Station (ISS), where she spent 204 days and led two spacewalks. In 2020, she became part of the Artemis programme, a NASA-led mission to put astronauts back on the moon by 2024 – with this mission, Colonel McClain could become the first woman to step on the moon. (more…)
Recent graduate Helen (BA 2023) took on a Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Summer Internship, working in the University of Bristol’s Development and Alumni Relations Office (DARO). We caught up with her to hear about her internship experience, how she feels transitioning from graduate to alum, and her advice for current students.