Baroness Lawrence appointed Chancellor of De Montfort University

London
Stephen Lawrence
Doreen Lawrence
Education
Saturday 23 January 2016 at 9:23am

Baroness Stephen Lawrence. Credit: PA

The mother of murdered London teenager Stephen Lawrence has been officially unveiled as the Chancellor of De Montford University.

Baroness Lawrence was appointed during an investiture ceremony on Friday, succeeding Lord Alli to the role.

The University say she was chosen because of her record of champions issues affecting students, education and social change.

Following the death of her son, Stephen, in 1993, she established the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, helping them start careers in architecture, journalism and law.

She has also worked to increase the number of students from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds participating in higher education.

Baroness Lawrence became a Life Peer in 2013 and was named as one of the most powerful women in the UK in 2014.

Last year she was made an Honorary Doctor of Laws by DMU and, following the ceremony, gave up her time to speak to students and staff, sharing some of her experiences.