Dame Jenny Abramsky appointed as UEA Chancellor
By: Communications
Dame Jenny Abramsky has been named as the new Chancellor of the University of East Anglia (UEA).
After graduating from UEA in 1968 with a BA in English, Dame Abramsky pursued a trailblazing career in news media, with her near 40-year legacy at the BBC spanning radio, television and online platforms.
Jenny joined the BBC as a programmes operations assistant in 1969, going on to become the first female editor of the Today programme and launch Britain's first continuous news and sport radio station, Five Live, as well as the television channel BBC News 24.
"A source of huge personal pride"
Jenny also launched the BBC’s news website in 1997, before moving back into radio as the corporation’s Director of Radio in 1999, with 1Xtra, BBC 7, 6 Music, Five Live Sports Extra and the Asian Network launched during her tenure.
Dame Abramsky said: “It is a real honour to take on the role of Chancellor at UEA. I have a great many fond memories from my time as a student at the University, and have kept a close eye on its progress ever since, so to be able to return in this capacity is a source of huge personal pride.
“I am already looking forward to my time on campus meeting staff and students, promoting the University’s work in the wonderful city of Norwich and wider region and, of course, being able to celebrate with our graduates when they collect their degrees in July. A few things have changed since I graduated here, but the sense of achievement that comes with completing your degree will always be special, and I can’t wait to share some of that joy this summer.”
By the time Jenny left the BBC in 2008, she was on the corporation’s executive board as Director of Audio and Music, and its most senior female employee.
Since leaving the BBC she has taken on senior roles as a number of prestigious organisations, including as Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund (now the National Lottery Heritage Fund), Deputy Chair of the Canal and River Trust, and six years as Chair of the University of London.
Jenny is a Fellow of The Radio Academy and is currently Chair of Trustees of National Life Stories and of the Royal Academy of Music. She has also previously served as Chair of the Governors of the Royal Ballet and of Hampstead Theatre, and on the board of trustees for the UK's largest youth drama festival, the Shakespeare Schools Festival.
A figurehead for UEA
In 2003, Jenny was welcomed back to UEA as an Honorary Graduate, receiving an Honorary Doctorate in Letters from the University. She becomes the eighth Chancellor in UEA’s history.
The role of Chancellor is to act as a figurehead for the University, with formal duties including chairing the annual general meeting and conferring degrees at graduation ceremonies.
UEA Vice-Chancellor Prof David Maguire said: “I couldn’t be more delighted to have Jenny joining UEA as Chancellor. Her legacy at the BBC speaks for itself, and she has launched a variety of programmes, channels and digital that are now British institutions but at the time were genuinely groundbreaking.
“I’m looking forward to working with Jenny and for UEA to benefit from her innovation and vast knowledge of the various industries she has worked in. I’m certain that her achievements, as well as the application and dedication she’s applied to her craft throughout her career, will serve as inspiration to our students and staff when she joins our graduation ceremonies in the summer.”
Jenny succeeds Dame Karen Jones as Chancellor, and the University would like to thank Karen for her dedication and distinction in the role since her appointment in 2016.
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