Suzanne Duncan, our former principal and chief executive, will be awarded her honorary degree posthumously. With her family’s blessing, Suzanne will be made a Doctor of Letters. She had been notified earlier in the year that she was to be made an honorary graduate.
Suzanne, who led the College for 12 hugely successful years, retired in the summer of 2024 and sadly died in September after a short illness.
As well as overseeing multi-million-pound investments in the College, Suzanne was a great champion for the further education sector and the North East, and instrumental in developing the Durham Learning Alliance. The Alliance involves Durham University and four Country Durham colleges working together to expand education opportunities in North East England.
Steve Duncan, Suzanne’s husband, said: "When Suzanne received notification of the award she cried, she was honoured. She felt that it was her greatest career achievement and the best recognition of her work and sacrifices she made.
"As a family, we are immensely proud of Suzanne’s achievements, and the legacy she has left behind. She sacrificed so much over the years to provide better opportunities for others through education. We only wish she could be here to accept her award herself."
Professor Karen O’Brien, Vice-Chancellor of Durham University, added: "Our honorary graduates are leaders in their fields and exemplify our ethos of inspiring the extraordinary. Our graduating students can look to these figures for inspiration as they leave the University to forge their own careers across many different fields.
“On a personal level, I’m pleased that we’re able to honour the contribution that Suzanne Duncan has made to education here in North East England. Suzanne helped thousands of young people achieve their ambitions throughout her career and was passionate about forming the Durham Learning Alliance which will continue that legacy.”
