Exeter College alumna awarded CBE in King’s New Year Honours

Exeter College alumna Professor Sue Rigby FRSE (1983, Geology) has been awarded a CBE in the King’s New Year Honours, in recognition of her services to Higher Education. 

Professor Rigby is currently Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University, a position she has held since 2017. The honour recognises her significant contribution to the higher education sector through academic leadership, research excellence, and a long-standing commitment to widening participation and student opportunity. 

After graduating from Exeter College with a degree in Geology, Professor Rigby went on to complete her PhD at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. She subsequently built an academic career in environmental science, specialising in palaeontology and Earth systems, alongside holding several senior leadership roles at universities across the UK, including Pro Vice-Chancellor positions at the University of Lincoln and the University of Liverpool. 

At Edinburgh Napier University, Professor Rigby has led major strategic initiatives, including guiding the institution through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthening its focus on employability and innovation, and championing equality, diversity, and inclusion across the university community. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and is widely respected for her contribution to academic governance and leadership. 

 Exeter College warmly congratulates Professor Rigby on this achievement. 

Professor Sue Rigby FRSE, Credit to Edinburgh Napier University