Vice-Chancellor appointed CBE in King Charles III’s first Birthday Honours

Her honour, for services to higher education and the NHS, comes after Professor Humphris' 45 years of public service, first in the health service and then in an academic career at St George’s Hospital Medical School, Southampton University, Imperial College London and the University of Brighton.

Professor Humphris began her career as a nursing student in Chichester, qualifying as a registered nurse and working in the NHS in roles including Senior Research Fellow at the South Thames Regional Health Authority and at St George’s Hospital Medical School. She achieved her PhD in 1999, considering the implementation of policy into clinical practice, before moving to the University of Southampton from 2000-2012 as Director of the Health Care Innovation Unit and, from 2008, as Pro-Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Debra Humphris

In 2012, Professor Humphris became Vice-Provost Education at Imperial College London, before taking up the role of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Brighton in 2015.

Professor Humphris’ honour acknowledges the major impact she has had, including her role as an openly LGBTQ+ senior leader who has been passionate about promoting equality and diversity for all at the University. It also highlights her crucial personal role as a member of the Universities UK (UUK) Board in shaping policy positions on key issues in the sector including the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), quality and standards, grade inflation and lifelong learning, as well as her position as Director and Chair of the University Alliance.

Professor Humphris’ achievements within the NHS led to her being named in 2018 as one of the 70 most influential nurses and midwives during the first 70 years of the National Health Service. In the same year, she was also – and exceptionally for a professional outside medicine – elected a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.

That healthcare experience proved invaluable during the pandemic, when Professor Humphris’ knowledge and leadership in the local community allowed her to help shape vital decisions in Brighton & Hove City Council’s COVID response, including enabling University of Brighton staff and students to assume frontline roles such as paramedics, pharmacists, nurses, doctors and social workers.

Professor Humphris said: “I am deeply humbled by this recognition of my 45 years of public service to the NHS and higher education. Alongside my family and my partner, there are so many colleagues and collaborators to thank for their impact on my career. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to them all for their guidance and support.”

Mark Burch, Chair of the University of Brighton Board of Governors, added: “I am delighted that Debra’s longstanding contribution to higher education and her leadership of the University of Brighton since 2015 has been recognised in this way. The award of a CBE also reflects the wider influence she has had as a healthcare professional and her commitment and impact within the NHS over many years.”