New Jacqueline Wilson Scholarship will now be offered on an annual basis

The University of Roehampton is pleased to announce the appointment of Dame Jacqueline Wilson as its new Chancellor. Currently serving as a Pro-Chancellor at the University, Dame Jacqueline will take over from current Chancellor, John Simpson in August 2014.

Dame Jacqueline is currently a Pro-Chancellor at Roehampton. She was appointed Professorial Fellow in 2008 and teaches on both the Children’s Literature and Creative Writing Master’s degrees offered by the University’s Department of English and Creative Writing.

Dame Jacqueline’s books for children have sold over 35 million copies in the UK and have been translated into 34 different languages. Many have been adapted for stage and television including The Story of Tracy Beaker which has been hugely successful for CBBC. This April, the Rose Theatre Kingston in association with Novel Theatre and Kenny Wax productions will host the premiere of Hetty Feather on Stage before a national and international tour. April will also see the opening of Daydreams & Diaries, an exhibition all about Jacqueline and her work at the V&A Museum of Childhood in London. Dame Jacqueline is a multi- award-winning author and was the Children’s Laureate between 2005-7. She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2008 New Year Honours list, having received an OBE in 2002. For her lifetime’s contribution as a children’s writer, she has received the UK’s nomination for the Hans Christian Andersen Award 2014.

Announcing the appointment Paul O’Prey, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Roehampton said: “Dame Jacqueline is a fantastic advocate for the University and brings an infectious enthusiasm and passion that the students and staff all appreciate. I am delighted that she has agreed to be our new Chancellor. She succeeds John Simpson who has been a fantastic Chancellor for the last ten years and we are extremely grateful to John for all he has done for the University.”

Dame Jacqueline said, “I have always felt a great attachment to the University of Roehampton. It manages to combine a genuine warmth and friendliness with immense creative achievement and academic excellence. I was very proud to receive an Honorary Doctorate from the University and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my past five years as a visiting Professor teaching creative writing on a part time basis. I have been a Pro-Chancellor for the past three years and now I’m delighted that I’m to be made the new Chancellor. John Simpson has done a wonderful job with great enthusiasm and energy and he’s been very supportive to all the Pro-Chancellors. I very much hope to follow in his footsteps.”

In honour of Dame Jacqueline’s appointment, the University is delighted to announce that the Jacqueline Wilson Scholarship will now be offered on an annual basis. This fees-only postgraduate scholarship will be based in our award-winning National Centre for Research into Children’s Literature, for research into Children’s Literature or Creative Writing for Children.

February 20, 2014