Chief Executive and Deputy Chairman Paul Barber has been awarded an honorary degree from the University of Sussex.
Paul was appointed Chief Executive in 2012 and became Deputy Chairman in 2018. Under Paul’s leadership, the club were promoted to the Premier League in 2017, and will be playing in the Europa League for the first time this season after securing sixth place with a game to spare.
He was made an OBE for services to football in the New Year Honours List.
Paul will be presented with his honorary degree at the University of Sussex’s summer graduation in July.
In addition to Paul, five other recipients will also receive an honorary degree including an acclaimed artist, two parliamentary peers, an engineer and an academic.
These include Baroness Valerie Amos, the first black woman to lead a university; Dr Gail Lewis, a leading black feminist academic, activist and psychotherapist; Lord Peter Hain, former apartheid activist and Cabinet Minister; award-winning interdisciplinary artist, Dr Katrina Palmer; and engineer Richard Atkins, who advanced race car engines.
MA+ members & STH only - Log-in required
Log-in required
Those selected to receive honorary degrees have achieved academic excellence in their field or have played an important public role, contributing to development, progress or change in society. Many of the individuals who have been selected this year are local to the Sussex area, and all are well-known for their pioneering and progressive work across the UK.
Chairman Tony Bloom said, “On behalf of everyone at Brighton & Hove Albion I’d like to extend my warm congratulations to Paul; we’re all extremely proud of him and his achievements for the club and it’s been quite a season for him both personally and with our performance on the pitch.
“This award from the University of Sussex is richly deserved and again it recognises his incredible work at the club as our chief executive and deputy chairman and in the wider football world.”
Professor Sarah Roseneil, the University of Sussex’s Vice-Chancellor, said, “Having dedicated over 25 years to professional football and over ten years to Brighton & Hove Albion, the University of Sussex is delighted to be awarding Sussex local, Paul Barber OBE.
“This year’s honorary graduates have impressive and varied careers, and notably some are Sussex alumni. We look forward to inviting them to this year’s summer graduation celebrations and we know that their achievements will inspire our students as they embark on creating their lives beyond university.”