Cambridge’s first black female college master ‘delighted’ with role
THE first black head of a Cambridge college has described her election to the post as “an honour”.
Sonita Alleyne, 51, an entrepreneur and former BBC trustee who has championed diversity, will also become the first female master in the history of Jesus College, which was founded between 1496 and 1516.
She will take up the role in October, 40 years after the college began admitting female students.
Born in Barbados and brought up in East London, Ms Alleyne graduated with a BA in philosophy from Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, before starting a career in radio. Celebrating her appointment, she said: “I left Cambridge 30 years ago, but it never left me. I am delighted to be returning.
“It is an honour to be elected to lead Jesus College and I’m looking forward to becoming part of such an energetic and innovative community. Having met many Fellows, students and staff in recent weeks, I was struck by the positive and forward-looking ethos.”
Ms Alleyne founded production company Somethin’ Else, which has produced shows for Sky Arts, the BBC and Channel 4, and was its chief executive from 1991 to 2009.
She is currently chairman of the British Board of Film Classification and is a fellow of both the Royal Society of the Arts and the Radio Academy.
Ms Alleyne, who was awarded an OBE for services to broadcasting in 2004, will be Jesus’s 41st Master when she takes over from Prof Ian White.
Prof Mary Laven, who led the college’s search committee, expects Ms Alleyne to be an “inspirational Master”.