Fellowships awarded to three remarkable women
Award winning actress Elaine C. Smith was one of three remarkable women honoured for their outstanding contributions to the people of Scotland at New College Lanarkshire’s annual awards ceremonies.
The education establishment conferred Fellowships on the television star and writer, as well as Professor Pamela Gillies CBE and Lady Susan Haughey CBE.
At a ceremony in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall attended by students graduating from courses in the faculty of care and science, Prof. Gillies received the title of Fellow of New College Lanarkshire in recognition of her outstanding work in the field of Public Health Education.
Professor Gillies has been Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University since 2006.
An internationally recognised expert in the field of public health, the professor is the founding patron of a school for children of sex workers in Domjur, Kolkata, and has researched and written widely on HIV/AIDS, health development, and inequalities in health focusing on the potential of social action for health.
Elected as a Fellow of the faculty of public health of the Royal College of Physicians of London in 2002, Professor Gillies was awarded a CBE for services to education and public health in December 2012.
Elaine C. Smith was presented with the title of Fellow of New College Lanarkshire, in recognition of her work in the arts in Scotland.
The title was awarded in the presence of students graduating from the faculty of computing and creative industries, and the faculty of service industries.
Elaine boasts a career i n entertainment spanning more than 30 years. Her television work has included roles in City Lights, Rab C Nesbitt and Two Doors Down.
A patron of numerous charities, the BAFTA Scotland award-winning actress has an equally successful stage presence as a regular in pantomime at the King’s Theatre, and the original Dolly in ‘The Steamie.’
She also co-wrote and starred in the Susan Boyle musical I Dreamed a Dream and co-wrote a hugely popular version of children’s story The Glasgow Gruffalo.
Lady Susan Haughey CBE was recognised for her work in public service at a ceremony attended by students from the faculty of business, social science and sport, the faculty of supported learning, and the faculty of engineering and automotive.
A Lanarkshire resident for the last 40 years, Lady Haughey and husband Willie founded City Refrigeration in Rutherglen in 1985.
Now a global business, it is Scotland’s largest privately owned employer, with 14,000 staff.
Through the City Charitable Trust, which the couple founded in 2002, Lady Susan and Willie have overseen donations of millions of pounds to charities and deserving causes.
Lady Susan is also a director of Kilbryde Hospice in East Kilbride, and became the first woman to hold the position of Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire.
Principal and chief executive of the college, Professor Christopher Moore, said: “I am delighted to welcome our three new distinguished Fellows to New College Lanarkshire.
“The Covid era has highlighted so clearly the importance of public health, the arts and public service to us all, so these fellowships serve to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions and achievements that each has made within their respective fields.”