A pro-vice chancellor of enterprise at the University of Hertfordshire has been honoured with an MBE for her services to higher education in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Julie Newlan, of Harpenden, who is also a director of marketing communications at the university, said: “I feel very honoured and privileged to receive an MBE for doing a job that I love.”
She celebrated receiving the prestigious honour, which came as a complete shock, with a surprise family outing last weekend: “Unbeknown to me, my husband had organised dinner with my children at a local restaurant and we rounded off the evening at a local hostelry watching England - unfortunately not such a celebration!”
Julie, a mother-of-three, is credited as successfully leading the university’s student employability and entrepreneurship agenda. She was first appointed as a senior lecturer at the university in 1994 before being made pro vice-chancellor over five years ago.
She has been a critical advocate in the development of enterprising students in the county which has lead to a continual rise in students gaining meaningful employment in the region.
She is also an active board member for three of the university’s companies and previously held a board appointment at West Herts Regional College.
Before joining the University of Herts she was a lecturer in marketing and had an established career in retail marketing consultancy: “As a young woman I started off owning my own business and then worked in marketing and strategic development for several large companies.
“I was in my early thirties when I studied for an MBA and enjoyed the experience so much I decided to move into teaching. I felt my experience of both running my own business and working in large corporates would offer a useful perspective when teaching young people marketing and business strategy.
“I joined the University of Hertfordshire as a senior lecturer twenty years ago and have been fortunate to have had some wonderful opportunities, becoming the Dean of the Business School and then for the past five years Pro Vice-Chancellor, responsible for the University’s student employability and commercial and enterprise work. “
“It has been a very rewarding experience to see the University truly embed employability skills into the curriculum of every student and to ensure our ‘Graduate Attributes’ create students who are equipped for successful lives.
She said: “I am delighted to be awarded this great honour. It is a real privilege to work at the University of Hertfordshire and be part of such a committed team of people working for the benefit of our students.”
“The University of Hertfordshire has given me the most wonderful career and opportunities. It is such a vibrant and creative place to work and has enabled me to be part of the vast team of people that make a difference to our students lives.”
Professor Quintin McKellar, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire said: “I am delighted for Julie and I know that colleagues will join me in wishing her the warmest congratulations on this wonderful honour.”
A number of other residents from across the district were also named on the list. Raymond Anderson, who lives in St Albans, received an OBE for his work with public access and Natural England.
Michael James George Bartlet, a parliamentary liaison secretary from St Albans received an MBE for services to equality and social justice.
While Radlett resident Barry Harvey Welck, founder and chairman of Langdon Foundation, was also given the honour for services to education and learning for disabled people.
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