Staff and students have been paying tribute to Kingston University's former Chancellor and Honorary Professor Bonnie Greer, who has passed away following a brief illness at the age of 77.

An acclaimed novelist and commentator once named as one of Britain's leading public intellectuals by the Observer, Bonnie became Chancellor of the University in 2013, following a period as visiting professor.

During her time as Chancellor, she was a passionate champion of free speech, the value of diversity and the role universities play as powerful drivers of social mobility.

Born in Chicago in 1948, Bonnie moved to London in 1986 and was later made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2010 for her services to the Arts.

She regularly used her platform to champion artistic freedom and demonstrated an unwavering commitment to art, history and human rights. She was well known as a contributor to the Paper Review on Sky News, BBC2's The Review Show, Radio 4's Any Questions, as well as BBC's Question Time.

Among her many leadership roles, Bonnie served as Deputy Chair of the British Museum from 2009 and sat on the boards of major arts and educational bodies, including the Royal Opera House, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, the London Film School and as Director of the Talawa Theatre Company.

She received the prestigious Verity Bargate Award for Best Play from the Soho Theatre Company for her production Munda Negra and was also elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in July 2022.

Bonnie holds an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University and, after her tenure as Chancellor concluded in 2018, was awarded an Honorary Professorship, recognising her outstanding contribution to the University, civic life and the higher education sector as a whole.

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Vice-Chancellor Professor Steven Spier paid tribute to the significant and profound contribution she had made, both to the University during her time as Chancellor and to the world of arts and humanities.

He said: "Bonnie dedicated much of her life to bringing joy to millions through her plays and novels, while also being a powerful advocate of free speech and advancing equality across race and gender.

"She will be sorely missed by many and while we are extremely saddened to learn of her passing, we are incredibly proud of the legacy she leaves behind here at Kingston University."

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