Retired goalkeeper and now football pundit and broadcaster Rachel Brown-Finnis, who made 82 appearances for her country, Diplomat Dame Karen Pierce DCMG, who was born and raised in Preston, and Krishnan Guru-Murthy, who has been a major part of Channel 4 News for nearly three decades, will receive Honorary Fellowships during next week’s graduation ceremonies.
Between 9 to 11 December, nine graduation ceremonies will take place in the transformed Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre. During those special ticket-only events, more than 2,100 students will celebrate their academic success by taking to the stage in their academic caps and gowns.
The graduates and their guests will enjoy post-event celebrations in the University’s eye-catching Student Centre, based in the heart of the University’s Preston Campus.
Family and friends who can’t make it to Preston can still join in with the celebrations as live streaming will be available on the University’s YouTube channel.
Krishnan, who was raised and schooled in nearby Blackburn, has had a long and distinguished career covering some of the world’s largest conflicts in Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Gaza Strip and Ukraine.
He has presented the iconic BBC children’s programme Newsround and was a launch presenter on the BBC’s News 24 Channel before he joined Channel 4 News in 1998. Krishan is renowned for his straight-talking interview style and he has won a number of awards during his career, including being awarded a Royal Television Society Fellowship earlier this year.
Krishnan, who has also appeared on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, will receive his Honorary Fellowship on Tuesday 9 December to acknowledge his significant contribution to journalism and broadcasting.
Karen, who attended Penwortham Girls’ Grammar School, has spent more than 40 years working as a British diplomat around the world.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office postings took her to Japan, Ukraine, the Balkans, and to Afghanistan, where she spent a year living in Kabul as British Ambassador. She was Britain’s first female Ambassador to the United States of America and the first woman to become the UK’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. She was appointed as the UK’s Special Envoy to the Western Balkans earlier this year.
Karen, who is being recognised for her loyal commitment and eminent contribution towards the United Kingdom diplomatic service, will take to the stage on Wednesday to accept her Honorary Fellowship.
Burnley-born Rachel made her debut between the posts for Liverpool as a 15-year-old. Following a spell in America, she returned home and spent 11 years at Everton, where she realised a dream by lifting the Women’s FA Cup in 2010. Internationally, she represented her country at four European Championships and two Women’s World Cups. She was also part of the Team GB squad for the London 2012 Olympics.
After retiring in 2015, Rachel transitioned into the media and is now a leading pundit and co-commentator across the men’s and women’s game, for BBC and TNT Sport. Her expertise has seen her cover the Women’s 2019 and 2023 World Cups and the Lionesses’ successes at Euro 2022 and Euro 2025.
Rachel will don her academic robe and swap her international caps for an academic one on Thursday as she receives an Honorary Fellowship to recognise the significant contribution she has made to football and sports broadcasting.
