Following the annual Foundation Day celebrations the University has inaugurated a college of fellows; a committee of members recognised for their outstanding contributions and advocating forward-thinking initiatives within their fields. Hope is proud to bestow fellowships to Reverend Canon Bill Addy, Adrienne Burnett MBE and Laura Pye.
Members of the College of Fellows will act as ambassadors of Hope and work alongside the University to make positive contributions to the Liverpool City Region and beyond, while continuing to work in partnership to have a voice and influence in sectors such as arts and culture, education and business.
The introduction of a College of Fellows marks a milestone year for Hope, which received formal University status 20 years ago, adding to its rich 181-year history with the first founding college established in 1844.
To coincide with Hope’s Winter Graduation, Hope’s College of Fellows spoke about their own professional journeys and shared their advice to students starting their next chapter after University.
Reverend Canon Bill Addy | |
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Being the CEO of the Liverpool BID Company (Business Improvement District) and an ordained priest may not seem an obvious job combination but for chartered construction manager Reverend Canon Bill Addy they do have things in common; they both put him at the heart of the city and provide the opportunity to change people’s lives, commenting, “none of us should underestimate their own power to change people’s lives by what they say and do.” |
Bill’s links with Hope go way back from growing up nearby, to his son studying at the University and finally, Bill himself completing part of his Foundation course in Theology before graduating in the Hope Chapel in 2012.Speaking about his fellowship, Bill said: “I am greatly honoured and humbled to be invited to join the College of Fellows in recognition of my work. I believe in the values of Liverpool Hope University and its commitment to create a fairer society. I am looking forward to playing a part in enabling those values to shape society in the future. In terms of his advice to Hope graduates, Bill said: “Be true to yourself. Don’t let yourself be limited or be told what you can’t do, instead believe in what you can do. Remember what you are capable of.” |
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Adrienne Burnett MBE |
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A chance conversation led to a life changing career move for headteacher Adrienne Burnett, who led the largest school on the Isle of Man. As a former drama teacher with a keen interest in the arts, she was a pioneer in introducing live screening to the Isle of Man, starting in her own school, with the aim to enrich the cultural life of young people and the wider community. |
Of her work in education, Adrienne said: “One of the pleasures of working on a small island is that you often see your former students. Learning how people have developed and how you’ve made a difference to their lives is so rewarding because that’s all that any of us can hope to do. From my days at school in Liverpool, teachers believed in me and pushed me to do better. Sometimes it’s those chance conversations that can inspire you and lead you down a certain career path. For me, it was someone saying ‘what’s next for you?’ That comment pushed me to apply for a senior post on the Isle of Man.” Celebrating a longstanding relationship with Liverpool Hope, Adrienne has seen young people from the Isle of Man come to the campus to further their studies, commenting: “The Isle of Man has always had such a positive relationship with Hope - our students are attracted to the impressive range of courses here and obviously the beautiful and safe campus are important factors. Hope has such an outstanding reputation for the excellence of its teaching provision and the quality of its pastoral care, so to be associated with such a prestigious place of learning is a genuine joy. “My advice to graduates would be to remain flexible and open to opportunities, as you never know where they will lead.” |
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Laura Pye |
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A voluntary placement while at university later turned into the dream role for Laura Pye, Director at National Museums Liverpool (NML). After volunteering at the organisation, Laura fell in love with the sector and has since worked in a number of museums and culture roles around the country, but a career opportunity in the place where it all started brought her back to Liverpool six years ago. |
Laura said: “I believe that museums change people’s lives and I’ve seen first-hand how our work positively impacts communities by offering a different type of interaction. Museums give us a better understanding of our past but also allow us to explore who we are today and help to shape our future.” An advocate for cultural funding, proving the value of culture is at the heart of everything that Laura does, and this was evident during the pandemic when people craved the interactions that spaces such as museums provide. On NML’s work with Liverpool Hope, Laura commented: “We work closely with all the universities in the city region and members of Hope sit on our RESPECT Group that consults on some of our work on the waterfront. We also engage with students on projects and placements and collaborate with academics on research projects.” On her fellowship, Laura said: “I am genuinely honoured to be invited into the College of Fellows. It’s lovely recognition, not just for myself but for all the work that NML does in our communities. The museums are nothing without that community engagement.” Offering words of advice to Hope students, Laura added: “Sometimes people have a life plan, but my key advice would be to enjoy the journey and do something you love.” |