Professor Yaojun Li, a distinguished researcher and educator at The University of Manchester, has been made an OBE for his exceptional services to the Advancement of Knowledge in Social Mobility and to Ethnic Integration.
Professor Li is one of more than 1,200 people across the country, in all fields of work, who have been handed honours to celebrate their contributions to society, community, or their area of employment.
Professor Yaojun Li is a Professor of Sociology at the University, his work focuses on social mobility and social stratification, social capital, education, labour market positions, ethnic integration and comparative studies, especially between Britain and China.
I am completely humbled and startled. It is beyond my dream of all dreams. I wish to thank all colleagues who have given me so much help, advice and support all these years.
Professor Yaojun Li
Speaking about being recognised in the Honours list Yaojun said: “I am completely humbled and startled. It is beyond my dream of all dreams. I wish to thank all colleagues who have given me so much help, advice and support all these years.”
Honours typically celebrate the contributions of well-known personalities, government employees, and ordinary people who have served their community. Most honours are awarded at New Year and on the monarch’s official birthday, in June.
Keely Hodgkinson, Greater Manchester’s two time Olympic medallist and recent Sport Personality of the Year champion, has also been awarded an MBE for services to Athletics after winning an Olympic gold medal in Paris 2024. Keely was one of several Olympian and Paralympian contenders in this year’s Games supported by the University’s Performance Sport team.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “Each and every day, ordinary people go out and do extraordinary things for their communities. They represent the very best of the UK and that core value of service which I put at the centre of everything this government does. The New Year Honours List celebrates more of these unsung heroes, and I thank them for their incredible contribution.”
King George V created these honours during World War One to reward services to the war effort by civilians at home and service personnel in support positions. The ranks are Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE), and Member (MBE). They are now awarded for prominent national or regional roles and to those making distinguished or notable contributions in their own specific areas of activity.
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University alumni and affiliates:
·       Dr. Anthony Freeman
BSc(Hons) Mathematics 1979; PhD Mathematics 1982
Retired Head of Formulation for Solar System Exploration, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), NASA
CBE for UK/US Relations in Space and Earth Science
·       Dr. Sarah Lancashire
Hon LittD 2018
Actor: Coronation Street, Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax, Black Doves
CBE for Drama
·       Professor Christine Harrison
BSc(Hons) Genetics and Cell Biology 1975; PhD Oncology 1978
Academic – Professor of Childhood Cancer Cytogenetics at Newcastle University; Trustee of Blood Cancer UK
OBE for contributions to children with acute leukaemia
·       Professor Petra Oyston
BSc(Hons) Bacteriology and Virology 1987; PhD Cell and Structural Biology 1991
Fellow, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and Non-Executive Director, Zentraxa
OBE for contributions to Science and Defence
·       Professor Daniel Davis
BSc(Hons) Physics 1992
Head of Life Sciences and Professor of Immunology, Imperial College London
MBE for Science Communication
·       Mr. Francis Galvin
BA(Hons) Combined Studies 1978
Retired museum curator and former Chair of Manchester Historic Buildings Trust
MBE for contributions to Heritage
·       Mrs. Christine Lyness
Dip Guidance and Counselling in Education 1983
Former teacher and now governor at Ashton Sixth Form College
MBE for contributions to Education
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