Dr Maureen McKenna

Honorary Doctorate of the University (Hon. DUniv)

Graduation Ceremony: Saturday, 16 October, 2021 

Dr Maureen McKenna was awarded her honorary degree in recognition for services to education in Scotland and her commitment to improving the attainment of children and young people from deprived backgrounds.

Maureen started her teaching career in the former Grampian Region, where she became principal teacher of mathematics and then assistant headteacher in Kilsyth Academy. In 2000, she joined Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education, where she inspected a wide range of schools as well as education authorities and child protection.

She overseen a dramatic improvement in attainment in Glasgow schools with more young people than ever before achieving Highers and Advanced Higher qualifications – especially, of young people from socially disadvantaged families.  Furthermore, Maureen was instrumental in advocating the use of educational technology in schools. Glasgow purchased laptops for its primary and secondary learners even before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic and marking one of the largest investments in technology for schools in Europe.

She is on the Advisory Board of Career Ready UK and is a trustee of MCR Pathways as well as being the chair of Malawi Leaders of Learning a charity which supports education in the Blantyre area of Malawi. In 2015, Maureen received an OBE in the Queen's New Year Honours list for services to education in Glasgow and Malawi.