• L’myah Sherae, founder and director of Enact Equality, and Sharon Thompson, former deputy leader of Birmingham City Council received honorary doctorates
• Aston alumna L’myah was honoured for her significant contribution to racial equality and racial justice
• Sharon’s honorary doctorate recognises her track record across local government, housing, and the charitable sector.

Policy expert and race equality advocate L'myah Sherae and the former deputy leader of Birmingham City Council Sharon Thompson have received honorary doctorates during Aston University’s 2026 summer graduations.

L’myah, the founder and director of anti-racist organisation Enact Equality, was presented with a Doctorate of Law at a ceremony at Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on Monday 20 July, presided over by Aston University Chancellor Dr Jason Wouhra. The honour recognised her significant contribution to racial equality and racial justice.

Sharon, who also served as the first female deputy mayor of the West Midlands from 2024-2026, received a Doctorate of Business Administration from Aston University Chancellor Dr Jason Wouhra at a graduation ceremony on Friday 17 July. The honour recognised her track record across local government, housing, and the charitable sector.

Aston University BSc politics and sociology graduate L'myah is the founder and director of Enact Equality, a pioneering organisation leading an anti‑racist movement that brings together businesses, charities, public figures, and a cross‑party coalition of politicians. She also founded the All‑Party Parliamentary Group for Race Equality in Education, uniting MPs and peers to campaign for racial justice across the UK education system. Her advocacy has made her a regular media commentator on major news outlets.

L’myah completed a master’s at the University of Cambridge, where she received an award for academic excellence. She sits on the UK Government’s Race Equality Engagement Group, advising ministers on the national race equality strategy. Her influence has been widely recognised, including being named by Politics Home as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Westminster Politics, recognised by the United Nations MIPAD as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Most Influential People of African Descent, and awarded Outstanding Woman of the Year by Precious magazine.

L’myah said:

“Returning to Aston to receive an honorary doctorate was a wonderful experience. I chose Aston University for my undergraduate degree for a variety of reasons and my placement at the Houses of Parliament was one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made because it really helped me on the trajectory of the career I’m in today.”

Sharon was an elected councillor at Birmingham City Council for 12 years. During her time at the Council, she joined the cabinet where she served for eight years before becoming deputy leader. She was also served as deputy mayor for the West Midlands.

Sharon has been the political lead on more than £8bn worth of combined regeneration programmes and oversaw the delivery of more than 4,000 social homes through the Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust. Under her leadership, Birmingham secured the UK’s largest government-approved selective licensing scheme for landlords, covering more than 40,000 properties. She also served on the Kerslake Commission on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping, chaired by the late Lord Kerslake and has influenced national policy reform on exempt accommodation.

Sharon is also the founder of Tilt 360, a strategic advisory, consultancy and insights platform focused on place-based growth, regeneration, investment outcomes and economic mobility. She is a Fellow of both the Institute of Leadership and the Institute of Social Value and was recently awarded a Churchill Fellowship.

Sharon said:

“Receiving this honorary doctorate from Aston University is deeply personal. Having lived in Birmingham all my life, I have seen first-hand the difference institutions like Aston make to our city and the opportunities they create for people and communities. Throughout my public service career, it has been a privilege to work alongside Aston as one of Birmingham's key anchor institutions, united by a shared belief that education, partnership and innovation can transform lives.

“Coming from humble beginnings to serving in regional leadership, this recognition means more than I can put into words. It is also a real honour to be receiving it alongside L'myah, whom I have known throughout my political career and whose own contribution makes this occasion even more special.”

Professor Mike Caine, interim Vice-Chancellor of Aston University, said:

“L’myah and Sharon are tremendous role models for anyone in, or looking to get into, the fields of government policy and politics itself.

“That an Aston graduate such as L’myah has gone onto achieve such great things in the fields of politics and racial justice is a source of great pride to the University.

“Sharon has spent her career advocating tirelessly for the underprivileged and the voiceless in our region and has helped Birmingham make great strides in regeneration and inclusive growth.

“These honorary doctorates are richly deserved.”