List of University of Exeter people

This is a list of University of Exeter people, including office holders, current and former academics, and alumni of the University of Exeter.

In post-nominals, the University of Exeter is abbreviated as Exon. (from the Latin Exoniensis), and is the suffix given to honorary and academic degrees from the university.

Chancellors



 * Mary Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, GCVO, CBE (1955–1972)
 * Derick Heathcoat-Amory, 1st Viscount Amory of Tiverton, KG, PC, GCMG, TD, DL (1972–1981)
 * Sir Rex Richards, FRS, FRSC (1982–1998)
 * Robert Alexander, Baron Alexander of Weedon, QC, FRSA (1998–2005)
 * Floella Benjamin, Baroness Benjamin, OBE (2006–2016)
 * Paul Myners, Baron Myners, CBE (2016–2021)
 * Sir Michael Barber, (2022-)

Vice-Chancellors
Principals of the University College of the South West of England


 * Hector Hetherington (1920-1924)
 * Walter Hamilton Moberly (1925–1926)
 * John Murray (1926–1951)
 * Sir Thomas Taylor (1952–1953)
 * Sir James Cook (1954–1955); final Principal, first Vice-Chancellor

Vice-Chancellors of the University of Exeter


 * Sir James Cook (1955–1966); former Principal, first Vice-Chancellor,
 * Sir John Llewellyn (1966–1972)
 * Harry Kay (1973–1984)
 * Sir David Harrison (1984–1994)
 * Sir Geoffrey Holland (1994–2002)
 * Sir Steve Smith (2002–2020)
 * Professor Lisa Roberts (2020-)

Notable academics

 * Richard Acland, Education
 * John Adair, Management (Leadership)
 * Omar Ashour, Middle East Studies
 * Manuel Barange, Biosciences
 * Barry Barnes, Sociology
 * Jeremy Black, History
 * Barbara Borg, Classical Archaeology
 * Adam Curle, Psychology and Education
 * Uri Davis, Middle East Studies
 * John Dupré, Philosophy
 * John Endler, Animal Behaviour
 * Edzard Ernst, Complementary Medicine
 * Timothy Gorringe, Theology
 * Alex Haslam, Psychology
 * Philip Hensher, Creative Writing
 * Ghada Karmi, Middle East Studies
 * Paul Kline, Psychology
 * William Lewis, Chemistry
 * Alastair Logan, Theology
 * Linda Long, Biochemistry
 * Richard Lynn, Psychology
 * Peter Cox (climatologist), Climatology
 * Colin MacCabe, Film Studies
 * Moelwyn Merchant, English
 * Gerd Nonneman, Middle East Studies
 * Richard Overy, History
 * Ilan Pappe, Middle East Studies
 * Philip Payton, Cornish Studies
 * David Rees, Pure Mathematics
 * Nicholas Rodger, History
 * Roy Sambles, Physics
 * Richard Seaford, Classics
 * Dikran Tahta, Mathematics educator
 * Nick Talbot, FRS, Molecular genetics
 * Andrew Thorpe, History
 * Malcolm Todd, History
 * Sir John Tooke, Medicine
 * Garry Tregidga, History
 * Paul Webley, Psychology
 * Canon Vernon White, Theology (Lecturer and Lazenby Chaplain)
 * Michael Winter, Politics
 * Ted Wragg, Education
 * Tim Lenton, Climatology

Academics

 * Sir Michael Berry - mathematical physicist, known for the Berry Phase and recipient of the Ig Nobel Prize for using magnets to levitate a frog
 * Iwona Blazwick - OBE, art critic and lecturer
 * Stephen J. Ceci - cognitive psychologist - PhD Psychology (1978)
 * Imogen Coe - biochemist and Dean of Toronto Metropolitan University
 * Rose Ferraby - archaeologist and artist
 * Andrew D. Hamilton - former vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford, current president of New York University
 * David Maguire - Vice-Chancellor of the University of East Anglia
 * Sami Moubayed - historian and writer
 * Rachel Owen - photographer, printmaker and lecturer on medieval Italian literature
 * Raymond St. Leger - mycologist, entomologist and molecular biologist
 * Sir William Wakeham - former vice-chancellor of Southampton University
 * Namira Nahouza - French author, academic researcher, university lecturer, teacher of Arabic and religious studies, and research fellow at Cambridge Muslim College
 * Max Baker-Hytch - analytic philosopher and fellow of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.

Actors and directors

 * Samantha Baines - actress and comedian
 * Phil Cameron - theatre producer
 * Adam Campbell - actor
 * Steven Culp - actor
 * Stephen Dillane - actor
 * Michael Garner - actor
 * Nick Hendrix - actor
 * Vanessa Kirby - actress
 * Jeremy Meadow - theatre director/producer
 * Nicholas Pegg - actor/director
 * Julian Richings - actor
 * Andrew Havill - actor
 * Christopher Smith - American actor and improviser
 * Elaine Tan - actress

Business people

 * George Hobart-Hampden, 10th Earl of Buckinghamshire - former HSBC executive
 * Rachel Burnett - IT lawyer, author and president of the British Computer Society
 * Phil Cameron - owner of No.1 Traveller


 * Dennis Gillings - CBE, founder of the Fortune 500 company Quintiles
 * Sam E. Jonah - president of AngloGold Ashanti
 * Toki Mabogunje founder, Toki Mabogunje & Co and the 3rd female president Lagos Chamber of Commerce (LCCI)
 * Henry Staunton - media mogul
 * Neil Woodford - founder and CEO, Woodford Investment Management
 * Sarah Turvill, retired chairman of Willis International

Entertainers and journalists

 * Toby Amies - TV presenter, film-maker
 * Katy Ashworth - children's TV chef
 * Emma B - Heart 106.2 Drivetime presenter
 * Steve Backshall - BBC television presenter
 * Nick Baker - wildlife TV expert
 * William Bemister - Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker and journalist
 * Raef Bjayou - former contestant on BBC's The Apprentice
 * Alison Booker - radio DJ
 * John Crace - Guardian features writer
 * Tom Deacon - comedian and Radio 1 DJ
 * Tim Footman - journalist and author
 * Daphne Fowler - game show champion, winner of Fifteen to One, Going for Gold, and Brain of Britain
 * Frank Gardner - BBC security correspondent
 * Alex George - contestant on season 4 of Love Island UK
 * Rhod Gilbert - comedian
 * Frank Gillard - broadcaster and BBC executive
 * Simon Greenberg - Chelsea FC's Director of Communications
 * Lloyd Griffith - comedian, actor and classical singer
 * Isabel Hardman - assistant editor of The Spectator
 * Stefano Hatfield - former editor of the i
 * Lindsey Hilsum - Channel 4 journalist and international editor
 * Katie Hopkins - presenter and former contestant on BBC's The Apprentice
 * Paul Jackson - television producer
 * Jon Kay - television presenter and journalist
 * Raph Korine - Runner-up, Big Brother UK 2017
 * Ted Kravitz - Formula 1 commentator
 * Mark Labbett - Professional quizzer and TV personality on The Chase
 * Isobel Lang - weather presenter on Sky News
 * Tim Montgomerie - editor of ConservativeHome
 * Clemmie Moodie - Daily Mirror associate features editor
 * James Pearce - journalist and presenter for BBC Sport
 * Mark Power - journalist and photographer
 * Tim Taylor - creator and producer of Channel 4's series Time Team
 * Rob Walker - British sports commentator, television presenter and freelance reporter
 * Matthew Wright - TV presenter of The Wright Stuff

Judges, lawyers and law enforcement

 * Patrick Kwateng Acheampong - Inspector General of Police of the Ghana Police Service - MA Police Studies and Criminal Justice (1990)
 * Steve Edge (lawyer) - Partner at Slaughter and May
 * Sir Patrick Elias - Lord Justice of Appeal - LLB (1969)
 * Sir John Goldring - Lord Justice of Appeal, and member of the Judicial Appointments Commission
 * Tito Karnavian - Current Indonesian National Police chief - MA Police Studies (1993)
 * Sir Robert Michael Owen - High Court Judge
 * Fiona Shackleton - high-profile divorce lawyer
 * Ambiga Sreenevasan - former president of the Malaysian Bar Council and human rights activist
 * David Syed - Head of Sovereign Practice at Dentons Europe
 * Jeremy Wright - Attorney General for England and Wales
 * George L. Savvides - Attorney General of the Republic of Cyprus

Military personnel

 * Admiral Sir Jonathon Band GCB, ADC, formerly the First Sea Lord chief of the Naval Staff (head of the Royal Navy)
 * General Sir Patrick Sanders, Chief of the General Staff.
 * Lieutenant Colonel Lucy Giles, first female College Commander at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst commanding New College.
 * Major General Matthew Holmes, former Commandant General Royal Marines.

Musicians

 * Felix Buxton of Basement Jaxx
 * Anthony Drewe - lyricist
 * Matthew Herbert - electronic musician
 * Hannah Kendall - composer
 * Jackie Oates - folk star and multiple BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards winner
 * Simon Shackleton - electronic musician
 * George Stiles - composer
 * Thom Yorke - singer Radiohead
 * Will Young - singer and actor
 * Call Me Loop - singer and songwriter
 * Principal Edwards Magic Theatre - performance artists of the 1960s/70s
 * Members of Semi-Toned - all-male A cappella group, winner of Gareth Malone's BBC 2 series The Choir: Gareth's Best in Britain

Politicians

 * Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah Adjei - Member of the Ghanaian Parliament and Deputy Minister of Information
 * Nickie Aiken - Conservative MP
 * Tonia Antoniazzi - Labour MP
 * Tengku Zafrul Aziz - Malaysian Minister of Finance
 * Adrian Bailey - Labour MP
 * James Brokenshire - Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
 * David Burrowes - Conservative MP
 * Esra Limbacher - Member of the German federal Parliament Bundestag
 * Martin Cauchon - former Minister of Justice in Canada


 * Derek Clark - UKIP MEP
 * Feryal Clark - Labour MP
 * Major James Coldwell - former MP and leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation party in Canada.
 * Mark Drakeford - First Minister of Wales
 * Michael Frendo - Foreign Minister of Malta
 * Zewde Gebre-Sellassie - former Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Minister of Foreign Affairs
 * Carl Barrington Greenidge - Former Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guyana
 * Kate Griffiths - Conservative MP
 * Abdullah Gül - former President of Turkey (2007–14)
 * Ameenah Gurib - President of Mauritius
 * Vilmundur Gylfason - former Icelandic politician, historian and poet
 * Robert Halfon - Conservative MP and Deputy Chairperson
 * Philip Ian Hope - Labour MP and vocational education minister
 * Moussa Ibrahim - spokesman for Gaddafi during the 2011 Libyan civil war
 * Bernadette Jagger - Member of the Namibian Parliament and Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism
 * Sajid Javid - Former Chancellor of the Exchequer (2019–2020)
 * Sigrid Kaag - Dutch politician and Minister
 * Luay al-Khatteeb - Former Minister of Electricity of Iraq
 * Jonathan Kwesi Lamptey - Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Ghana
 * Mark Lancaster - Conservative MP
 * Andrew Lansley - Former MP and Former Secretary of State for Health
 * Lau Kong Wah - Secretary for Home Affairs of Hong Kong.
 * Caroline Lucas - MP and former Co-Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales
 * Gabriel Makhlouf - Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland and Former Secretary to the New Zealand Treasury
 * Anthony Mangnall - Member of UK Parliament
 * Eliud Mathu - First African member of the Legislative Council of Kenya
 * Linah Mohohlo - Governor of the Bank of Botswana
 * Hind Abdul Rahman al-Muftah - Member of the Qatari Consultative Assembly
 * Prem Nababsing - Former Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius
 * Jonny Oates - Chief of Staff to the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg
 * Pieter Omtzigt - Member of the Dutch House of Representatives
 * Park Jae-kyu - former Unification Minister and National Security Council Chairman of South Korea
 * Roy Perry - Conservative Politician and former MEP
 * Álvaro Santos Pereira - Former Minister of Economy, Labour, Transport, Public Works and Communications of Portugal
 * Luke Pollard - Labour MP
 * George L. Savvides - former Minister of Justice and Public Order of the Republic of Cyprus
 * Abubakar Boniface Siddique - Member of the Ghanaian Parliament and Minister of State
 * Mehmet Simsek - Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey, Minister of Finance (2009–2015)
 * Andy Slaughter - Labour MP
 * Iain Stewart - Conservative MP for Milton Keynes South
 * Abdullah Omran Taryam - First UAE Minister of Justice and Minister of Education, and founder of the newspapers Al Khaleej and Gulf Today
 * Robin Teverson - Liberal Democrat MEP and Peer
 * Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur - 1st president of Somaliland (1991-1993)
 * Jeremy Wright - Attorney General
 * Derek Wyatt - Labour MP
 * Ahmed Zaki Yamani - former Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources in Saudi Arabia
 * Yip Hon Weng - Member of the Parliament of Singapore
 * Óscar Iván Zuluaga - nominee for President of Colombia in the 2014 election

Religion

 * Metropolitan Seraphim of Glastonbury - head of the British Orthodox Church
 * James Stuart Jones - Bishop of Liverpool - Theology (1970)
 * Peter Smith - Archbishop-emeritus of Southwark, Vice-President of the Bishops Conference of England and Wales
 * Sadiq Al-Ghariani - Grand Mufti of Libya
 * Andrew Williams - bishop of the Anglican Diocese in New England

Royalty



 * Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi - ruler of Sharjah - PhD History (1985)
 * Infanta Elena of Spain - eldest daughter of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía - MA Sociology and Education - (1990)
 * Peter Phillips - eldest grandson and first grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh - Sport Science (2000)
 * Zara Phillips - eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II - Physiotherapy

Sports people

 * Tom Abell - Somerset cricketer
 * Mark Bamford - former cricketer
 * Andy Beattie - England rugby player
 * Richard Capstick - Exeter Chiefs rugby player
 * Ben Collins, Formula 3 racing driver, who appeared in Top Gear as the Stig
 * Richard Dawson - Yorkshire and England cricketer
 * Paul Downton - former England cricketer
 * Richard Ellison - former Kent and England cricketer
 * Immanuel Feyi-Waboso - Exeter Chiefs and England national team rugby player
 * Richard Hill - former England rugby captain
 * Lasha Jaiani - Georgian national team rugby player
 * Dafydd Jenkins - Exeter Chiefs rugby player and Wales national team captain
 * Pete Laverick - Exeter Chiefs rugby player
 * Tom Lawday - Harlequins rugby player
 * Jack Maunder - Exeter Chiefs rugby player
 * Sam Maunder - Exeter Chiefs rugby player
 * John Scott - former England national team rugby player
 * Henry Slade - Exeter Chiefs and England national team rugby player
 * Sam Skinner - Exeter Chiefs and Scotland national team rugby player
 * Samantha Smith - tennis player and commentator
 * David Sole - former Scottish rugby captain
 * Jeff Squire - former Lions and Wales national team rugby player
 * Tom Stayt - cricketer
 * Arul Suppiah - Malaysia and Somerset cricketer
 * Christ Tshiunza - Exeter Chiefs and Wales national team rugby player
 * Gerald Trump - cricketer and schoolteacher
 * Ross Vintcent - Exeter Chiefs and Italian national team rugby player
 * Matthew Wheeler - former Northamptonshire cricketer

Writers and artists

 * Nina Allan - author of speculative fiction and winner of the Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire for Best Foreign Novel in 2014
 * Steve Bell - cartoonist (PGCE 1975, St Luke's)
 * Alice Birch - playwright and screenwriter
 * Robert Bolt - Oscar and BAFTA-winning playwright and screenwriter
 * Nick Burbridge - author of poetry, plays, novels and songs; founder of folk-rock band McDermott's Two Hours
 * Stanley Donwood (aka Dan Rickwood) - artist and writer
 * Jon Edgar - sculptor
 * David Eldridge - playwright
 * Milly Johnson - author
 * Santa Montefiore - author
 * Abi Morgan - screenwriter
 * Ian Mortimer - historian and historical biographer
 * Roger Nash - philosopher and poet
 * Suniti Namjoshi - writer
 * John O'Farrell - author
 * Primrose Pitman - artist
 * Mark Power - photographer
 * J. K. Rowling - author of the Harry Potter books - BA French and Classics
 * Robert Shearman - playwright, short story writer and screenwriter (including Doctor Who episode Dalek (2005))
 * Robert Sloman - playwright and writer for Doctor Who in the 1970s
 * Carol Shields - author and Pulitzer Prize winner
 * Zoë Skoulding - poet
 * Lady Teresa Waugh - novelist
 * William John Seward Webber sculptor, attended Exeter School of Art

Others

 * Belabbes Benkredda - Algerian-German social innovator, founder of The Munathara Initiative, and 2013 NDI Democracy Award recipient
 * Laurie Brokenshire - Commodore and puzzle specialist
 * Laury Haytayan - MENA officer in the Natural Resource Charter framework, and civil activist in Lebanon
 * Dame Suzi Leather - Chairwoman of the Charity Commission
 * Catherine Nettleton CMG OBE - Senior British diplomat
 * Tuppy Owens - sexuality campaigner

Fictional alumni

 * Debbie Aldridge - character in radio soap opera The Archers, played by Tamsin Greig