Boxing champion Nathan Heaney, Councillor Abi Brown OBE, fighter pilot Commander Nathan Gray, and Chair of the Shelton Community Partnership Mohammed Ramzan will all be recognised alongside the graduating class of 2025.
Each will receive the Award of Honorary Doctor of the University at the University’s graduation ceremonies in July.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Martin Jones said: “It is a privilege to honour these exceptional individuals who represent the very best of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and beyond. Each of them has shown extraordinary dedication, resilience and impact in their fields – from championing community and education to leading in politics, sport and military service. They are powerful role models for our students and an inspiration to us all.”
Nathan Heaney was born and raised in Stoke-on-Trent, where he still lives. He has been a competitive boxer for more than two decades and recently created history by becoming British Middleweight Champion.
Nathan graduated from University of Staffordshire with a Sports Science degree and a Foundation Law degree with the intention of becoming a teacher. Although he taught for a time at Stafford College he made his boxing comeback as a professional seven years ago, earning himself the nickname “Hitman” for his hard-hitting style.
Nathan is a passionate advocate for honest conversations around mental health and has willingly shared his journey of failure, personal tragedy, resilience and finding the spirit to fight on.
The award of Honorary Doctor acknowledges Nathan as a sporting hero, a mental health champion and an ambassador for his home city and the county of Staffordshire.
Councillor Abi Brown OBE was first elected to Stoke-on-Trent City Council in 2010. Between 2015 and 2023 Abi served as deputy leader and then leader, leading numerous landmark projects that have transformed the face of Stoke-on-Trent.
Alongside a number of high-profile successes, bringing more than £100m of investment to the city, Abi’s leadership shone a spotlight on how place-based policy-making led by local leaders could influence across government.
Abi was awarded an OBE in the 2023 King’s New Years Honours for services to local government. She has championed key social issues, from improving local education to advocating for better health services. Her support for public welfare with initiatives such as the Fostering Friendly City campaign and ability to navigate political challenges whilst influencing national policymaking, has had a positive impact on the lives of Stoke-on-Trent residents.
The honorary degree celebrates Abi’s bold leadership and also recognises that as a woman leader in a traditionally male-dominated field, Abi serves as an inspiration to women pursuing careers in politics and public service.
Commander Nathan Gray was the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm’s Top Gun, with more than 30 years of experience as a fighter pilot and instructor, flying more than 140 combat missions.
Raised in Stoke-on-Trent, he became a test pilot for the cutting-edge F35 fighter and earned the coveted Royal Marines green beret during his military career. He is now the CEO of a world-leading aviation publisher and continues to design and test eVTOL and renewable wind energy aircraft and unmanned drones.
The honorary doctorate acknowledges Nathan as a hugely inspiring figure whose career reads like a fiction novel. Having survived a crash early in his career which aviation experts say was unsurvivable, he went on to become the Royal Navy’s top fighter pilot.
The award also acknowledges that he has now transitioned to industry, where he uses cutting-edge technology and AI to work with pilots and drones.
Mohammed Ramzan is being recognised for his unwavering dedication to serving the local community and his role as a community ambassador.
His dynamic leadership as chair of the Shelton Community Partnership has resulted in transformative initiatives that have improved the quality of life for countless individuals and families in Stoke-on-Trent.
The award also acknowledges Mohammed as a forward-thinking strategic leader in education, dedicated to driving transformational change and fostering a culture of excellence. As Vice Principal at St Helen’s College he leads on key initiatives that enhance institutional performance, improve student outcomes and embed a high-performance culture across the organisation.
He has consistently championed the importance of education as a catalyst for positive change, particularly in disadvantaged communities, through mentorship programs, educational workshops and initiatives promoting lifelong learning.
University of Staffordshire’s graduation ceremonies will take place at its Stoke-on-Trent campus, between Monday 14 and Tuesday 22 July.