The Director of Resources and Finance at the Office for Students (OfS), Nolan Smith, has been awarded an OBE for services to higher education.
This was announced in King Charles’ first new year’s honours list and Smith explained that he was “truly delighted” to be made an Order of the British Empire.
Nolan played a key role in setting up the OfS as a new regulator and is responsible for the corporate services such as legal, finance, IT, and human resources.
The OfS is an independent public body that reports to Parliament through the Department for Education. It was established by the Higher Education and Research Act 2017, which sets out its powers and duties.
‘He is an excellent and supportive colleague’
Discussing his OBE, Office for Students director Smith said: “I have been very fortunate to have worked with some really talented and dedicated colleagues without whom I wouldn’t have received this honour.”
He explained that working with universities and colleges to make sure that students succeed in higher education is a “very rewarding experience.”
Meanwhile, chief executive of the OfS Susan Lapworth said: “We are so pleased that Nolan has received this much deserved honour. Nolan has made an enormous contribution to the higher education sector, in his roles at the OfS and previously HEFCE.”
She called Nolan a “recognised expert in the financial sustainability of universities,” and said that he is respected by OfS colleagues as well as those across the sector.
“He is an excellent and supportive colleague and we are very happy that his contributions have been recognised in this way,” Lapworth said. “We are delighted to celebrate this award with him.”
Office for Students former exec. receives honour
Another OfS alum received honours from King Charles on new year’s. Nicola Dandridge, former Chief Executive of the independent public body, has been awarded a Damehood for services to higher education.
Dandridge is now a Professor of Practice in Higher Education Policy at the University of Bristol.
When talking about the honour she said: “I am enormously proud to be awarded this honour for my role at the Office for Students. It reflects the importance of the work that the Office for Students is doing to promote and protect the interests of students.”
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