A home-grown Oscar-winning director leads the cast of notable achievers set to be honoured by the University of Ulster this year.
Belfast movie maker Terry George, whose short film The Shore won the Academy Award last year, will receive an honorary doctorate from the institution.
Award-winning journalists Fergal Keane and Simon Kelner, Northern Ireland DJ David Holmes and US ambassador Melanne Verveer will also have degrees conferred on them.
Ms Verveer was Hillary Clinton’s chief of staff when she was US first lady and president Barack Obama later appointed her ambassador at large for global women’s issues.
BBC journalist Keane will receive the honorary degree of doctor of letters (DLitt) in recognition of his work as a writer and broadcaster.
Kelner, a former editor and editor-in-chief of The Independent and The Independent On Sunday newspapers, will receive the same degree for distinguished services to journalism.
Holmes, who is to be made a doctor of letters (DLitt) in recognition of his work as a DJ and producer, came to prominence in the 1990s for his innovative mixing and has subsequently branched into movie soundtracks.
Ms Verveer, who delivered a lecture at the university’s Belfast campus last year on the role of women in peace building in Northern Ireland and around the globe, will receive the honorary degree of doctor of laws (LLD).
She is a founder member and chairwoman of the Washington-based, non-profit, non-governmental organisation Vital Voices, which has promoted increased participation by women in politics, economic empowerment and human rights in Northern Ireland, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia.
Other recipients of honorary UU degrees this summer include the chairwoman of the American Ireland Funds, Loretta Brennan Glucksman, US-based peace campaigner Sally Milbury-Steen and the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Ireland, Susan Denham.
The list was announced following the weekend conferment of a honorary degree on actor Sir Ian McKellen at the university’s Magee campus.
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