Provost Professor Taraneh (Tara) Dean awarded CBE in King’s Birthday Honours
London South Bank University’s (LSBU) Provost, Professor Taraneh (Tara) Dean, has been awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her services to higher education in the King’s Birthday Honours.
Professor Dean was given the honour for her significant and lasting impact on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in UK higher education. She has complimented her support of sectoral diversity initiatives through her mentorship of more than 50 female academics throughout the course of her career.
Over a career spanning more than 35 years, she has combined academic leadership with a strong personal commitment to widening opportunity and driving meaningful change.
Before joining LSBU, Professor Dean held senior leadership roles across the sector, including Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the University of Brighton and Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Portsmouth. Alongside her executive leadership, she is a respected academic in the field of allergic disorders and has consistently championed the role of research and enterprise in driving both academic excellence and inclusive growth.
Since becoming Provost at LSBU in 2021, Professor Dean has placed inclusive practice at the centre of the University’s approach. Her leadership has helped improve representation and progression for women in academia, alongside introducing initiatives such as inclusive recruitment practices and targeted support for career development.
Alongside her work at LSBU, Professor Dean has also helped shape thinking and practice across the wider higher education sector through roles including the Research Excellence Framework (REF) Equality and Diversity Advisory Panel, Athena SWAN panel leadership and her work with Research England, helping to drive more inclusive and equitable research environments.
Professor Emma Bond, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange at the University of Suffolk, has worked closely with Professor Dean since their time collaborating in previous roles. She praised Professor Dean’s impact, describing her leadership as transformative and highlighting how she turns principles into lasting change across institutions.
She said: “Through our ongoing professional relationship, I have witnessed Professor Dean's unwavering commitment to creating environments where all individuals can thrive. Her approach to mentorship itself embodies EDI principles – she listens actively, values diverse perspectives, and creates space for authentic dialogue about challenging issues within higher education.”
Professor Bond also highlighted how Professor Dean’s international background has shaped her work. Born in Iran, she moved to the UK as a teenager to continue her education, an experience that has informed her long-standing advocacy for recognising the value of diverse perspectives and the contribution of immigrant communities to the UK’s higher education sector and knowledge economy.
Reflecting on the honour, Professor Dean said: “I am delighted and honoured to receive this award. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work alongside extraordinary colleagues and to support talented individuals as they progress. I hope this recognition highlights the importance of creating a more inclusive and supportive academic community for all.”