Professor Lynette Ryals, Director of Cranfield School of Management and Programme Director for MK:U, has been awarded an OBE, for services to Higher Education,  in the 2019 New Year’s Honours List.

Previously, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education at Cranfield University, Professor Ryals was appointed Director of Cranfield School of Management in August 2017. Alongside this role, she is also leading the programme to deliver a ‘new model’ university for Milton Keynes, known as MK:U.

Professor Sir Peter Gregson, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Cranfield University, said: “This honour is richly deserved. Lynette’s passion for higher education shines through everything she does and this is a well-merited tribute to her skill, drive and determination.

“We owe a great deal of gratitude for Lynette’s work in initiating our Mastership programme. Through Lynette’s leadership, the School of Management became the first business school to offer the Executive MBA via the apprenticeship levy. With her work at MK:U she is developing pioneering educational models that are reimagining how higher education is delivered in the 21st century.

“She is a fantastic colleague, widely respected by all at Cranfield, not only for her work with us but also for her work with the many community organisations she supports. She is one of Milton Keynes’ proudest ambassadors and a true champion of the city.”


About Cranfield University

Cranfield University is a specialist postgraduate university that is a global leader for education and transformational research in technology and management.