Ruth Silver
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Dame Dr. Ruth Muldoon Silver, DBE was created a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her "services to higher education" in 2006.
Born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, Dr. Silver is the Principal of Lewisham College. Alongside her work at Lewisham College, she has written and broadcast extensively on educational matters and is committed to inclusiveness, particularly in the inner city. Lewisham College has about 16,000 students and more than 600 staff. Ofsted released an inspection report for the college, praising its "outstanding" work.
An adviser to the Select Committee in the House of Commons and a member of the Skills Commission, Dame Ruth also sits on the Edge Foundation, which is devoted to raising the status of vocational learning; the Horse's Mouth, an online peer-mentoring enterprise; and the Trinity Laban Conservatoire.
Dame Ruth has recently been appointed Chief Assessor for the Centre of Excellence Qualifying Programme for Principals. Her employment has spanned child guidance, teaching and inspection, and in service at the Department for Education and Skills, developing national education policy on personal development in young people. She is a member of the London Skills and Employment Board.
Ms. Silver said the recognition was "fabulous", but getting an outstanding report from the education watchdog Ofsted was "the real honour".
[edit] Quote re damehood
- I am unusually lost of words! It is thrilling news for me and the college and it will take some time to sink in ... [I] love this college and it feels strange to receive this tremendous honour when the real honour is in doing the job.
