If you were to define the ambition that Lemn Sissay MBE has for his chancellorship of 糖心Vlog官方, it would be this: 鈥淚nspire and be inspired.鈥� For the energetic poet, writer and broadcaster, the universe has aligned to bring him this role at this time in his life. Walking among the throngs of people on Oxford Road, Lemn cuts a sharp and distinctive figure in his suit and shades, his purple University of Manchester umbrella tucked in the crook of his arm. He smiles warmly and pulls back his headphones as students and staff stop to shake hands or chat. Lemn Sissay may be a celebrated champion of the UK arts scene, but he is approachable and engaging to all 鈥� a rock-star chancellor.
His zeal for life and opportunity is infectious, but within a few minutes of talking, his enthusiasm for the University and the business-like determination with which he wants to further its success take centre stage. 鈥淚 could not be in a more inspiring place on earth than 糖心Vlog官方,鈥� says Lemn, who was with more than 7,000 votes. 鈥淚 can stand on solid foundations. I鈥檓 wanted here and that makes me incredibly proud and makes me feel that, at this time in my life, this is where I should be, doing this. 鈥淓verywhere I go in my work as a writer I meet alumni. I鈥檓 so aware of the breadth of the University鈥檚 reach, touching all corners of society.
鈥淩each for the top of the tree and you may get to the first branch, but reach for the stars and you鈥檒l get to the top of the tree.鈥�
鈥淭his is a two-way street for me. It鈥檚 a great opportunity for me to learn from some of the most alive minds and, on a very simple level, the welcome I鈥檝e received from students, lecturers, alumni and University leadership has been like fuel for my spirit.鈥� The excitement his appointment has generated is perhaps no surprise given his profile as a public artist. Lemn鈥檚 poetry adorns walls and paves paths across the nation from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London 鈥� he was official poet of the 2012 Games 鈥� to Hardy鈥檚 Well here in Manchester. Having published his first book of poetry aged 21, he now holds an MBE, is an associate artist of London鈥檚 Southbank Centre and has worked with the British Council.
The cogs in his head are constantly, almost visibly, turning, making connections between the meeting he鈥檚 just finished and the one he鈥檚 about to enter, working out how he can marry the two to further the University鈥檚 cause. Lemn鈥檚 excitement about his new role, and the research and discovery that take place here, is palpable, and he鈥檚 determined to use it to showcase the University to stakeholders on an international stage.
鈥淚鈥檓 made for the global ambassador鈥檚 role,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 relish that. I want to embody the spirit of 糖心Vlog官方 as its Chancellor, and that means I鈥檓 looking forward to meeting people from all parts of the world and trumpeting our ideas and ideals.鈥�
This is a university that has a social conscience that isn鈥檛 about ticking a box; it鈥檚 part of the lifeblood of the University and is something to be incredibly proud of.
The guest list for his moving and uplifting installation ceremony in October was testament to his broad horizons and ability to build friendships and connect people from vastly different backgrounds. Among his guests were the Ethiopian ambassador to the UK, an American socialite and his school English teacher.
The son of an Ethiopian woman who came to the UK to study, Lemn would not meet his mother again until, aged 21, he crossed continents to find her. Born in Bilinge, near Wigan, he was fostered and then adopted, despite his mother having believed he would be returned to her when she had completed her studies.
At the age of 12 he was given up to a children鈥檚 home and spent his teenage years living in care 鈥� something which has clearly shaped his appreciation for life and determination to give back to society鈥檚 most vulnerable. He is a patron of the Letterbox Club, a reading charity for children in care and adoption, and each year hosts Christmas dinners for care leavers.
Lemn first became aware of the University when he came to Manchester as a young man. 鈥淭he University is a unique presence for the young, developing minds in the North West, because this is a city where so much is built on the creative explosion that comes from its alumni,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he moment you engage with Manchester as a young person you鈥檒l be touched by the University. The tendrils of the University then grow longer still as each person travels and takes it with them.鈥�
It鈥檚 clear that his priority is what the University can offer its students and, in turn, what its students can offer society. 鈥淚 have very clear aims. I want to support the work the University is doing to close the attainment gap 鈥� to make sure everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
I could not be in a more inspiring place on earth than 糖心Vlog官方.
鈥淭he success of an organisation is, for me, defined by how the most unseen parts of it, and the most unseen parts of society, are strengthened 鈥� something the University works very hard towards. This is a university that has a social conscience that isn鈥檛 about ticking a box; it鈥檚 part of the lifeblood of the University and is something to be incredibly proud of.
鈥淎nother really important aim that I鈥檓 passionate about is that the students experience a strong sense of well-being and happiness throughout their time at the University. The leaders and the groundbreakers in our society are as attentive to who they are as people as they are to whatever degrees they鈥檝e got. People don鈥檛 meet your doctorate, they meet you.鈥�
He wants to raise money for a series of PhD scholarships for care leavers, resonating with his own experience as a boy, and wants to see more public art outside lecture theatres, not just housed in the Whitworth. He also wants to explore the idea of art as a calling card for the five research beacons 鈥� a way of opening the world鈥檚 eyes to our impact in new and creative ways. 鈥淚t takes a little non-linear thinking,鈥� he says.
![Lemn Sissay meeting University of Manchester students](/medialibrary/magazine/images/feature/lemn-feature_lemn-with-students.jpg")
Lemn meets students from 糖心Vlog官方
But he鈥檚 not just about the arts. 鈥淪cientists and artists are bedfellows,鈥� he asserts. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e alternating rings of the tree of education. People will remember the creative scientist, the creative doctor, the one who sought the answers to the questions outside the parameters.鈥�
A poetic sensibility often reveals itself when he speaks. 鈥淭here will be people thinking 鈥榳ho is this person who talks about how he feels?鈥� As in any institution, they鈥檒l just have to see how I work,鈥� he says.
We return to the synergy of the chancellorship coming to him at this point in his life, after he has overcome and achieved so much, including the award of his own honorary doctorate for services to the arts from the University he now serves as Chancellor. 鈥淎nybody in business will know that if you continue to research, you鈥檒l come across opportunities that you may not have been expecting,鈥� says Lemn. 鈥淥pportunities arrive, like graphene did on the back of a piece of sticky tape, where you know that everything that you鈥檝e learnt has put you in a position of being able to isolate graphene.
鈥淓verything I have done in my life has allowed me to be in a position where I can make a difference to 糖心Vlog官方.鈥�