Professor Ijeoma Uchegbu starts as Wolfson’s seventh President

“Wolfson is a forward-looking college with an excellent reputation,” says Ijeoma. “I really was drawn to the fact that this was a College that was set up to admit and educate mature students. As an academic scientist who has taken a non-traditional route to academia – I was a mature student myself – my experiences are very well-matched to that of the typical Wolfson College student. Lifelong learning is something that all of us should truly value. Our economy needs us to be lifelong learners and learning something new has always excited me. It was an easy decision for me to come to Wolfson, and I am really pleased that the Governing Body agreed and elected me to the position of President.”

Ijeoma, known for her ground-breaking work in nanoparticle drug delivery, was most recently Professor of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience at University College London. Her pioneering work on the mechanisms of drug transport have led to the development of new treatments which promise to transform pain relief, including the enkephalin pain medicine candidate (Envelta™), designed to address the opioid crisis.

“So far, I have had a really great introduction to all things Wolfson. One thing that I have thoroughly enjoyed is meeting our new students at matriculation events. I hope to meet other students in due course and can only say that I have been blown away by the students that I have had the pleasure of meeting. Our students are incredibly motivated and very keen to learn. We are fortunate that they have chosen Wolfson College as their Cambridge College.”

Born in London, Ijeoma moved to Nigeria in her teens, settling in the Imo state’s capital city of Owerri. She graduated from the University of Benin in 1981 with a degree in Pharmacy, continuing her studies with a Masters from the University of Lagos, and a PhD from University College London’s School of Pharmacy. Her work has won her numerous awards, fellowships and accolades, and she holds positions on several academic boards and councils including the Wellcome Trust, the Academy of Medical Sciences and is an honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. 

Ijeoma has also played a leading role during her time at UCL as Pro Vice Provost for Africa and the Middle East in forging new research partnerships in those regions and as UCL’s Provost’s Envoy for Race Equality, steering the organisation’s race equality agenda. In 2019, she received an honorary degree from Lincoln University and in 2024, she received an honorary degree from the University of West London. Ijeoma was listed in Who’s Who 2024, and in November she will receive an honorary degree from Sheffield Hallam University. 

 “I am passionate about creating the best student experience possible,” says Ijeoma. “Studying at a higher education establishment should be exciting and fun, as well as rewarding. I am keen to get involved in bringing the Wolfson Masterplan to fruition and to working with our Fellows to create the optimum atmosphere in the College within which to train our students for the leadership roles that will be expected of them.”  

Photograph by Lloyd Mann