A Kenyan lady had broken Oxford University’s 925-year record to become a full professor at the university.

Patricia Kingori has also become the youngest black professor at Oxford or Cambridge Universities in the UK.

Speaking after being awarded her promotion, Professor Kingori said she was thankful for the promotion and the people who inspired and supported her through the journey.

“To have my body of work recognised in this way is a great honour, and I am deeply grateful to the many people who have inspired and supported me so far,” Said Kingori.

Principal Somerville, Baroness Jan Royall who moved a vote of confidence in Kingori’s favour said lauded Kingori for her historic achievement.

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"Patricia has moved many mountains and shattered countless glass ceilings to secure this historic achievement. In the truest tradition of Somerville, she is a woman of firsts, a trailblazer. And yet, I have no doubt that where Patricia leads with such determination, implacable good humour and brilliance, others will follow,” Royall said.

The Kenya born trailblazer moved to Saint Kitts in the Caribbean, where she stayed until her teenage before moving to London.

Kingori was an undergraduate student at Royal Holloway, the University of London where she graduated with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Sociology.

The Sociologist worked as a research assistant at the same University focusing on her doctoral research on the ethical challenges experienced by frontline workers.

She also holds a PhD in Sociology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine which she secured after she was awarded a Wellcome Doctoral Studentship albeit after struggling with securing funding.

After completing her first post-doctoral position, Kingori was appointed to the faculty at the Ethox Centre.

She has served on the Global Health Bioethics Network’s board, Black Cultural Archives Development board, the Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities.

Professor Kingori is also part of the University of Oxford’s Central University Research Ethics Committee.

Kingori has also been an advisor to various organisations such as the World Health Organisation, Obama administration’s White House Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment in Africa Initiative and Save the Children.