New pictures fee celebrates Exeter’s 100 Black Women Professors Now Trailblazer Cohort

A brand new portrait fee celebrating six lecturers who have been a part of the University of Exeter’s first cohort of the 100 Black Women Professors NOW programme has gone on everlasting show throughout the Devon and Cornwall campuses. 

The portraits, by acclaimed photographer Eileen Perrier, recognise the work of lecturers who took half within the 12-month accelerator and alter programme in 2023, which goals to extend the illustration of Black ladies in senior educational roles throughout UK increased training whereas supporting wider cultural change inside universities. 

The pictures, commissioned by the University’s Arts and Culture group, options particular person portraits of Dr Liliane Mukaremera, Dr Suzanne Azer, Dr Safi Darden and Dr Iveren Winifred Nyinoh from the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, along with Colleen Smith and Dr Melody Kuziwa Jombe from the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy. A big group portrait brings the six ladies collectively. 

The particular person portraits at the moment are on everlasting show on the Library Mezzanine at the Streatham Campus alongside the group portrait. Group portraits are additionally put in throughout the University’s different campuses, with shows in each the libraries at Penryn and St Luke’s campuses, and on the Knowledge Spa café on the Truro Campus, guaranteeing the fee might be skilled by workers, college students and guests throughout Devon and Cornwall. 

Working over 4 days in January 2026, Perrier photographed every participant in areas throughout the Streatham Campus chosen to replicate their analysis, educational follow and private tales. Each participant additionally chosen an object of non-public or skilled significance, which kinds a part of the completed portrait compositions, creating layered and intimate representations of their identities and work. 

Eileen Perrier stated, “I’m delighted to have been invited to create this commission for Arts and Culture. Photographing these six remarkable women has been a real privilege. It has been especially meaningful to know that the portraits will become part of the University of Exeter Art Collection, where I hope they will continue to inspire future generations.”

The portraits have a good time each particular person excellence and collective achievement, offering seen function fashions for present and future generations of scholars whereas recognising the contribution Black ladies make to analysis, educating and management throughout increased training. 

Dr Iveren Winifred Nyinoh stated, “These portraits are about creating visibility that inspires possibility. I hope they encourage someone to feel that they belong, to pursue an academic career, or to imagine themselves in spaces they may never have believed were open to them. If even one young person walks past these portraits and thinks, ‘There is a place for me here,’ then this commission will have achieved something truly lasting. To me, that is its greatest significance. My sincere thanks to Eileen Perrier, Sarah Campbell and the Arts and Culture team for their support, guidance, and professionalism throughout the process. It has been a privilege to be part of this commission.” 

Colleen Smith added, “I felt so privileged to be asked to participate in this commission to celebrate the achievements of my five fellow female colleagues but also the impact that we are making across the University and beyond. More importantly making ourselves visible as role models for current and future generations of students and academics from under-represented backgrounds will see that they too belong in academia and can achieve their own aspirations. My thanks to both Sarah Campbell and the Arts and Culture team for inviting me to participate and of course Eileen Perrier for her great camera eye and patience.” 

As a part of the broader fee, Perrier has additionally delivered pictures workshops with native faculty pupils via B-HUGs (Black Heritage University Group, based by Drs. Darden and Jombe), and Exeter College, offering artistic alternatives for younger individuals throughout the area. 

Dr Darden stated “It was a phenomenal experience to work with Eileen during the B-HUGs workshops. She joined, alongside this cohort of women, as a ‘Jegna’ who is an individual dedicated to heritage engagement and the defence, nurturing and development of young people. We work hard to ensure that sessions are reciprocal in learning and centre the voice and will of young people, something that Eileen achieved beautifully. We hope that we can continue to work with her as part of the B-HUGs initiative in the future.” 

Alongside celebrating the achievements of the six lecturers, the fee additionally contributes to rising the illustration of Black artists throughout the University of Exeter Fine Art Collection and the portraits at the moment are a part of the everlasting assortment.  

Sarah Campbell, Associate Director for Arts and Culture, University of Exeter stated, “I am very grateful to all of the women who have participated in this commission. It has been such a privilege to welcome Eileen Perrier to Exeter and follow her creative process over these many months, I have been hugely inspired by her practice. I would also like to thank the six colleagues who agreed to be photographed, for making time in their very busy calendars and share their stories so generously. The final portraits are stunning, and I am thrilled to be adding these works to the university’s Fine Art Collection, for current and future generations of staff and students to take inspiration for their own career pathways.” 

You can discover out extra in regards to the fee here.