ESSEX University’s longest-serving member of staff has received an Honorary Fellowship after contributing to university life for nearly 60 years.

Prof Joan Busfield, who lives in Colchester, joined the university in 1965, just a year after it opened, and is retiring this summer after a distinguished research career as a sociologist.

Prof Busfield said: “It is a great honour to receive this award from the university.

“It has been a privilege and pleasure to work at the University of Essex for so many years, to experience so many exciting events, to see so many changes, and in particular to get to know so many supportive colleagues and friends across the university. Thank you very much indeed.”

Initially training as a clinical psychologist at the Tavistock Clinic, she joined the fledgling Department of Sociology as a research assistant in 1965 and was appointed as an assistant lecturer in 1968.

She then completed a Masters and PhD at Essex, and built a reputation for outstanding scholarship, publishing important works in psychiatry and mental illness, including on gender and class, before more recently moving on to influential research in medicine, healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry.

From 2003 to 2005 Prof Busfield was resident of the British Sociological Association, and she was also a co-editor of the influential journal Sociology.

Within the university, she was the department’s first female professor in 1992, and then became the university’s first female pro-vice-chancellor.

Professor Busfield was also head of department, led the Graduate School for six years, and served regularly on Senate – the university’s supreme academic authority - and Council – the university’s governing body.

She also helped supervise more than 35 PhD students to completion, nurturing numerous careers.

Prof Linsey McGoey, head of the Department of Sociology and Criminology, said: “‘Joan is known for being bold in speaking truth to power, as well as caring and supportive towards the many junior colleagues mentored over the years.

“The Department won’t be the same, but we’re grateful to have Joan with us as both an Emeritus and an Honorary Fellow of the university – a wonderful honour of which we are proud.”

Registrar Bryn Morris added: “Joan symbolises everything that is great about the department, the university and what it means to graduate from Essex."