Volunteer of the Year Award for Frank McKenna

To celebrate Volunteers’ Week from 2 to 8 June, we’re saying a big thank you to the hundreds of alumni who have given up their time to support Essex over the last year.

Volunteers come from every part of the community, so we are particularly grateful to the graduates who choose to maintain their connection to Essex and continue supporting the University. 

Volunteering takes many shapes - whether it’s supporting students through mentoring, sharing advice and support, or offering additional learning opportunities to their courses; or supporting our alumni programme through offering venue space for events or in a role of guest speaker. 

These opportunities are crucial to bring our community together, inspiring and advising each other, as well as new and current students.  

Essex graduate Frank McKenna completed his BA in History in 1989. Based in London, Frank leads Alumni Global's international healthcare and higher education services, leveraging his extensive and recent experience across multiple global regions. Frank has been named Volunteer of the Year 2025 in recognition of his support for Essex. 

Director of Advancement Jo Rogers said: “Alumni volunteers make a huge difference to our students and wider community, and we are so grateful for the time and support Frank has offered over the last decade.” 

The support from Frank has been truly inspiring, most recently hosting last year’s After Essex event series at his London Liverpool Street offices. With his support we were able to bring together over 200 alumni and friends over four events to network, reconnect with the University and build lasting friendships. He has shown commitment to Essex by volunteering in a number of key roles including as a mentor, hosting alumni events, and as a guest speaker sharing his story since graduating.  

Frank said: “Although I graduated in 1989, Essex has never really left me. The University played a pivotal role over the last 35 years in shaping my outlook, my values, and my confidence to lead - qualities that have been essential throughout my career. 

Volunteering for Essex has always felt like giving back to a place that gave me so much. Being recognised in this way is genuinely humbling and it motivates me even more to continue supporting the University and helping the next generation of students as they navigate their own journeys after graduation.”

If you’re a graduate interested in how you could get involved in supporting the University go to our Giving Back pages.