Alumni stories

From LS2 to every corner of the world, every Leeds graduate has a story to tell. Meet the alumni making their mark through articles, podcasts and blogs.

Leeds magazine

Explore the annual magazine featuring stories from University of Leeds alumni:

• Breaking new ground – Leeds magazine 2026 features Jacqui Oatley MBE, Ireland’s new president, Jane Featherstone and the Duchess of Kent.
• Where leaders are made – Leeds magazine 2025 features Leeds in government, Adele Roberts, Nicholas Witchell and brat summer.
• Made in Leeds – Leeds magazine 2024 features Sir Keir Starmer, Naga Munchetty and Corinne Bailey-Rae.
• Moscow calling – Leeds magazine 2023 features Steve Rosenberg, Jodie Cunningham and Chris Pine.
• Reach for the sky – Leeds magazine 2022 features Wole Soyinka, Matthias Maurer and Ben Winston.

Thanks To You magazine

The Leeds supporter community makes an incredible difference – from those who generously give their time and expertise volunteering, to those who make regular financial gifts or have pledged to remember the University in their will.

Discover the impact of their support in our annual Thanks To You magazine.

• Thanks To You 2026 – A world of opportunity
• Thanks To You 2025 – You ignite the spark to entrepreneurial dreams
• Thanks To You 2024 – Navigating the cost of living crisis
• Thanks To You 2023 – Shaping tomorrow’s innovators
• Thanks To You 2022 – Changing my future

Global impact

Leeds alumni play their part all around the globe. Read about those featured in our celebrations:

• Pride 26 – Leeds Pride 26 celebrates LGBTQ+ individuals and allies from the global Leeds community making a positive impact in the Pride space.
• Africa Week – Read about the successes of Leeds alumni in, or from, Africa.
• Leeds at the World Health Organisation – To mark the 75th anniversary of the World Health Organisation, we celebrate the impact on global health made by members of the University of Leeds community.
• International Women’s Day – Meet women from the global Leeds community who are inspiring others across the world, as featured in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
• Independence Day of Pakistan – To mark the 75-year anniversary of independence, we shine a light on the achievements of our Pakistani community.
• Indian Independence Day – We meet our global Indian alumni community to celebrate 75 years of independence. 
• Leeds at COP26, Leeds at COP27 and Leeds at COP28– Meet inspiring Leeds alumni around the globe helping to combat the climate crisis.
• Celebrating Leeds engineers – On World Engineering Day, read the stories of Leeds engineering alumni across the globe.

Alumni memories

Hear memories about the university and alumni past and present:

• Love at Leeds – Read hundreds of heart-warming stories about Love at Leeds in our Valentine’s Day stories 2024, Valentine’s Day stories 2025 and Valentine’s Day stories 2026.
• International Day of Friendship – Alumni share memories of times with Leeds friends.
• Yorkshire’s finest – Alumni share their favourite spots in the county to celebrate Yorkshire Day.
• Leeds alumni and Live Aid: 40 years on – Learn how Leeds alumni played key roles in helping galvanise the world’s approach to aid.
• Thanksgiving in Leeds – On Thanksgiving 2023, Leeds alumni share their memories of celebrating the holiday in Leeds.
• The Edward Boyle Library – On what would have been Edward Boyle’s 100th birthday, Leeds alumni share their memories of his iconic library.
• Your journey to Leeds – As a new term starts in Leeds, alumni look back on their journey to the University.
• Remembering Queen Elizabeth II – Leeds alumni share their stories and memories of the Queen.
• Leeds in the war – Look back on stories from Leeds in the First World War and Leeds in the Second World War.

Alumni features

Delve into the stories of individuals who’ve graduated from the University of Leeds.

Leeds Voices

Leeds Voices is a podcast for anyone who went to Leeds, has children or relatives at Leeds right now, or is thinking of applying to study at Leeds themselves.

Meet famous alumni with stories to tell, discover the latest Leeds research, and hear from current students as they shape the future. 

My Leeds Story  

In this podcast, you can hear stories from before, during and after your time at Leeds from fellow alumni who have gone on to make a world of difference.

My Climate Story 

This podcast mini-series is a chance for the Leeds alumni community to meet fellow alumni who are leading the world to a more sustainable future. 

Leeds Alumni Voices 

In this blog series, Leeds alumni experts have their say. From how to create a more sustainable future to the magic of volunteering, learn from the Leeds alumni in the know:

• Inspiring positive change in the world of corporate sustainability – By Louis Gruber
• The secrets behind the world’s first global economic hubs – By Ira Gupta
• Fair trade partnerships – by Anne Tallontire
• Five ways to a more sustainable wardrobe in 2022 – by Rob Greenland
• How to make a wreath like a professional – by Jenefer Baker
• Climate commitments in Indonesia: the dilemma between economic growth and the environment – by Adila Alibasya
• The time is now — What will you do to help ensure a successful COP26? – by Simon Kirkland
• Volunteering — Activism That Changes Lives – by Heather Conboy
• Volunteering: the myths and the magic – by Emma Douglas
• Campaign volunteering: the voices for our countryside – by Crewenna Dymond

If you would like to contribute a guest blog post to Leeds Alumni Voices, email your proposed topic to the Advancement team at alumni@leeds.ac.uk.