Rugby star Finn Russell among honorary graduands to be recognised

Scotland rugby star Finn Russell, elite swimming coach Steven Tigg, and Nadezhda Neynsky, a lifelong advocate for leadership, democracy and freedom in her home country of Bulgaria, will receive honorary degrees from the University of Stirling next week.

An outstanding professional rugby union player who has captained Scotland and been selected for the British and Irish Lions, Finn will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate in recognition of his outstanding contribution to sport in Scotland, particularly rugby.

Finn grew up close to the University, in Bridge of Allan, where his rugby journey began at Wallace High School, before going on to play for Glasgow Warriors, Racing 92 and Bath, and represent his country.

As an international, Finn has been part of Scotland’s squad for the Rugby World Cup in 2015, 2019 and 2023, and the Six Nations. He has been selected for three British and Irish Lions tours in 2017, 2021, and 2025.

Finn Russell (credit: Craig Watson)

Another local hero, Steven Tigg, from Alloa, who has coached elite swimmers to Olympic glory, will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate in recognition of his outstanding contribution to competitive swimming.

The University of Stirling offers a world-leading high-performance swim programme, which provides athletes with a bespoke package of world-class coaching, access to state-of-the-art facilities, performance mentoring and access to the latest innovations in sports research, as well as academic flexibility to support education alongside sporting ambitions.

Steven joined the University’s high-performance programme as a coach in 2014, before being promoted to Head Coach in 2017. He has been a key driver of the success and growth of the programme, which is today regarded as one of the best in the world. Notably, under his expert leadership, University swimmers won 11 medals at the Olympics and 27 at the Commonwealth Games. Following last year’s Olympics, Steven was appointed to the top job in British swimming – Aquatics GB’s Swimming Head Coach.

Finn and Steven will be celebrated at two separate ceremonies on Friday, November 21, held at the University of Stirling – Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence.

Steven Tigg

The day before, on Thursday, November 20, Nadezhda Neynsky, a former Bulgarian Foreign Minister who was instrumental in bringing the country into the European Union and NATO, will receive an Honorary Doctorate, in recognition of her outstanding leadership as a force for democracy, change and a better future for Bulgaria, the Balkans and Europe.

Nadezhda also played a pivotal role in safeguarding human rights when, in 2000, she presented evidence to the German Foreign Minister, Joschka Fischer, of Serbian President Slobodan Milošević's plans for ethnic cleansing in Kosovo.

Beyond government, Nadezhda was a longstanding member of the Bulgarian Parliament – where she also served as Deputy Speaker – and a Member of the European Parliament, before serving as Bulgarian Ambassador to Türkiye.

Nadezhda Neynsky

Finn, Steven and Nadezhda will be celebrated, along with more than 1,500 graduating students, at the University’s winter graduation ceremonies, which take place on Thursday and Friday next week (20 and 21 November).

Professor Sir Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Stirling, said: “Graduation is always a special highlight in the University calendar – a time to celebrate with our graduates and their families and friends, and an opportunity to recognise the hard work and academic achievements of our students.

“We are also proud to welcome three distinguished honorary graduates to our alumni community at our Winter ceremonies. Finn, Steven and Nadezhda have each made an exceptional impact in their fields, and in wider society. As such, they are excellent role models for our graduating students and will be outstanding ambassadors for the University.”

Finn Russell

Finn Russell is a renowned Scottish professional rugby union player, celebrated for his creativity, skill and leadership on the field.

Born in Bridge of Allan, Finn began his rugby journey at Wallace High School, a short distance from the University.

After joining Glasgow Warriors in 2012, Finn made his professional debut in February 2013, against Zebre in the Pro12. The then Glasgow Head Coach, Gregor Townsend, offered Finn a full-time contract for the 2014/15 season, during which he played a significant role in the Warriors’ Pro12 title triumph. This included scoring 22 points in a crucial match against Ulster and contributing to the team's victory over Munster in the final.

Finn made his international debut for Scotland in 2014 during the summer tour of North America, playing against the United States and Canada. He was part of Scotland's squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, where he scored a try in the opening match against Japan.

He was also called up as a replacement for the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, making his debut in a match against the Hurricanes.

At the end of the 2017/18 season, Finn left Glasgow to join French club Racing 92, replacing All Black Dan Carter at fly-half. During his time with Racing 92, he continued to showcase his playmaking abilities, becoming a key player for the team.

Finn played in three of Scotland's group matches at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, scoring another try against Japan, and two years later he was selected for the Lions' tour to South Africa, where he played a crucial role in the decisive third Test match – kicking 11 points and earning widespread praise for his performance.

Finn joined Bath after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, marking a new chapter in his career, and has gone on to make more than 40 appearances for the club. He signed an extended deal until 2028 earlier this year.

In 2023, he was selected for Scotland’s Rugby World Cup campaign in France and was named co-captain for the 2024 Six Nations Championship.

Earlier this year, he was called up to the Lions for their test matches against Australia – and was named Howden Player of the Series as the Lions triumphed 2-1.

Steven Tigg

Steven Tigg is an internationally renowned swim coach, who is currently Head Coach at Aquatics GB, where he is responsible for leading and developing Britain’s world-class swimming talent in preparation for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles and beyond. He previously spent 10 years coaching at the University of Stirling, Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence. 

Hailing from Alloa, Steven himself was a swimmer, based at the National Swimming Academy at the University. First arriving on campus in the early 1990s as part of Stirling Amateur Swim Club, he enjoyed a successful swimming career at junior level, before turning his attention to studying and part-time teaching.   

He started his coaching career as a volunteer at Alloa Swim Club in 2005 and it was there – just a few weeks into his role – that he met and started to coach a young Duncan Scott. It was the beginning of a special relationship which resulted in Steven coaching Scott for almost 20 years, including a decade at the University. 

Steven joined the University’s high-performance programme as a coach in 2014, initially supporting Head Coach Ben Higson before being promoted to the lead role in 2017. Prior to this, he had coached the Stirling Students’ Union team from 2009. 

Steven has been vital in driving the success and growth of the programme, which is today regarded as one of the best in the world. Notably, under his expert leadership, the University sent a record number of swimmers to last year’s Olympics (eight), and to the 2022 Commonwealth Games (16).  During Steven’s time at Stirling, University swimmers won 11 medals at the Olympics – including Scott, Scotland’s most decorated Olympian – and 27 at the Commonwealth Games. 

Steven has coached Great Britain at the Olympics in Paris (2024) and Tokyo (2021), and at the World Championships on five occasions. He coached Team Scotland at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games (2018), was Head Coach at the Birmingham Games in 2022, and Head Coach of the London Roar International Swimming League team.  

Following last year’s Olympics, Steven was appointed to the top job in British swimming.

Steven’s success has seen him celebrated with a plethora of Coach of the Year awards, including at the Team Scotland Sports Awards (2016 and 2018); British Swimming Awards (2018 and 2024); British Swim Coaches Association Awards (2018); and Scottish Swimming Awards (2015 to 2024). Last year, he was announced as a National Lottery Game Changer – recognising his contribution to sport and community.

Nadezhda Neynsky

Diplomat and international stateswoman Nadezhda Neynsky has been a lifelong advocate for leadership, democracy and freedom in her native Bulgaria, and across the Balkans.

As Bulgarian Foreign Minister (1997-2001), she was instrumental in bringing the country into the European Union and NATO.

Born in Sofia in 1962, Nadezhda graduated from Sofia University with a master’s degree in Linguistics. She started her career as a freelance journalist, before entering politics in 1991, joining the Union of Democratic Forces – an emerging pro-democratic political party which opposed Bulgaria’s ruling communist regime.

Nadezhda was a spokesperson for the first democratic government in Bulgaria (1991-1992). After the UDF government lost a confidence vote, she became an opposition spokesperson. She was elected to the Bulgarian National Assembly in 1995, aged just 33 and appointed Bulgaria’s youngest-ever Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1997 (a post she held until 2001). In this capacity, she was a powerful advocate for NATO integration, and Bulgarian ascension to the European Union. She also played a pivotal role in safeguarding human rights when, in 2000, she presented evidence to the German Foreign Minister of Serbian President Slobodan Milošević's plans for ethnic cleansing in Kosovo.

Nadezhda remained a member of Parliament until 2009, serving as Deputy Speaker. At a European level, she was the first Eastern European politician elected Vice-President of the European People’s Party (1999), serving two mandates. She later became a Member of the European Parliament (2009–2014) and Bulgarian Ambassador to Turkey (2016–2020).

Between 2023 and 2025, Nadezhda served on a taskforce chaired by University of Stirling Chancellor Lord McConnell to support sustainable economic recovery around the Black Sea. The Black Sea Special Interest Group, part of the €9 million EU-funded Developing Optimal and Open Research Support for the Black Sea (DOORS) innovation project, promoted inward investment in the low-carbon economy. Nadezhda raised the initiative’s profile globally, engaging diplomatic, political, and business circles.

Fluent in English, Spanish, and Russian, Nadezhda has received a number of prestigious awards. She is the first and only woman to be awarded the prestigious Bulgarian Politician of the Year Award (1999), together with international accolades including the Order of the Kingdom of Denmark (First Class), the B'nai B'rith medal of tolerance, and France’s Chevalier de la Légion D’Honneur.