TV presenter takes on university challenge

She began her role on the campus in Horsforth yesterday by meeting students who interviewed her at the university’s television studio before she gave them advice on how to succeed in their future careers.

The TV star, who was one of the BBC’s main presenters during the London 2012 Olympics, told the Yorkshire Post that one of the most exciting aspects of her new role was returning to the city where she was born and went to school.

Now she plans to help raise the profile of Leeds Trinity as a newly-established university in a well-known student city.

She said: “The university is already a success. Ninety three per cent of its students go onto employment within six months which is a phenomenal success rate and some of its courses have a 100 per cent satisfaction rate. I feel like I am jumping on board an already buoyant ship. Leeds Trinity has a very supportive ethos. It is a Catholic-based education and I think it provides students with a very nice environment in which to study.

“Part of my job will be to be spread this success and to let people know Leeds is a great student city which now has three universities.”

She told the Yorkshire Post she hoped the partnership would be “a good marriage” because of her connection to Leeds and her background in sports and journalism – two areas in which Leeds Trinity offers courses.

Students were only told the identity of their first chancellor yesterday and journalism student Sammy Parker was given the chance of interviewing her at the university’s television studio.

The 21-year-old said: “She gave me some really good advice and it was really nice to be able to talk to the person rather than the presenter.”

Ms Logan was born in Leeds in 1973 while her father Terry Yorath was playing for Leeds United.

Growing up in the city as a Catholic she attended Cardinal Heenan RC High School and Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College. She is now chancellor of one of the only universities in the country with Catholic foundations.

Leeds Trinity has also appointed a new vice chancellor this month. Prof Margaret House said she believed Mrs Logan’s successwould help to inspire Leeds Trinity’s students.