King's College London

Professor Jennifer Rubin has been made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to science and analysis in the King's New Year Honours List.

Professor Rubin is Chair of the Advisory Board of the School for Government at King’s College London and was previously Director of the Policy Institute at King’s.

From 2021 to 2025, Professor Rubin served as Home Office Director General, Science, Technology, Analysis and Research (STAR) and Home Office Chief Scientific Adviser.

Before joining the Home Office, she was the Executive Chair of the Economic and Social Research Council, the UK’s largest funder of economic and social research.

Prior to these roles, Jennifer built and led the justice and home affairs research programme at RAND Europe for 10 years.

Her principal research interests include migration, integration and intolerance; communities, crime and justice policy; and the intersections between public health and related areas such as alcohol and drugs policy.

Professor Rubin said:

“I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition. My heartfelt thanks go to the exceptional colleagues whom I have worked with throughout my career – at King's, RAND, ESRC, the Home Office, and across government. In every role, I've been privileged to work with people driven by a shared commitment: using science and research to improve lives by connecting knowledge with need. And of course huge thanks to all who have supported me along the way, especially friends, mentors, and my wonderful family.”

Professor Michael Sanders, Director of the School for Government at King’s, said:

“This is thoroughly deserved recognition for Jennifer’s exceptional contribution to bringing science and research to bear on policy issues. We’re delighted to be able to draw on her deep expertise and experience of government and policymaking to ensure the School for Government delivers education and research that make a difference to the development and expertise of future generations of public servants.”