Dr Janet Keliher
We are deeply saddened to share the news of the death of Dr Janet Keliher, after a short illness.
Janet was well loved by colleagues and students across the University, particularly in our Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Cornwall (HaSS Cornwall), where Janet was a Senior Lecturer on the Law and Business Programme at the Penryn Campus where she taught Criminal Law and Contract Law.
Janet also ran the IMPACT project with Law and Business students collaborating with local businesses. Janet was a popular and much sought after supervisor for student research projects.
As part of our close-knit Law community within HaSS Cornwall, Janet was a friend and inspiration to staff and students alike. A qualified solicitor, Janet was awarded a PhD at University of Exeter in 2019 for her work on culture and legal responsibility, driven by interests and commitments that continued to anchor her teaching in the years that followed. Janet was an important part of the life of the department, holding roles focused on EDI, Widening Participation and Admissions/Recruitment, as well as acting as a Speak Out Guardian. She will be greatly missed by everyone in our community.
Tributes and messages
If you would like to share your condolences, a tribute message that will be shared with Janet’s family and loved ones can be left through this form and will be posted below.
Condolences and memorial tributes
I was so very sorry to hear of Janet’s passing. I always enjoyed our catch-ups, and her wisdom grace and friendship. She was someone I greatly respected and will be deeply missed. My sincere condolences to her family, students, colleagues and all who knew her.
Kate
I have had the absolute pleasure of working with Janet in her joint role of Widening Participation (WP) Lead (with Tom Baycock) and in my role of Pathways to Law & Outreach Officer for HASS for many years and am totally shocked and saddened to hear this news.
Janet was such an amazing advocate for ALL students- both pre-18 and current students- and such a lovely warm person- it is no surprise that there are so many lovely comments on this page.
She was totally committed to supporting students through all stages in their educational pathway and we saw evidence of this in abundance as she delivered a huge range of different WP events and activities at both Streatham and Penryn- both on-campus, virtual and in-school events, but she was also really so much more! A really beautiful caring individual who was genuinely passionate about supporting others, which always shone through. I can honestly say that this news has very much upset many of us in the team and our thoughts go out to Janet's family, friends and colleagues at this time. We are sending our most sincerest thoughts and best wishes at this time. Janet was a true light that shone brightly and will be fondly remembered by us all.
Kate B
I was so saddened to hear that we have lost Janet. She was a colleague and friend, who I did not have the opportunity to see nearly as often as I would have liked. I always looked forward to catching up with her when I visited Penryn campus, and our conversations, and indeed shared work, were unfailingly optimistic, and joyful. I remember well our many chats about Happiness at Work, as we plotted ways to spread happiness more widely amongst both colleagues and students.
She will be missed by so many of us.
Karen Kenny
Janet's superpower was her uncanny ability to turn even a mundane supervision meeting into a charming conversation. She chose a demanding research topic and ran with it, making it her own and ultimately producing a thesis that impressed her examiners. Throughout that process, she never seemed to lose her good humour and attentiveness to others. Her untimely death is a profound shock and I am so deeply saddened. I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.
Stephen
I’ve been trying for several days to find the words to express the truly profound sadness I felt, and continue to feel, upon learning of the passing of our truly amazing friend and colleague, Dr. Janet Keliher. It hit especially hard today, as I was walking to my office. Janet and I arrived at the same time in the morning, several days each week. So many of us scurry to our offices with heavy bags of books and laptops, or soaking wet coats, and close/partially close the door to decompress. It was different with Janet.
Janet and I would always make time to have a chat. We would complement each other on outfit choices, chat about the journey to campus, have a shared ‘work/teaching/marking/etc. is SO busy at the moment’ sigh, then we would conclude by wishing each other a cheery ‘have a nice day’, before carrying on.
Today when I arrived after school drop off, I waited to see Janet, without even realising that I was doing it. It then occurred to me that we would never have those ‘morning moments’ again and it made me desperately sad. I wish I could have told her how much seeing her smile and making time for those little chats really meant to me.
Alyson
Janet was a fantastic teacher who brought joy into the classroom.
She was incredibly kind and supportive, and really seemed to care deeply about her work and her students.
Anonymous
Janet was a warm and supportive colleague who shared her time generously. I have no doubt the loss of her positive energy will be keenly felt by all who were lucky enough to know her in any capacity. x
Charlie
I am so sorry to hear of Janet’s passing. I first met Janet whilst she was completing her PGR studies and we have been in contact over the years to discuss various legal research queries. We mainly corresponded by email and the warmth of Janet’s personality always shone through. I always knew when I saw an email from Janet that we would have a lovely conversation in addition to sorting out whatever research queries needed attention. Janet – you will be much missed.
Lee
Janet, you were always so considerate and kind – you are sorely missed.
Jamie
I was lucky enough to work with Janet when I started at Exeter. She was such a warm, kind, and supportive colleague. Her passion to ensure that teaching was inclusive for everyone shone through and still inspires the way we teach today. She will be sorely missed.
Rachel
I have known Janet since she started at Exeter and she was always kind and thoughtful and an excellent member of any team - a constant positive presence and a real team player. I was so upset to hear about her loss and want to send my thoughts to her family, the team in Penryn and all of her students. She had an incredible impact on so many lives.
Sue Prince
This week I planted raspberry bushes with my kids and we rode our bikes, feeling the sun on our backs, warm and good. These felt like things I could do to honour Janet. To plant something that will grow and be sweet and strong and to move and take joy in the world with those I love.
The shock and sadness is palpable in our hallways. There is heavy grief but also a powerful sense of thanks that we got to know her, to work alongside her. I'm sending my heartfelt condolences to her family, Janet was so widely loved and so deeply respected, we are so sorry for your great loss.
Deborah Johnson
I am absolutely devastated to hear of the passing of Dr Keliher. Janet was a fantastic lecturer and her passion for the law and teaching came across in every seminar and lecture she delivered. I had the privilege of being taught by her for all three years of my degree and most recently as she supervised my dissertation. She cared for not only our academic progress as students but our wellbeing as individuals, getting to know myself and fellow students as individuals on a personal level. I want to send my thoughts and best wishes to her family as well as all of her colleagues at the Law School during what is a difficult time for everyone who had the privilege of knowing Janet.
Alex
Janet will be remembered with great love. My heartfelt condolences to her family and all who are grieving.
Daniela
It was such a pleasure to work with Janet whilst she was based in the Stella Turk building. She was warm and friendly and always had time to stop and say hello. My sincere condolences and best wishes go to her family and loved ones during this very difficult time.
Lisa
Janet, you are one of the kindness, most wonderful humans I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. And I am so sad I will never get the chance to tell you so again.
It seems only yesterday that we were doing our PhDs and co-hosting the SWDTC PGR conference. You gave me so much support and courage, especially when we were both starting out in our research and teaching careers. Your positivity is infectious and I will never forget the warmth of your smile. University open days just won't be the same without you. I am sorry I wasn't quicker in getting around to arranging our next get-together, but then I never in a million years believed I would be writing this message to you now.
You are so loved and will never be forgotten.
Ben Hudson
Dearest Janet
The terribly sad news of your death, so sudden, is such a shock. We only saw each other back in April last year. Your smile was, as always fabulous and your energy abundant and infectious. Although we did not see each other that often, I do recall our meetings vividly, back when you were finishing the PhD. You are missed already and will be missed so very much for a very long time to come.
Séverine
Thank you Janet. Thank you for always being there for us and going above and beyond as a lecturer. Thank you for taking the time to actually get to know us. Support us and our careers. Janet you are missed so much. Thank you for the life skills and the advice you have given me. My condolences goes out to your family, and the law school. We will miss you.
Natasha Sani
You helped me more than you’ll ever know
Anonymous
Janet was absolutely the best personal tutor I could have asked for. I am deeply grateful to have been guided by such a kind-hearted and warm human being. She trusted my potential and was always available to support me in academic matters and beyond. Janet made a real difference in our community with her friendly and approachable manner. During teaching sessions, I always saw her doing her best to make students feel valued and respected. I will miss her immensely and will always remember the wonderful person she was. I wish to express my sincerest condolences to her family.
Kerri Idemudia
I write this with tears. I cannot be strong. I still cannot believe that you are no longer with us.
My dear Dr Janet is still vividly alive in my mind your voice, the warmth of your presence, the way you were. Every time I think of you, with the same calmness, it feels as though you are still with us, with the same peace and kindness.
I keep thinking about the small, deeply human moments: the care and kindness in the way you listened, the gentleness with which you corrected my work without ever making me feel small, and the genuine joy that shone in your eyes when you opened a simple Christmas gift. Those moments meant everything to me.
You were not only an outstanding academic, but a profoundly kind human being. Your presence made people feel safe, seen, and valued. Being around you gave us reassurance and a sense that we were not alone. It is this calm and comforting presence that makes your absence so painful and difficult for me, as one of your students.
At the same time, I can only imagine how much deeper and more unbearable this loss is for your family, your children, and your closest loved ones. I pray that God grants them patience, peace, and comfort, and that they are not alone in this heavy grief.
I consider myself fortunate to have known you and to have learned from you. The trace of your kindness and the impact you had on my life, and on the lives of so many others, will remain forever.
You will always remain in my heart and in my mind. I will never forget you, my dear Dr Janet.β€οΈ
Sol
I had a pleasure of working with Janet on Widening Participation programmes and activities. Her energy, and ability to engage everyone in the room were outstanding, and her enthusiasm for Law shone through! It is a tragedy that someone so full of life and passion was taken so soon. We’ll miss Janet very, very much.
Katya Kolpinskaya
I worked with Janet on and off over the past three years. I didn’t know her deeply, but I knew enough to recognise that she was a warm, kind-hearted, and genuinely lovely person.
Whenever we worked together, Janet was incredibly generous with her time and energy, always willing to take on more than she needed to. I often found myself saying, “No, it’s okay, I can do it,” because that was simply who she was: thoughtful, helpful, and quietly supportive.
We shared a connection to Wales, Janet with ties to Crickhowell and me just down the road in Brecon and our conversations about places we both knew and loved were always a pleasure. Those small, familiar chats meant more than she probably realised.
Janet will be deeply missed. Her kindness, warmth, and generosity left a lasting impression, and I feel grateful to have known and worked alongside her, even for a short time.
Donna Elliott
I am heartbroken to hear of Janet’s passing. She was the best lecturer and dissertation supervisor that I could have asked for, attentive and so helpful. I can only hope that she knew what a great person she was. I will miss her.
Cephas
Janet was not only a great lecturer but also a kind and selfless person. This was evident in the way she treated me and other students, always willing to offer support and encouragement. She will be deeply missed. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones.
Selin
Janet was an inspiring lecturer who would go above and beyond for her students. She was such a positive influence on the Law School community and I cannot recall ever seeing her around campus without a smile on her face. I remain incredibly grateful for the support she gave to the SLCC and improving the student experience on the course. My sincere condolences to her friends and family.
Caius Datt
Oh dearest Janet. I hope you didn't suffer too much, and that you're now having a lovely party in the next realm with all the other wonderful folk I love who've moved on.
Your legacy will live on at Penryn Campus. I can see from existing tributes written here how much you were appreciated and loved by our students and colleagues, and we will always be incredibly grateful for everything you taught us. It was so wonderful to have your input on the first EDI committee of HaSS Cornwall and in our Leadership Team.
As your Head of Department, I always found you to be the exact perfect mix of professional colleague and kind and gentle friend. And you are always so beautiful, especially when you wear shades of pink, and when the sun was shining through your office window, enhancing that angelic look you always have. You are a wonderfully calming influence, and it was an absolute pleasure to help you get recognised as a Senior Lecturer in one of the promotion rounds that I oversaw.
To Janet's family and closest friends. Unfortunately, I am one who knows loss. There are no words I can say that can even begin to fix it. Keep her alive in memories. Unfortunately the more love, the bigger the hole. Let that hole fill with light not darkness.
I like to think that great people are taken early because they have bigger and more important spiritual quests to do in the next realm. I hope you can find some thoughts that bring comfort in the way that this thought supports me.
Clare Saunders
Janet was a wonderful professor who went above and beyond for her students, particularly for those of us who had our time disrupted by Covid. Janet ran a summer Case Club during the first lockdown that provided welcome relief from the monotony of being stuck at home, and a chance for connection during an uncertain time. She also taught the only in-person class I had during my second year, and I know that for me and my classmates that Friday morning 9am was the highlight of our weeks. She was a brilliant supervisor for my third year dissertation, and I am so grateful for all the time and insight she gave me and all of us in the Law school. She will be greatly missed by everyone who was lucky enough to know her.
Rebecca B
Janet was a fabulous lecturer, and more importantly a genuinely lovely person. Sending my love to her family. She will be truly missed.
Anonymous
Janet was the first lecturer I was introduced to during my time at university. From the beginning, she was incredibly positive and welcoming, always exuding warmth. She truly embodied what it means to teach at the University of Exeter, and I consider myself to be very lucky to have known her and to have been taught by her.
Anonymous
My heart goes out to Janet’s family and all those who were close to her. Janet was a lecturer who truly went above and beyond. I know this personally through the support she gave me both academically and during difficult times at home. It is incredibly sad that we have lost her, and my thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.
Kas
Janet was an incredible person and an amazing professional. She always made herself available to help and I regularly witnessed her going above and beyond for students. I am extremely grateful for everything she has done for my peers and I, and I wish her family and friends my sincerest condolences.
Pedro Da Conceicao
Dear Janet,
Thank you for being such a wonderful law lecturer as well as a lovely human! The passion and enthusiasm you shared for law inspires me everyday! Thank you for always believing in me and making sure I could achieve in contract law. My heart goes out to your family at this difficult time. You will be very much missed, but never forgotten! Forever in our hearts x
Anonymous
I had the pleasure of working with Janet on the Departmental Leadership Team for HaSS Cornwall. At the time, we were a newly configured department in the aftermath of a university restructure. For the first time, historians and literary scholars found themselves in the same department as Political Scientists and Lawyers. Of all the disciplines, Law was perhaps the least familiar to me. But Janet immediately put me at ease with her warm and friendly demeanour. She helped me understand the particular requirements of Law staff and students, and how they complemented and enhanced our other disciplines - particularly in terms of the relationship between culture, society, criminality, and justice. She demonstrated the best qualities of a female leader; approachable, kind, shrewd, and pragmatic. She was trusted and competent; a colleague you valued working with. And with a good sense of humour to boot. I was also always struck by her beauty and fashion sense. Definitely one of the 'best dressed' in our department, by a long way! It's clear, over these past few days, how much she meant to her colleagues and students. She will be sorely missed by our community, and far beyond. I'm so deeply sorry for her family and friends.
Catriona Pennell
Dear Janet,
I would like to thank you for creating a learning environment where myself and many other students felt comfortable enough to express our ideas and challenge ourselves to think in greater capacities.
You truly made every seminar engaging and worthwhile, I truly wanted to be there and you helped me find a passion for law.
Your unique skill to make every student feel as though their ideas where valid and meaningful made all the difference.
It was a great pleasure to be acquainted, and to have had the opportunity to learn under you.
~ ~ ~
It is a great shame to see a kindred soul with such genuine intentions to empower and educate.
Life is fleeting, we must do our best to love one another, and ourselves.
May Janet’s soul be eternally blessed.
Saahir D
Janet taught me Contract and Criminal Law in my first and second year of university. She cared deeply about her students, not only academically but personally, and I will truly miss her seminars.
Janet was always approachable, friendly and ready to help, and I am so grateful for the support she gave me when I needed it last year. Her encouragement, kindness and genuine passion for the law and for education showed in everything she did.
Janet’s influence will stay with me long after my time at university. I feel incredibly lucky to have been taught by her, and she will be deeply missed but always remembered for the difference she made in so many of our cohort’s lives.
Rachel Abraham
Janet was the single warmest and kindest human that I ever had the pleasure of meeting during my academic journey at Exeter. From the very first week at the university, when the anxiety was high inside the DM lecture halls, it was her warm welcome and words of wisdom that put my mind at ease. From there, she quickly became my favourite lecturer through the criminal law modules in year 1 and contract law in year 2. She always gave her time very generously and was totally supportive of me in my second year when my personal circumstances started affecting my academic life. I could never fully write the extent to which she help me and the hundreds of other students over the years, but just know that she was the sweetest, kindest, and most brilliant person of my academic journey, and I, and the countless other students, will miss her greatly. Our graduation will definitely feel empty without her warm presence. We will all miss her greatly and pray for her family and friends during this difficult season.
Tomos Austin
The last time I spoke to Janet was after I returned from Ghana in December 2025. Janet asked me how was the fieldwork, I said it was great and she said 'now you have to write it' with a big smile on her face. This is the Janet I remember: a supportive colleague with a kind heart. I sincerely hoped Janet did not suffer much before she left us, and she is now relieved of pain somewhere peaceful and beautiful.
Xianan
Janet was truly my favourite member of staff at the University of Exeter. She always had a smile on her face and had a way of explaining, engaging and encouraging students like no other. Even when you briefly passed her in the hallway she would always check in with you to make sure you were okay. I know with full certainty that she will be deeply missed by so many, but her impact and encouragement to students who were lucky enough to know her will never be forgotten.
Anonymous
Janet was a lovely lecturer, she taught both my criminal and contract modules I really enjoyed her lectures and may she rest in peace knowing that she had a beautiful soul.
Nasha J
Janet,
You were an incredible person, teacher and inspiration to us all.
I thank you for everything and I will always remember your advice, our conversations, lessons and meetings. Every lesson with you was always a joy and you were an amazing inspiration, who always encouraged me to keep going with your endless support.
Thank you for everything Janet x
Charlotte.C.
Janet was my criminal and contract lecturer and seminar teacher. She was a teacher whom I felt comfortable enough to open up to about my academic struggles (especially in contract law). She helped me to break down complex problems into simple structures. Structures which I now use for all concepts; big or small. She wasn't just a great teacher, she was a great person. My friends and I looked forward to her seminars even though they were usually scheduled for 9am. She had a passion for the law which has inspired many of us. My heart goes out to her family, friends and colleagues.
Izzy
Janet was a wonderful lecturer and tutor whose intelligence and empathy truly set her apart. Her kindness left a lasting impact on those around her, and I know she certainly left an impact on me. I could not have asked for a better tutor during my time at Exeter. My thoughts and prayers are with her close friends and family. ππ
Clara
To be a student in Janet’s seminars throughout Years 1 and 2 was a privilege I struggle to put into words. Having travelled thousands of miles away from home, unsure of what to expect, Janet became a familiar and reassuring presence during a time of great change in my life. She was someone I instinctively looked to for comfort and guidance.
Janet cared for us not only as students within the classroom, but as individuals beyond it. Through her teaching, she introduced me to the beauty and depth of the law, but just as importantly, she helped me discover confidence within myself. She encouraged me to trust my abilities, to have faith in my own voice, and to believe that I belonged.
Her impact on my life extends far beyond academic learning. Janet shaped the way I see myself and the world, and for that I will remain endlessly grateful.
Her passing has left a profound sense of loss that is difficult to articulate. It is hard to accept that someone who gave so much warmth, reassurance, and belief to others is no longer here. Yet even in this grief, I am reminded of how deeply she touched so many lives, and how enduring her influence will always be.
Hana
Throughout my time at university Janet was a reassuring and kind presence. An incredibly intelligent lady I was very lucky to work with her as my dissertation supervisor. I am deeply saddened that such a special member of the university community who touched and helped so many has been lost. Sending my love and best wishes towards her family who I hope can find peace at this time.
Fern
Janet was an amazing teacher and form tutor, who deserves to be celebrated. She was always honest, respectful and an overall really kind woman who you could go to about anything. She was someone to look up to and learn a lot from, may she rest easy.
Anonymous
Janet was such an amazing person and, as part of the first cohort of Law at Penryn, I could tell that she was so excited to be a part of Law at Exeter. Whether it was in classes or seeing her around campus, she was always such a light and just made my day better. It’s such a shock that she’s gone, but the amount of people’s futures she has shaped, she lives on with us all.
Max Bennett
Janet was one of the most selfless and truly compassionate people I’ve ever met. She has helped me through some of the hardest things I’ve had to go through in my time at university and her presence will be greatly missed. She went above and beyond to ensure the wellbeing and happiness of her students and for that I will be eternally grateful.
Anonymous