Meyran Cates Semple, PhD
Undersecretary, Department of Colonial Affairs
United Federation of Planets

Born 9 August 2350, Canterbury, United Kingdom, Terra
Married Tierney Harlan Semple, PhD, 15 May, 2382
One child: Patrick Tierney, born 18 February 2383

Education: 

2371       AB, Political Science, University of Cambridge
2373       MPhil, Political Science, University of Cambridge
2378       PhD, Interplanetary Relations, London School of 
Economics

Professional History: 

2378-2381  Asst. Professor, Interplanetary Relations, U. of York
2381-2384  Assc. Professor, Interplanetary Relations, U. of York
2384-2387  Minister, Permanent Mission of Terra to the UFP
2387-2409  Professor, Centre for Interplanetary Studies, U. of Oxford
2389-2392  Director, Centre for Interplanetary Studies, U. of Oxford
2392-2395  Dean, Faculty of Social Studies, U. of Oxford
2395-2396  Representative, UFP Commission on Sentient Rights
2396-2398  Visiting Professor, Political Science, U. of the UFP
2398-2403  Member, Commission on Interplanetary Sentient Issues
2403-2408  Chair, Commission on Interplanetary Sentient Issues
2409-      Undersecretary, Department of Colonial Affairs, United Federation of Planets


Meyran ('may-RAHN') Cates Semple is a descendant of American 
expatriots who moved to the UK in the early 21st century.  Her 
father, Gregory Atwood Cates, was an attorney for the UFPCLU; her 
mother, Danielle Darragh-Cates, was a sociologist with the Centre 
for the Study of Social and Political Movements at the University 
of Kent at Canterbury.  Throughout her childhood and adolescence, 
her parents instilled in her a sense of need for social justice.  
She may thank them, now both deceased, for the career path she 
eventually chose.

Meyran was always an exceptional student, but with a brashness 
that many of her instructors did not care to tolerate.  Her 
school records are riddled with complaints from teachers saying 
that, regardless of the quality of her work, 'something must be 
done about that child.'

Her attitude followed her to Cambridge, where she succeeded 
academically but managed to raise the rankles of not a few of 
some of the more traditionally-minded tutors.  There was one 
notable exception of her political science tutor, who eventually 
became her mentor, and advised her through the course work 
leading to her Master of Philosophy in Political Science.

On his recommendation, she elected to pursue her doctorate not at 
Cambridge, but at the London School of Economics.  Her mentor was 
retiring from academia, and, in the same way some of the other 
scholars were unwilling to tolerate her, she was unwilling to 
tolerate them and their petty political bickering.  LSE was little 
better, but maturity led the way to a more tolerant nature, and by 
the time she earned her PhD, she had improved her skills in 
holding her tongue when it would be in her better interest.

She secured a teaching post at the University of York, where she 
was granted tenure after three years.  She met her future husband, 
historian Tierney Semple, at her tenure reception.  They were 
married a year later, and, a year after that, Meyran gave birth to 
a son, Patrick.

Her publications on the evolving view of sentience attracted the 
attention of her field, and many outside it, as well -- including 
the UFP President.  She was appointed Minister of the Permanent 
Mission of Terra to the United Federation of Planets for a 
three-year term.  Her husband took a visiting professorship at the 
University of the UFP, and the family moved to San Francisco for 
three years.

Upon her return to academia, she was invited to be a part of the 
Centre for Interplanetary Studies at Oxford.  She accepted -- 
besides the prestige, she had a strange satisfaction from working 
for her alma mater's rival institution.  She eventually became 
the director of the Centre, and later Dean of the Faculty of 
Social Sciences.

She continued to be active in UFP politics as an advisor as well 
as serving on various commissions.  She became known as an 
authority on the current thinking on sentient rights and the 
rights of native populations.  It was indeed not a surprise for 
many when she was appointed Undersecretary for Colonial Affairs in 
the Department of Colonial Affairs.

© 2000-2023 Takako Nagumo

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