St John's College Alumni eNewsletter - October 2024
Official Opening of the Historic Libraries and Canterbury Quadrangle
On 3 and 4 October 2024, St John's celebrated the official reopening of the Historic Libraries and Canterbury Quadrangle after a near-decade-long project of restoration and renewal. On Thursday 3 October 2024, St John’s welcomed alumnus and Honorary Fellow, Professor Robert Darnton FBA, for a special lecture in the auditorium. Professor Darnton’s lecture, ‘Libraries as Time Machines’, celebrated the reopening of the College’s Historic Libraries and Canterbury Quadrangle after a lengthy project of essential restoration and environmental upgrades. The official reopening of the Historic Libraries and the Canterbury Quadrangle took place the following afternoon, Friday 4 October, with Professor Darnton cutting the ribbon to the Laudian Library.
College News
The Leverhulme Medal and Prize is a prestigious award, presented triennially for significant contributions to knowledge and understanding within the humanities or social sciences. This year’s award was made jointly to Professor Maggie Snowling FBA and Professor Charles Hulme FBA for their commitment to understanding children’s learning difficulties, particularly dyslexia and developmental language disorder.
The Access team has been incredibly busy over Trinity term and the summer! Across various programmes, we welcomed 846 students from a range of linked schools for visits to St John's.
Congratulations to two St John’s academics who have been recognised at this year's Recognition of Distinction Awards: Katherine Southwood becomes Professor of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and Elizabeth Wonnacott becomes Professor of Language Science.
St John's Black History Month Lecture 2024
We welcome Dr Christienna D. Fryar to St John's for this year's Black History Month Lecture. Dr Fryar's lecture will examine 'Fears of Jim Crow: Jamaica at the Dawn of the American Century.'
Appointment of Prabhat Jha as the Nuffield Professor of Population Health
St John’s College and the Nuffield Department of Population Health are pleased to announce the appointment of Prabhat Jha as the Nuffield Professor of Population Health.
Dr Muting Hao Co-Chairs the International Symposium for Young Scholars in Fluids
Dr Muting Hao, Career Development Research Fellow in Engineering, co-chaired the 2nd International Symposium for Young Scholars in Fluids on 21st September 2024.
'The Gender Pain Gap and Endometriosis' Online Event, by Dr Hannah Nazri
We are proud to announce our next online event, 'The Gender Pain Gap and Endometriosis,' a SJC Women’s Network Online Sexual and Reproductive Health Event.
Alumni News
St John's Alumni in Hong Kong
Many thanks to Michael Lok (2012, BCL) and Tutorial Fellow in Law at St John's, Professor Richard Ekins KC (Hon), for organising a successful dinner for alumni in Hong Kong. If you would like to organise an event for alumni in your region doget in touch.
Alumni Events
Alumni Carol Service - SAVE THE DATE
Saturday 14 December 2024
Friday 21 March 2025
Friday 28 March 2025
Gaudy for the Years 1998-1999 - SAVE THE DATE
Friday 27 June 2025
Gaudy for the Years 2012-2013 - SAVE THE DATE
Friday 4 July 2025
Torrance Society Reunion 2025
Triennial Medicine (Torrance Society Reunion) - SAVE THE DATE
Friday 3rd October 2025
An afternoon of lectures (including the clinical specialty 'career speed dating' event) followed by black tie dinner in Hall. The event marks 25 years of Professors Molnar and Pandit as tutors at the college.
Calling All Alumni in Creative Industries! Fellow Alumnus Looking for Marketing Experience
An alumnus is interested in beginning a career in marketing, and is looking to provide voluntary, remote assistance in exchange for learning about the creative, interiors or luxury industries. All opportunities are welcome.
They would be very grateful to speak with those already in the creative industry about their career journey. If you would be happy to help, please email alumni@sjc.ox.ac.uk
Alumni Publications
Alumnus Dr Paula Aamli looks at the idea of 'cosy catastrophe'
Dr Paula Aamli has published an essay based on critical reading produced during an MFA Creative Writing Course, looking at the balance between catharsis and hope in the early Locked Tomb novels of Tamsyn Muir.
'A World Without War' endorsed by Nobel Peace Laureates
Sundeep Waslekar (PPE, 1981) wrote ‘A World without War’ published by Harper Collins India and as ‘Entre Guerre et Paix’ in French published by CNRS Editions. The book warns about existential risks facing humanity and offers a new approach to multi-lateralism, disarmament and a global social contract.
Professor Glyn S. Burgess (1962, Modern Languages)
Wace: Roman de Brut (New Translation, Oxford University Press, 2024)
Professor Jeremy Black (1978, Modern History)
A History of Railways in 100 Maps (British Library, 2024)
English Culture: From the Eighteenth Century to the Present (Amberley, 2024)
Alumni Guest Room Bookings
Alumni can check availability, book and pay for rooms within Alumni House online. The booking system can be found on the Alumni Benefits page of our website. Rooms for 2025 are now available.
To make a booking, you will need to enter a promotional code to identify yourself as an alumnus/a and this can be found in the monthly e-newsletter.
FAQ’s
Please click here to find answers to frequently asked questions, along with further details about the Alumni Guest Rooms.