Autumn leaves, students return, alumni thrive
Every walk around the University looks like a postcard this month – and we look very good in Autumn, as shown in this photo from @ericdyh as part of our October Instagram competition. We look even better since our last Newswire now that all of our incredible students are back on campus for the start of another great year at Durham. And what a great start to the 2019/20 year we have enjoyed:
• The University made global headlines following a $3.5M principal donation from Dr Neil Hunt to endow a major scholarship and internship programme, centred on creating greater leadership opportunities for women in tech
• Durham’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities, now led by Executive Dean Professor Janet Stewart, was ranked 27th in the World by THE World University Rankings; this is the Faculty’s highest ranking to-date which will come as no surprise to alumni or supporters of the incredible Departments involved in the rankings
• The stunning new Teaching and Learning Centre is now open and in great demand. A number of compelling guest lectures are being held in the new facility, hosting visiting thought- and industry- leaders this term such as Sir Ivan Rogers and Dame Stephanie Shirley. Up the hill South College is on-track for its 2020 opening, welcoming Professor Tim Luckhurst as its inaugural Head, along with four other new college heads joining us this term
Away from campus, in terms of bringing alumni and friends together around the world, we had an incredible September calendar filled with great events in China, Hong Kong, and Singapore – led by our Business School – and across the United States as part of our Scheinman Careers Networking Forum. Over 1200 of or alumni took part in the 'September to Remember' and dozens of volunteers hosted, spoke at and took part these events: more info available in Newswire.
Closer to home, it’s been a big month for DU in London. On 29 September 2019, Alderman William Russell (Grey College, 1987) was elected Lord Mayor of the City of London. Our congratulations to William and his wife Hilary (St Mary’s College, 1987), who are both great supporters and ambassadors, and best wishes to them both for the year ahead. We ask all of our alumni to watch out for our entry in the forthcoming Lord Mayor’s Show which will be televised globally on Saturday 9 November: As we prepare for the 2020 public opening of Maiden Castle Sports and Wellbeing Park, and celebrate the recent launch of our Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, our show entry will be a ‘Team Durham: A Celebration of University Sport’, showcasing a selection of our college and university athletes led by the President of Team Durham, Hannah Knowles.
Also in London this month, the President of the UK Supreme Court, Baroness Hale of Richmond, gave our inaugural Durham Global Lecture at the University of Notre Dame’s Global Gateway (Trafalgar Square). The next Lecture in this Series will be given by former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Williams. More news on this Durham Global Lectures to follow shortly.
For those interested in attending our 2020 Dunelm USA Gala with special guest speaker Henry Timms (Collingwood College, 1998), President and CEO of the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts, there are only a couple weeks left to book remaining tickets so please make your reservations asap. This year's Gala is being held at the Prince George Ballroom, New York on Thursday 5 December.
And finally, please look out for our 2019 Dunelm Days events series which is set to be a record-breaker, with over 50 events happening around the world from San Fran to Sydney: to look for and register for an event in your area, please visit our booking pages here. This is such a great opportunity to meet fellow alumni and friends in your neighbourhood and/or if you’re on the road!
Best wishes from all of us here at the University and in the DARO team
Andy Harston
Director, Development and Alumni Relations
Get in touch:
Andrew Harston BA (Hons), CertPFS
Director, Development and Alumni Relations
The Palatine Centre, Durham University
Stockton Road, Durham DH1 3LE
t +44 (0) 191 334 6093
andrew.harston@durham.ac.uk
Assistant: +44 191 334 6308
Email: sophie.r.taylor@durham.ac.uk