University of Oxford
North American Office
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Greetings from Oxford Universitys North American Office!
When does someone realize that they have become old?
While age has a way of creeping up on all of us, there is
often a moment when something happens and you realize in
that instant that you are no longer a spring chicken. I recall
the former Director of the Bodleian Library, David Vaisey,
describing the day that workmen were repairing the copula
high atop the Radcliffe Camera. David mentioned to the
head workman that he always wondered what the view
would be like from that wonderful vantage point. Only one
way to find out, the workman said to him, up you go.
David was about halfway up the long, narrow, wooden
ladder when he looked down and thought am I out of my
mind?! After scurrying back down to safety, he said
aloud as much to himself as anyone else I am now
officially old.
My moment of realization about my own passage into middle
age was somewhat less dramatic. It came when my younger
colleagues approached me about using Facebook and Twitter
to reach out to our alumni in North America. Gee, I dont
know about that, I said, trying not to appear to be both an
indecisive leader and hopeless Luddite. Websites are fine.
One can, by and large, trust a website. But the constant
motion of Facebook and Twitter, as some politicians have
demonstrated quite graphically, seems to carry an element of
risk. Having said this, it is as I eventually discovered the
very fluidity of Facebook and Twitter that makes them such
valuable communication tools.
So, after reassurance from my younger, technologically-
adept colleagues, the University of Oxford North American
Office established our presence on Facebook and Twitter.
You can find us at facebook.com/OxfordNA and
twitter.com/OxfordNA. My colleagues and I hope that you
will take the time to connect with us on both of these
platforms. Our goal is to use each of these tools as a way of
keeping Oxonians and friends of the University up-to-date on
the latest news, events, and points of interest from the
University, the North American Office, and Oxford
University Society branches throughout North America.
While we will continue to update our website
www.oxfordna.org on a regular basis (we have just added
links that will enable you to easily connect with more parts
Hilary Term 2011 Newsletter
of Oxford, including the new-and-improved University Shop),
we hope the interactive aspect of Facebook and Twitter will
encourage more feedback and sharing of information from all
of you.
Personally, I measure institutions by asking, the closer you get,
does it become more or less impressive? After more than 18
years of working for Oxford, I am pleased to be able to say that
the more I know about the University, the more impressive it
becomes. Please take the time to use some of these tools to
learn more about your University. I am confident that the more
you learn about Oxford, the prouder you will be of your
University.
My colleagues join me in wishing you and yours a safe, happy,
and healthy summer!
Best regards,
Michael G. Cunningham, FRSA
Executive Director, University of Oxford North American Office
Magna Carta in California
In association with BritWeek and the Bodleian Library, the
North American Office was pleased to invite Oxford alumni
and friends to two evenings of Magna Carta: the Touchstone
of Liberty and Democracy. The Magna Carta displayed at these
events is an original, which was sent by the royal chancery in
November 1217 to the county of Gloucestershire, England.
Only 17 originals still survive from the 13th century.
The Magna Carta event
in Los Angeles was held
on 27 April at the Los
Angeles County
Museum of Art
(LACMA). Dr. Sarah
Thomas, Bodleys
Librarian, Richard
Bob Peirce (St Catherines,73) & his Ovenden, Associate
wife, Sharon Harroun Peirce with Sarah Director and Keeper of
Thomas & Richard Ovenden at LACMA
Special Collections at
Continued on Page 2
1
 Oxford Thinking in North America and Aaref Hilaly,
President and CEO
of Clearwell
This spring, the 2011 North American Campaign featured the
Systems
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andrew Hamilton, hosting alumni
(University, 89)
events in California and British Columbia. Other visitors from
about their
Oxford included Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nick Rawlins,
experiences and
Christine Fairchild, Oxfords new Director of Alumni Relations,
how they have
Dr. Christopher Brown,
become so successful in the industry.
Director of the Ashmolean
Museum, Dr. Don The final session featured Gideon
Markwell, The Warden of Henderson, Sollas Fellow and
Rhodes House and a Professor of Earth Sciences,
number of College Heads University of Oxford (Hertford,
of House. 86). Professor Hendersons
presentation, Past Clues to Future
The events began in San Diego, California, where the Vice-
Climate Change and Climate
Chancellor spoke to approximately 40 alumni and friends at the
Solutions, discussed how an
Hotel Del Coronado . Since there is currently no alumni branch
understanding of paeloclimate, through the study of ocean
in San Diego, the North American Office hopes that this
chemistry, provides critical information about current
gathering may spark interest amongst the attendees to establish an
climate issues.
area branch. Please email alumni@oxfordna.org with any
questions about starting an OUS branch in San Diego. The North American Campaign events were a success
because of all of the alumni and friends who came out to
The Los Angeles stop brought out 100
show their support. Each event presented an opportunity for
alumni and friends for a drinks reception at
alumni to connect with one another, the University and their
the beautiful Wilshire Country Club. The
College. We hope to see even more alumni and friends at
Vice-Chancellor thanked the OUS-Los
future Oxford events in North America.
Angeles branch and committee members for
their continued support and reminded Los
Angeles Oxonians to support the LA Boat MAGNA CARTA EVENTS (continued from Page 1)
Race Brunch. the Bodleian Library and Professor Mary L. Dudziak,
Guirado Professor of Law, History and Political Science at
The Campaign tour then crossed the border USC Gould School of Law all spoke on the historical
into Canada for a reception at the elegant Document. Following the lecture was a drinks reception and
Vancouver Club with 80 alumni and friends, Magna Carta viewing for all guests.
including the OxCam Vancouver President
Tony Knox (Cambridge). It was a In San Francisco, the event
wonderful evening filled with interesting took place on 25 May at the
conversations. Legion of Honor. Dr. Sarah
The San Francisco event wrapped up the Thomas and Richard
tour with a half-day academic session featuring many prominent Ovenden were joined by
Oxonians. The day commenced with a luncheon of 120 alumni Professor Kinch Hoekstra
and guests featuring a (Magdalen, 1987), Assistant
conversation between the Professor of Law and
Vice-Chancellor and Martin Political Science at UC Michael Cunningham, Kinch
Giles, US Technology Berkeley School of Law.
A reception and viewing of Hoekstra, Richard Ovenden
Correspondent, The and Sarah Thomas
Economist Newspaper the Magna Carta followed
(Lady Margaret Hall, 85). in the Rodin Galleries.

Following lunch, guests enjoyed a discussion on the phenomenon
of why great technology companies continue to emerge from
Silicon Valley. Michael Moritz, General Partner, Sequoia Capital
(Christ Church, 73) led the conversation between Reid Hoffman,
Co-Founder & Executive Chairman of LinkedIn (Wolfson, 90)
The Magna Carta events were sponsored through the
generosity of Qualcomm, Joan & Irwin Jacobs, and John
Wiley & Sons.
View pictures from both events at www.oxfordna.org.

2

(Paid Advertisement)
ATTENTION BRITISH EXPATRIATES
UNLOCKYOURFROZENUKPENSION cross in the future. Oxfords alumni remain the focal point of
KestrelInternationalistheleadingUKPensionAdviserin christine.fairchild@alumni.ox.ac.uk
NorthAmerica.WehavebeenassistingBritishexpatriates
unlocktheirfrozenUKpensionsforover14yearsandto
datehavetransferredmorethan120millionGBPtomore
appropriatepensions.Also,wearePatronMembersofBrit
ishAmericanBusinessInc.Thereisnochargeforustopre
pareareview,andnoobligationonanyadvicewegive.
Formoreinformationpleasecontact;
JohnTunstallGeneralManager
KestrelInternationalUSAInc,
575MadisonAvenue,Suite1006,NewYork,NY10022
johntunstall@kestrelint.com www.kestrelint.com
Tel:2129378439 Fax:2129378422 priority for the University administration and the leadership
Report from the Alumni Office in Oxford
The Alumni Relations Office at Oxford has enjoyed a busy
and productive spring! I arrived on the scene on 7 March and
found a dedicated and committed team focusing on a range of
dynamic upcoming events and activities geared toward
enhancing alumni engagement in the UK and abroad. Within
a month of arriving, I was back on a plane to the US to join
the Vice-Chancellor, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Michael
Cunningham and his able crew on a trip along the West
Coast. It was a terrific introduction to Oxfords alumni and I
was so pleased to observe their dedication through
participation in a range of events.
A week later, it was back to Oxford and to putting the
finishing touches on a European Reunion in May. Over 500
Oxford alumni, guests, staff and academics enjoyed a
wonderful weekend in Paris featuring excellent presentations
and behind-the-scenes visits to La Sorbonne, Les Invalides,
Ecole Militaire, Cercle de LUnion Interallie and the British
Embassy. And now were turning our attention to a
Volunteer Leadership Conference in July followed by another
road trip with the Vice-Chancellor to Australia and New
Zealand.
And in September, we will welcome over 1,000 participants
Visit www.oxfordna.org for more information
at the annual Alumni Weekend in Oxford, featuring 120
events and activities over 2 days. For more information and
details, visit www.alumniweekend.ox.ac.uk.
Whew! And this only gets us to September....
It is wonderful to be here and I very much hope that our paths
our efforts and we are eager to provide the programs and
services that resonate with you.
With best wishes from Oxford,
Christine Fairchild
Oxford Teaching Fund
The preservation of the Oxford tutorial remains a shared
of the Colleges. The bedrock upon which the entire tutorial
system depends is a cohort of College-based teaching posts.
As the Collegiate University faces a series of steep budget
cuts in the years ahead, the importance of securing funding
for these posts has become all-the-more important. For this
reason, the University has
established the Oxford
Teaching Fund, a program
that provides 40% of the
funding required to endow
one of these teaching posts
from the profits of Oxford
University Press, with the Barrie & Deedee Wigmore
remainder of the money with Worcester Provost,
coming from benefactors. Richard Smethurst (in center)
For Barrie and Deedee Wigmore, this opportunity to help
both the University and Barries College, Worcester, had
great appeal. While the Wigmores have already provided
generous support in recent years to Worcester, the Bodleian,
and the Ashmolean, they outdid themselves in this latest act
of generosity by funding three posts: in Modern Philosophy,
Modern History, and Economics.
Barrie noted, Deedee and I are delighted to be able to
support Oxford in this way, in the hope that future
generations of students will be able to benefit from its
incomparable tutorial system.
3

University of Oxford North American Office
500 Fifth Avenue, 32nd Floor
New York, NY 10110
Dark Blues win the 157th Boat Race
The 157th Boat Race was held on Saturday 26 March
2011. Oxford University's Blue boat upset the odds to
win, beating Cambridge by four lengths.
The crews jostled for the lead until the halfway point,
when Oxford put in a surge before Hammersmith Bridge.
From there, under the watchful eye of experienced coach
Sean Bowden, the dark blues never looked back. The
dark blues, who opted for the Surrey side of the river
after winning the toss, eased to victory in a time of 17
minutes and 32 seconds.
Non Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
New York, NY
Permit No. 2377
Hilary Term 2011 Newsletter
New faces in Oxford
As Director of Alumni Relations, Christine
Fairchild is responsible for the strategic
direction of alumni relations at Oxford. She is
also Secretary to the Oxford University
Society (OUS). She succeeds Lady Nancy
Kenny and has been in post since 7 March.
Liesl Elder, Director of Development at the
University of Edinburgh, is to become Oxfords
new Director of Development in September 2011.
She succeeds Sue Cunningham who has held the
post of Director of Development at Oxford since
2006.
Professor Peter Tufano is the new Peter Moores
Dean of Oxfords Sad Business School as of
1 July. Previously of Harvard Business School,
Professor Tufano replaces outgoing Dean,
Professor Colin Mayer.