University of Oxford North American Office MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR People People who need peop Are the luckiest people in the world So go the opening lyries for the song People from the Broadway musical and film, Funny Girl. As you probably know, Barbara Streisand sang the song in both versions and it went on to become one of her signature pieces. With all due respect to Ms. Streisand however, I have always thought that this song belongs to people in my line of work — development and alumni relations ~ although I'l leave the actual crooning to others. At the risk of stating the obvious, fundraising efforts and alumni gatherings don’t work without the people who provide the money and those who attend the events. But while these folks are important, they are, in effect, the last piece of the puzzle. ‘Over the past several years, iny colleagues and I have been among the luckiest of people as we have been able to work with three wonderful members of the Oxford community Paul Dodyk, Sarah Thomas, and Christopher Brown without whose help our efforts on behalf of this great University would not have been nearly enjoyable. All three have recently left roles they have held ‘with distinction for some time, so my colleagues and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them on behalf of the entire Oxford community s productive or Paul Dodyk (Magdalen’59, Rhodes) joined the Board of Directors of Americans for Oxford, Inc. (AFO) in 1997 and served as its Chairman from 2001 November 2013. In that timefram has provided a great service to the entire Collegiate University by taking a leading role in guiding AFO and ensuring that the gifts that were so generously entrusted to it by alumni and friends were vetted and distributed with professionalism and care. Working with the North American Office, AFO oversaw the transfer of more than $500 million to various parts of the University community during Paul’s tenure. While all of us who care about the University would owe him a great deal of thanks iff that was his sole involvement with Oxford, our gratitude is eeu See Cue ose all the more great since he simultaneously served as a supporter, advisor, and friend to a wide cross-section of the University community ~ including Magdalen College, the Rhodes Trust, the Rothermere American Institute, and the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies. Thank you, Paull My colleagues and I agree that it was an honor and a pleasure to be part of Sarah Thomas’s historic tenure as Bodley’s Librarian. In taking on this role, Sarah was both the first woman and the first American to lead an institution that has long been the star jewel in Oxford’s crown. To say that she succeeded in the role would be a gross understatement. While the Bodley had se taken important steps toward modernization before Sarah’s arrival, she was able to turbo charge these plans and add a new sense of vigor and vitality to the leadership of the Library. Her efforts led to a string of vitally important successes: from the digitization of hundreds of thousands of books free-of-charge through the Google Books program, to the raising of the funds needed to complete the transformation of the New Bodleian Library (generally agreed to be the ugliest and least user-friendly building in Oxford), to the soon-to-be- opened Weston Library, which promises to have a transformative impact across the University. Her ability to connect with alumni, potential donors, benefactors and members of the wider Oxford community made the work of my colleagues and me all-the-more productive and enjoyable. A few weeks ago, Sarah left Oxford for Cambridge (Massachusetts, not the Other Place) to become Vice-President for the Harvard Library. She leaves the Bodleian a much better place than how she found it. Thank you, Sarah! Christopher Brown’s success as Director of the Ashmolean Museum is the latest example. When Christopher returned to Oxford (he was a student at St Catz before A a distinguished career at the National Gallery), I would have made a large wager against him being able to transform the sleepy and rather dusty Ashmolean into what it has become —a spectacular resource for Oxford, the UK, and the world, As you may have From time to time, I am reminded of how lucky I am not to be a betting man, Continued on Pa easedMessage from the Executive Director re ce ee Oxford in North America 2013 Events heard, more than 1.2 million people visited the Ashmolean last year, and with good reason. The creation of an extremely well- {designed addition to the back of the historic building increased exhibition space by 100% and allowed new rays of light ~ both literally and figuratively — to enter the Museum. In addition to reinstalling the permanent collection in a thought-provoking way, the Ashmolean now plays host to wonderful temporary exhibits, with shows featuring the work of Malcolm Morley and a stunning exhibit comparing and contrasting Henry Moore and Francis Bacon as the latest examples. It would be easy, but entirely wrong, to forget that all of these accomplishments, originated with the vision and leadership of one man — thank you, Christopher! While Paul, Sarah, and Christopher will all be replaced in their respective roles, neither they nor their work on behalf of Oxford will soon be forgotten. Best regards, myelin En Michael G. Cunningham, FRSA Executive Director University of Oxford North American Office Tara i ins for Oxford It is with great pleasure that we announce that Neil Simpkins (Lady Margaret Hall, *84) succeeded Paul Dodyk as Chairman of the Board of Americans for Oxford, Inc. on 5 November 2013. An honors graduate who read Physies at LMH, Mr. Simpkins has been an active volunteer and benefactor to the collegiate University, serving as a ‘member of both LMH’s Advisory Council and the AFO Board since 2008, Mr. Simpkins is a Senior Managing Director at The Bl Group, based in New York. He is a member of the firm's Private Equity Executive Committee with global responsibility for portfolio management and investments in the healthcare services and industrial sectors. Prior to joining Blackstone in 1998, Mr. Simpkins was a Principal at Bain Capital, where he was involved with investments in the consumer products, industrial, healthcare, and information industries. He had also served as a consultant at Bain & Company in the Asia Pacific region and in London, We are delighted Mr. Simpkins has assumed his new role as Chairman of AFO, and look forward to working with him on behalf of Oxford. tone ‘The 2013 Oxford in North America special events series commenced in Canada with a drinks reception hosted by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nick Rawlins at the McGill Faculty Club. This was the University’s first visit to Montreal in 1 years and it provided attendees with the opportunity to interact with one another, meet Professor Rawlins, and get an update on the latest news from Oxford. The next stop on Oxford’s cross-continental tour was ‘Toronto, where alumni and friends met the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for a drinks reception at the Fairmont Royal York, Montreal ‘The University then went coast-to-coast. Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Hamilton and his wife Jennie, hosted their first event of this tour in Manhattan for over 150 guests who braved a spring snow storm J to reach the Century Association, while Professor Rawlins hosted a drinks party at The Vancouver Club. The bicoastal theme continued as the Vice-Chancellor and Mrs. Hamilton traveled to Washington, DC and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor headed to Seattle, The Vice-Chancellor and Mrs. Hamilton had a “capital” start to their day with a meeting at the Supreme Court of the United States with Justices Stephen Breyer (Magdalen’59) and Elena Kagan (Worcester’81). That evening, the Hamiltons hosted a drinks reception at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel. The Pro- Vice-Chancellor hosted a drinks party for Oxonians in Seattle at the Sorrento Hotel. New York City Vancouver Next, the Vice-Chancellor and Pro- Vice-Chancellor formed united Oxford delegation in Palo Alto, holding an event at the Stanford Park Hotel. Also on hand were US Campaign Co-Chair, Michael Moritz (Christ Church’73) and the Oxonian founder of Linkedin, Reid Hoffman (Wolfson’90), Palo Alo Continued —pa Moo eee Oxford in North America 2013 Events (continued) £75 million donation to the Rhodes Trust “The final event of the Oxford in North America series was The McCall MacBain held atthe Hyatt Regency Century Plaza and followed a Foundation, a grant-making d different format than its predecessors, featuring a half-day organization established by | py te academic program, The two academic sessions centered Tohn (Wadham, 1980) and | RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS around Dr. Alan J. Barr, a Marcy McCall MacBain, lecturer in Particle Physics ~ announced a lead and Fellow of Merton College donation of £75 million to and Dr. Bryan Ward-Perkins j the Rhodes Trust towards i Director of the Ertegun 1) the future expansion of the Graduate Scholarships in the =| world’s most prestigious Humanities and a Fellow and 4 Ks international graduate scholarship program. Tutor in History at Trinity Los Angeles College. The gift, the largest since the establishment of the Scholarships in 1903, will enable the Trust to continue to send future global We are grateful forall of the alumni and friends who leaders to the University of Oxford. It consists of a £25 million came out to see us throughout North America and are grant, a £25 million challenge/match donation to encourage looking forward to seeing new faces at the additional fundraising, and a future £25 million to expand the 2015 Oxford in North America Events! Scholarships into new geographies. Please visit www.oxfordna.org to view photos of the events. Read the complete press release at: www.ox.ae.uk/media (keyword: MacBain) as q LOVE TO READ? y Did you know that alumni benefit from: ‘© Continued access to the Bodleian libraries, in Oxford and online QD + Journal artices and research papers online through JSTOR and \ Oxford's Open Access database as ‘+ 15% discount at Blackwell in-store and online, as well as their exclusive alumni bookshop featuring Oxford authors * Oxford Today book reviews ‘+ Exclusive author events and book signings * And coming soon - an alumni book club! wit Join the alumni books and learning mailing list for regular news about all this and more... www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/learnNon Profit Or. wersity of Oxford North American Office US Postage Fifth Avenue, 32nd Fl PAID sw York, NY 10110 New Yk NY OXFORD, Michaelmas 2013 Newsletter PCPA croc RNC eta!) Re featuring Bodleian Exhibit: Books that Changed the World Coe ey ena The University’s program will feature historic and dazzling items from Reece Naren are aR Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andrew Hamilton, Numerous College and ‘alumni Weekend in Dp Ye aon SCS TIRE ca eteee nce ara on coe cot NouREMMegirer Raa One literary masterpiece that will be on display is Pliny the Elder, from a copy of the Natural History printed in 1476, and richly illuminated for the Florentine banker and statesman Filippo Strozzi (1428-1491), Peer Un Aces ce en COR ee ono ee aN Re Ce ey