2025 Koch History Centre Fellows Announced

Date Published: 27.08.2025

The Faculty of History and Wadham College, Oxford, are delighted to announce the names of the inaugural Koch History Centre Fellows, appointed for the academic year 2025-2026 on the theme of Religion and the State.

The Fellows will pursue independent research projects while at the Centre, coming together to discuss the historiographical implications of their work through a regular seminar series. The Koch Centre represents the largest ever philanthropic donation to History at Oxford and is particularly welcome at a time when other institutions are having to cut back their funding of the humanities.

“The study of big questions in history has fascinated me since my teens.  I am delighted to see this Centre established at Oxford, with its unparalleled excellence in research and teaching.”

Richard Koch (History, 1968), author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist

“The Koch History Centre is a wonderful testament to the enduring value of history research at Oxford, and we are delighted to welcome the inaugural cohort of Koch Fellows this year. It’s an auspicious moment for the university with the Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities opening to students, staff, and the public this autumn, underlining the power and centrality of the Humanities in the wider world.”

Professor Daniel Grimley, Head of the Humanities Division

“We are deeply grateful to Richard for this gift. It is a powerful validation of the importance of studying history, and a sign of confidence in the humanities. It also underlines the life-changing impact of the tutorial education which we have maintained here at Wadham over the generations”.

Robert Hannigan