Reconnecting with North American Alumni

The Warden, Robert Hannigan, and his wife Celia travelled with the Director of Development, Julie Hage, to visit alumni communities in Toronto and New York as part of their North America trip. It was the College’s first visit to Toronto in several years, and a welcome opportunity to reconnect with alumni after far too long.

In Toronto, Wadham alumna Eileen Gillese (Law, 1977) generously hosted a reception in her home. She offered thoughtful reflections on the lasting value of her Wadham education, especially the tutorial system that had shaped her and many others in the room. The evening brought together alumni from a wide range of years and professions, who rekindled old Oxford friendships, made new connections, and celebrated the shared influence of their time at Wadham. For the College team, it was a vivid reminder of the extraordinary contributions Wadham alumni continue to make around the world.

From Toronto, the Warden, Celia, and Julie travelled on to New York, where they were joined by Barnaby Norman, the Deputy Director of Development. Around fifty alumni came together at the University Club of New York for a reception kindly hosted by Ronnie Stewart (Law, 1962).

New York is home to one of Wadham’s largest overseas alumni communities, and it was a pleasure to see so many friends of the College—from Sarah Lawrence alumni and Wadham Experience participants to Honorary Fellow Kathleen Sullivan (PPE, 1976). The visit also offered a glimpse of the city’s distinctive energy—heightened by the backdrop of the mayoral election—which added to the sense of momentum and engagement throughout the trip.

At both gatherings, the Warden spoke about what gives him hope during a period of turbulence and uncertainty in the world and in higher education. Drawing on Wadham’s 17th-century heritage, he reflected on how moments of upheaval have so often sparked pioneering thought and innovation—something still evident today in the work of Wadham’s Fellows, whose research addresses urgent global challenges, and in the College’s students, who are resourceful, hardworking, and determined to make a positive difference.

Recognising the financial pressures currently facing higher education, including the underfunding of Oxford’s tutorial system, the Warden outlined the College’s developing campaign to strengthen its endowment and secure this distinctive, life-changing model of education for generations to come. The message resonated strongly with North American alumni, who are well acquainted with the essential role philanthropy plays in sustaining educational institutions and who continue to be generous supporters of Wadham.

Across both cities, the sense of engagement, optimism, and affection for Wadham was unmistakable. The gatherings highlighted the intellectual curiosity of the College’s alumni communities, the friendships that connect them, and their shared commitment to supporting Wadham’s mission.