Highlights from 2022

Rosie Walsh, JCR President in 2021, won the Student Union’s College Community Award for exceptional hard work reviving the friendly atmosphere and sense of community that Regent’s is known for after two difficult periods when the College had to close due to Covid.

Ministerial student Amanda Higgin won Theology Slam 2022 for her talk on ‘recovery’. Theology Slam showcases the most engaging young voices on theology and the contemporary world. The competition is judged by some of the top theologians and communicators in the Christian world.

Dr Lynn Robson, Fellow in English Literature, was recognised by the President of Georgetown College, Kentucky for her fifteen years of service as the Director of the Visiting Students Programme. Regent’s continues to be enriched by its relationships with all its partner universities and by the visiting students who become part of the College community each year.

As Michaelmas term 2022 drew to a close, we thanked Elizabeth Crawford for her exceptional service and commitment to the College as Interim Principal for the last four terms.

Eliott Thompson (History, 2019) was awarded a Gibbs Prize in recognition of an outstanding performance in History, having received the best finals results in History of a student from an access background.

Lecturer in Politics Mathis Ebbinghaus won an Early Career Award in the Social Sciences Division Teaching Excellence Awards, which recognises an exceptional contribution to education by colleagues at any career stage.

Regent’s is a partner in the Sam Sharpe project, so we were thrilled to host the 10th Sam Sharpe Lecture here at the University of Oxford in October with speaker Professor Kehinde Andrews.

Josie Osborne (Geography, 2019) played for Oxford University in the Women’s Rugby Varsity match at Twickenham, and Gabrielle Smith (Water Science, Policy and Management, 2021) rowed for Oxford in the Blue Boat at the Oxford/Cambridge Boat Race.

It was a privilege to host Alban Kurti, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, during his visit in June to speak at the Oxford Union. Prime Minister Kurti came to prominence in 1997 as the Vice-President of the University of Pristina Student Union and organiser of non-violent demonstrations in the late 90s. His role as Prime Minister is perceived as an essential factor of stability in the Western Balkans. With thanks to MCR member Israr Khan, who is studying for a DPhil in Socio-Legal Studies and is a committee member of the Oxford Union.

Three beautiful new stainedglass windows were unveiled in Regent’s Chapel in April. The windows were originally commissioned by Revd Dr Myra Blyth during her time as Chaplain. We are indebted to Nicholas Mynheer for his beautiful designs and to glass painter Stephen Cowan who brought the artwork to life.

Chapel highlights included a guest appearance of Oxford’s internationally acclaimed acapella group, Out of the Blue (in which Regent’s is well represented!), to help lead worship with a difference.