Fordham University celebrated the grand opening of its London Centre at Heythrop College Wednesday, Sept. 16, with acclaimed English actress Honor Blackman, a performance by the London Dramatic Academy, and a reception for Fordham alumni, friends, faculty and students.
“The London Centre not only gives Fordham students unparalleled study abroad opportunities, it brings the best of Fordham to London,” said Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham. “A great education is increasingly an international education, and in the best Jesuit tradition, Fordham is anticipating what its students will need to take their place in the global marketplace.”
From Left to Right: John N. Tognino, chairman of the Fordham Board of Trustees; Stephen Freedman, Ph.D., senior vice president/chief academic officer; Honor Blackman; Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham. Photo by Marta Demartini
The evening featured remarks by Blackman, well known for the roles in The Avengers television series and as a “Bond girl” in Goldfinger; a reception for alumni and guests; and theatrical performances by the London Dramatic Academy, introduced by its director, Richard Digby Day.
Other special guests included Father McShane; John N. Tognino, chairman of Fordham’s Board of Trustees; John McDade, S.J., principal of Heythrop College; Juanita Foley and Abraham Solcedo, UK alumni chapter leaders; study abroad students and members of the London Centre staff.
“On this joyous night the faculty and staff of the Centre welcome alumni from across Europe to Fordham’s home in London,” said Stephen Freedman, Ph.D., senior vice president/chief academic officer at Fordham. “At Heythrop, we bring all of the University’s London programs under one roof, allowing us to offer our students a rich undergraduate curriculum, and a base from which to collaborate with other Jesuit institutions in the United States. Heythrop is the intellectual heart of our study abroad programs in Europe.”
Fordham began its affiliation with Heythrop College, the Jesuit specialist Philosophy and Theology College of the University of London, in spring 2009, creating a home in Kensington Square for Fordham’s programs, including its London Dramatic Academy, spring semester program in the College of Business Administration as well as two CBA summer programs.
A constituent college of the University of London (UL), Heythrop was established in 1614 in Belgium by the Society of Jesus, and was relocated to England during the French Revolution. It moved to central London in 1970, when it joined the University of London.
