As 2022 faded into 2023, we were thrilled to learn of the New Year Honours conferred on three Somervillians, two of whom were neighbours together in Margery Fry during their student days: The lawyer Dr Ann Olivarius (1978, DPhil Social Studies) was awarded an OBE for services to justice and to women and equality, while Dr Philippa Tudor (1978, DPhil Modern History) was made CBE for services to the House of Lords. They are joined by Intensive Care Consultant Dr Joel Meyer (2000, Medicine) who received an MBE for his work at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital during the Covid-19 Pandemic, which included co-founding the Life Lines service to allow patients to connect with their families through the use of a tablet. You can read more about them here, and if you received an honour that we don’t know about yet, you can let us know here.
These two honours have set the tone for 2023 as a year of progress and change. Oxford now has a new Vice-Chancellor, Irene Tracey, whose charismatic and people-centred leadership will ensure Oxford remains a pinnacle of free thinking and excellence. Somerville is poised to support these changes. We have new Fellows working on the cutting-edge of engineering, sustainability, law and international relations, to name but a few of the many talented academics working here.
