Somerville’s Development team are responsible for managing Somerville’s relationship with its alumni and for raising funds and support for the college.
Our Development Team, led by the Director of Development, Sara Kalim, work to create a strong and active alumni community and help the college meet the challenges of the future. From our earliest days, charitable giving from hundreds of alumni and supporters has had a transformational impact at Somerville, helping to construct virtually all the buildings on our central site, expand our outreach and inclusivity efforts, and support students in need.
The Development Office
Elizabeth Cooke
Secretary, Somerville Alumni AssociationOur beloved Liz (née Greenwood, 1964, History) has been at Somerville more years than she cares to remember. She now shares the job of Secretary to the Alumni Association with Lisa Gygax, and in this role she is interested in everything that Somervillians do and encourages alumni involvement with the College as much as possible.
Lisa Gygax
Joint Secretary of the Somerville AssociationLisa Gygax (1987, PPE) has been Liz Cooke’s ‘apprentice’ since 2014. In her role as joint Secretary to the Alumni Association she shares Liz’s keen interest in the myriad of pursuits that Somervillians get up to after leaving Oxford. Her role extends to stewarding our various alumni networks.
Clare Finch
Deputy Director of Development (Operations)Clare manages the day-to-day operations of the Development and Alumni Relations team, orchestrating high-level campaign events and overseeing Somerville’s stewardship programme for donors..
Jessica Mannix
Director, Margaret Thatcher Scholarship Trust and Campaign DirectorAs Director for the Margaret Thatcher Scholarship Trust, Jessica oversees the financial aspects of the Trust and ensures that the objects of the charity are met. She works closely with the Director of the Thatcher Scholarship Programme, the Principal, Development Director, Trustees and Patrons in the execution of her role.
As we enter a new phase of fundraising to meet the College’s five-year strategy, Jessica has taken on the role of Campaign Director, working closely with the Development Director and Principal on the fundraising strategy, developing campaign messages, setting goals and developing the projects and tools that will allow the team to achieve the ambitious targets.
Niamh Walshe
Regular Giving and Alumni Relations ExecutiveNiamh read English and Modern Languages (Italian) at Somerville from 2015-19. She then completed an MSc in Book History and Material Culture at the University of Edinburgh before returning to Somerville in September 2020.
As Regular Giving and Alumni Relations Executive, Niamh is responsible for the Cedar Circle – Somerville’s new initiative to recognise those who make a regular gift to the College. In her Alumni Relations role, she leads our young alumni events, helping recent graduates and leavers stay connected to their College community.
Niamh also helps co-ordinate Somerville’s College of Sanctuary activities including fundraising and events, and is the first point of contact for enquiries relating to our Sanctuary work.
Jack Evans
Communications OfficerJack (he/him) is part of the College’s Communications team, along with the Communications Manager, Matt Phipps.
The comms team manages Somerville’s social media presence and website, as well as working on the team’s regular publications and reporting on College life and research. They also deal with enquiries from the press.
They are available Mon-Fri for enquiries on the phone number and email address below.
Sara Kalim
Fellow and Director of DevelopmentSara Kalim read Classics at Somerville from 1990-94. She then spent 14 years in the media, working as Head of Development for two major television production companies. Her work included developing access and ideas, and fundraising for documentaries and current affairs programming.
Sara has most recently worked for the University of Oxford for three years at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Department of Politics and International Relations, where she held responsibility for financial and strategic planning, and played an instrumental role in securing journalism scholarships from a variety of funding sources.
As Director of Development, Sara oversees Somerville’s fundraising strategy and development, is responsible for fundraising campaigns (including for the Margaret Thatcher Scholarship Trust and the Oxford India Centre), and heads up the Development Team. She is also a member of the College’s Management Team.
Sara has a long-standing family connection to India, with family coming from Patna, Bihar. She also studied at Somerville making her the perfect advocate to drive the further development of the Centre. Sara’s focus is on fundraising and profile-raising working with philanthropists and corporate partners.
If you are interested in making a gift, or are thinking about leaving a legacy, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Matt Phipps
Communications ManagerMatt leads Somerville’s Communications team.
Along with Somerville’s Communications Officer Jack Evans, Matt manages Somerville’s social media presence and website, as well as working on the team’s regular publications and reporting on College life and research. Matt and Jack also deal with enquiries from the press.
They are available Mon-Fri for enquiries on the phone number and email address below.