The Friends of the University of Sussex in the US

Make a donation to the Friends now via Groundspring.org

Whether you attended Sussex as a degree candidate or as a visiting, exchange, or 'study abroad' student, you are one of nearly 10,000 alumni in the United States. The Friends of the University of Sussex was founded to bring the Sussex mission to the States, and to bring the information and contacts alumni, friends, students and parents want to use to stay close to the University. Together, we renew friendships and relationships with our friends from our college days, and we help make positive and transformational changes for our future by supporting a university that is improving lives world-wide.

In addition to planned reunions and receptions in cities around the country throughout the year, the Friends plays a role in supporting university strategic plans and initiatives that touch the lives of alumni and friends in the US. In June 2009, the Board of the Friends of the University of Sussex voted to commit gift support to these strategic priorities:

Multiple masters and doctorate candidate scholarships for excellent American students doing research and work in key strategic academic programs, including the genome project and International Relations studies
The Newton Project, a massive undertaking to digitize and share all of the writings of Isaac Newton, free and on-line
The annual MacQuitty Prize, which recognizes science and engineering undergraduates who demonstrate tremendous potential for future study in their fields
The Centre for German Jewish Studies, the only centre of its kind in the UK.

Use this button to make a secure charitable gift to the Friends of The University of Sussex
via Groundspring.org if you are currently based in the US.

The Friends of the University of Sussex is a registered American 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation in good standing. The Friends organisation accepts charitable gifts from alumni, students, parents and friends in support of the University of Sussex. Charitable gifts to the Friends organisation are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

"I chose Sussex, and in particular SPRU, for its reputation as an international centre of rigorous and thoughtful interdisciplinary inquiry. I am thrilled to gain exposure to professors who are developing new, dynamic methods and effective strategies to better understand and address many of the issues I care about deeply. This is the reason I came to Sussex, and why I value this educational opportunity so highly."
- Elisa Arond, SPRU 2008

When you give to the Friends, you make change happen for Sussex

Raising funds for scholarships is a priority for the Board of the Friends of the University of Sussex. The Board, made up in its entirety of Sussex alumni, is keen to offer an increasing number of students from the US the opportunity to study at Sussex. With an international reputation as a leading research institution and interdisciplinary approach to teaching, Sussex is the first choice for many prospective students from the US. For some of these students, a scholarship from the Friends of the University of Sussex can make their aspiration of studying at Sussex and living abroad a reality. These same students, transformed by the enlightened experience of living as global citizens, become change agents and leaders with critical insights about working together across borders.

The Friends organisation participates in fundraising appeals in the fall and spring - we encourage you to join together with the Sussex community in the US to make an impact on the level of support the Friends can use to advance the University's mission.

Latest News:

Sussex Reunions in the USA 2010

Boston:
Monday, 22 March 2010
6:00-8:00 pm
British Consulate-General
One Broadway, 7th Floor, Cambridge MA 02142
Nearest T stations: Kendall (Red line. The Consulate is located within 2 minutes walk from the Station.)
Hosted by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Michael Farthing, and followed by a reception.

This special event will be a great opportunity to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones, whist hearing from the Vice-Chancellor about developments and plans for the future at Sussex.

We are delighted that Sussex alumnus Calestous Juma, Professor of the Practice of International Development and Director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School, will be our guest speaker. Professor Juma will talk on Innovation for Low-Carbon Growth: Opportunities for International Cooperation.

Please note that the British Consulate-General requires that guests bring a photo ID.

San Francisco:
Thursday 6 May 2010, 6:00-8:00pm
University Club of San Francisco
800 Powell Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 781-0900

For directions and parking information, please visit the club's website.

RSVP with your name and the name of your guest to americanfriends@sussex.ac.uk by 23rd April.

New York City:
Friday 7 May 2010, 6:00-8:00pm
NYU Torch Club
18 Waverly Place
New York, NY 10003
(212) 998-6724

The Torch Club is located on Waverly Place between Greene St. and Mercer St. in Greenwich Village. For directions, please see the Google maps link here.

View Larger Map

RSVP with your name and the name of your guest to americanfriends@sussex.ac.uk by 23rd April.

Join us to reconnect with old friends and learn what's new at University of Sussex.

Update your mailing information

Email your postal mail or email address updates to americanfriends@sussex.ac.uk or update contact details online so that your invitation reaches you.

Four new students selected by the Board to receive a scholarship to study at Sussex in 2009-10.

This year's group of outstanding students, Shaun Cheeseboro, John Matlak, William Russo and Kala Handagama, were all shortlisted by the Board to receive a scholarship for their masters degrees in Anthropology; Conflict, Security and Development; Environment, Development and Policy; and International Relations, respectively.

Raising funds for scholarships for American students is a priority for the Friends of the University of Sussex. With its international reputation as a leading research institution, Sussex is the first choice for many exceptional students from the US, and benefiting from a scholarship can make their aspiration of studying at Sussex a reality.

For the first time this year, and thanks to growing alumni support, the Board has approved a PhD scholarship for three years to a North American student. The successful candidate, Kristi Zimmerman, will join the team of Dr Penny Jeggo at the Sussex Genome Centre in October 2009 to work on DNA repair biology and the debilitating human diseases that are characterised by defects in this area. 'Words cannot express my gratitude for the Board's incredible generosity and openness in supporting me in my determination to return to Sussex as a research PhD student. I am continually amazed by the University of Sussex alumni, faculty and students and feel honoured to be a part of this community,' commented Kristi on receipt of the news about the scholarship.

We are incredibly grateful to alumni based in the US for supporting these scholarships. If you would like to receive more information about the Friends of the University of Sussex, or alumni events and activities in the US, please email americanfriends@sussex.ac.uk

"I first came to the University of Sussex just over 40 years ago in 1966, on a junior year abroad programme from the University of California (UC) at Berkeley. ...I was delighted some three years later to return to Sussex to do a master's degree in international relations. It was another academically exciting and most enjoyable year before returning to the grind of Harvard Law School. ...It is because of my memorable experience at Sussex and the desire that others may likewise be able to benefit from attending the University of Sussex that I was happy to contribute to the Friends of the University of Sussex and would urge those of you reading this webpage to do likewise." - Gary Ferman, SOC 1967

The Board of The Friends of The University of Sussex 2009-2010

Chair: Professor Andrew Rudd (MAPS 1968)
Secretary: Ms Judith Hasko (BIOLS 1984)
Treasurer: Dr Katherine Turner (BIOLS 1969)
Mr Chris Barbin (SOC 1992)
Mr Jonathan Catherwood (ENGAM 1984)
Professor Yasmine Ergas (EURO 1988)
Mr Peter Foges (SOC 1965)
Ms Rebecca Janowitz (ENGAM 1970)
Mr Jonathan Klein (ENGAM 1988)
Dr Douglas Kruse (ARTS 1972)
Dr Jonathan MacQuitty (SCITECH 1974)
Mr Stephen Plum (ENGAM 1975)
Dr John Sedlins (ARTS 1974)
Mr Leonard Shaykin (1966)