April 2026

'This year’s Telethon reflected the joy of connection; connection across disciplines, across borders, and across walks of life. It has been so rewarding to witness so many amazing bonds being forged throughout this year’s Telethon, where Balliol student callers shared updates from the College, noted words of wisdom, and exchanged anecdotes with Old Members across the world. We are so grateful to everyone who has supported Balliol students with a gift, and for taking the time to speak with us. Your generosity means that every Balliol student can thrive. Thank you.'

Sydney Burns, Alumni and Development Intern

COLLEGE NEWS

Photos of John Chu and Prof Elaine Treharne

New Fellows and Academic Visitors

A warm welcome to John Chu (Keeper of Western Art, Garlick Fellow and Professorial Fellow) and Professor Elaine Treharne (Oliver Smithies Visiting Lecturer), who join Balliol this Trinity Term.

A group of students walking across Balliol's Garden Quad

Balliol welcomes new offer-holders to College

Balliol was pleased to welcome its newest offer-holders to the College on 31 March 2026 for a day of visits and activities designed to introduce them to life at Balliol.

A student smiling and looking into the camera

Telethon 2026: conversations across generations

This year's Telethon helped support opportunities for current and future Balliol students, while connecting students and Old Members through conversations across generations.

Meet the 2026 Pathfinders

We are delighted to introduce this year’s William Westerman Pathfinders, who will travel across North America and Asia this summer, meeting Old Members and undertaking research projects along the way.

ALUMNI NEWS

Alumnus awarded British Crystallographic Association prize

Adam Sapnik (2014) has been awarded the 2026 Physical Crystallography Prize by the British Crystallographic Association.

Head of Reparations role for Old Member

Keon West (2006) has been appointed as the inaugural Head of Reparations at the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT), a philanthropic organisation endowed by the Rowntree family.

BALLIOL ON THE WEB

Obituaries
Ian Watson (1960): Locus Magazine
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Professor Tim Soutphommasane (Chief Diversity Officer, Professor of Practice in Human Rights and Political Theory, and Senior Research Fellow): 'Take heart, Keir Starmer - Australia's PM faced similarly dim prospects, and he triumphed', The Guardian
Dan Snow (1998): 'Egypt with Dan Snow', 5

PUBLICATIONS

David Critchley (1974) (transl.), Shall He Find Faith on the Earth?: A Critical Account of the Crisis in the Church, by Abbé Claude Barthe (Angelico, 2026)
Professor Meena Dhanda (1987) (co-ed.), Routledge Handbook of Punjab Studies (Routledge, 2026)
Professor Carolyn Heinrich (George Eastman Visiting Professor 2022–2023) and Michael Gibson (2023, DPhil Public Policy), Contracting for Public Value (Oxford University Press, 2026)
Sir Julian Knowles (1987), Nicholls, Montgomery, and Knowles on The Law of Extradition and Mutual Assistance (Oxford University Press, 2025)
Nicholas Tate (1961), Seven Books that Everyone Once Read and No One Now Does (Ludovika University Press, 2025)

If you would like us to mention any significant work published this year or last, please send details to Yingying Jiang. Previously submitted publications are listed on the alumni publications page.

Balliol College, Oxford, OX1 3BJ, United Kingdom, +44 (0)1865 277690

Balliol College is a registered charity in England and Wales (No. 1144032) and is registered with the Fundraising Regulator. This email is created by the Development Office for Balliol alumni and circulated to current members.