Posted on behalf of Jeane Copenhaver-Johnson and Rachel Gould
We are pleased to announce that Professor Catherine Weidner, currently chair of the Department of Theatre Arts, will serve as Interim Director of the ICLC London for the 2021-2022 academic year, joining Associate Director Orla McCormick and her London-based team. Together, they will coordinate the anticipated reopening (pending all safety clearances, which are not guaranteed) of the Center in Fall 2021. During the 2021-2022 year, the College and the London-based faculty/staff will consider and update the administrative structures of the ICLC site and will establish a long-term vision for the work of the Center. This preparation will allow the College to frame and initiate a search for ongoing ICLC leadership.
As many members of our community are aware, the IC London Center has been closed to students since March 2020 due to the ongoing pandemic. In the interim, we have also experienced the retirement and sudden passing of Director Thorunn Lonsdale, whose genuine dedication leading the center and working with faculty, staff, and students was felt by everyone who had the privilege of working or learning with her. Since October 2020, Associate Director Orla McCormick has been caring for ICLC, managing the affairs of the campus, working with the campus staff, collaborating with Ithaca-based partners, and helping to prepare the Center for a safe reopening.
The IC London Center, established in 1972, has welcomed generations of IC students. The courses, internships, and other experiential learning opportunities offer unforgettable experiences to students eager to participate in an immersive curriculum focused on British culture. The College also sponsors a London Faculty Sabbatical Program, which will welcome Prof. Howard Kalman in Fall 2022 for a deferred faculty sabbatical semester. (Applications for Spring 2023 will be advertised in Fall 2021 with a deadline of December 15.)
We extend our thanks to Prof. Catherine Weidner and to Orla McCormick for their upcoming collaborations in service of the ICLC.