Criminology (1996)

Lene Northwood

As a person who grew up on the opposite side of the planet to a family that had no history of attending university, the idea of me attending Cambridge was, quite frankly, laughable. Then I fell in love with Criminology and wrote a thesis that caught the attention of the College. It is just one example of the incredibly outward looking approach that, in the decades that I have known the College, has defined ��. One letter with a now familiar letterhead, quite literally raised my expectations of life from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Now, almost twenty-five years after that letter, I know that no other institution has shaped my life and provided as many incredible opportunities as �� has. Many people ask me if, coming from such a different part of the world, I ever felt out of place. My response is that �� is one of the few places on earth that I have ever felt completely at home.

Join Lene in giving back to ��.

Hear from our alumni

Johnny Harounoff and Stephanie Posner

Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (2013) and Classics (2012)

We met 10 years ago as undergraduates living in the same staircase in North Court and have since been studying and working in the United States. The College was so accommodating to us by providing us — and other Jewish students — with kosher facilities and by supporting the creation of the College's first Jewish Society. For us, the College is full of happy memories thanks to the friends we made and for all of the kindness shown to us from the porters, professors and staff. That sense of community...

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Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (2013) and Classics (2012)
Rafi Levy and Max Turner

Computer Science (2019) and Architecture and Urban Design (2019)

We first met in 2021 when we joined the May Ball committee as webmaster and graphic designer. We spent a lot of time together that year, working closely to create a graphic scheme and build a website for the event. Even though it was a lot of hard work and very stressful at times, we are so grateful to have been part of it as it is thanks to that opportunity that we became great friends. A couple of years later, we are still great friends and now have a...

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Computer Science (2019) and Architecture and Urban Design (2019)
John Arrastia

Law (1995)

I came to Cambridge at the suggestion of a Professor who was visiting the US. I borrowed the funds to study there. What appealed to me at Jesus was that it was so inclusive and embracing. I played golf with the Porters and rugby with the staff. I dined with the other students, socialised with the Fellows, danced with the Master’s wife, and really got to know people. My friends and colleagues were engineers, doctors, politicians, religious scholars, undergrads, lawyers, professors – basically every stripe of humanity one could find...

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Law (1995)
Mark Hayes and Janet Livesley

Architecture (1976) and Architecture (1980)

We first met in 1980 when Mark returned to Jesus to study for the postgraduate diploma in Architecture and Janet joined the college on the same course. Graduate dinners in Upper Hall were a highlight of the week and an opportunity to meet socially with other Jesuans. Part of our studies included trips to Zambia and an earthquake-hit area in Southern Italy. We were married in the College Chapel just after completing our studies in the summer of 1982 and remained in Cambridge for a period following Mark’s election to...

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Architecture (1976) and Architecture (1980)
Philip Slotkin

Modern and Medieval Languages (1958)

As a "bright kid" from a non-academic background I had to adjust quickly on arrival at Jesus, but I soon made friends and was never made to feel that I did not fit in socially. Since my wife and I have no children, it was to �� that my thoughts turned with advancing years, and given the attachment to the College that I felt from the beginning it was obvious that Jesus would be a major beneficiary of my Will. This intention was only reinforced by the unstinting assistance...

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Modern and Medieval Languages (1958)