A Return to Pembroke College, for the 12^th Annual Oxford Alumni Weekend, 2018  by Terry Slesinski-Wykowski

Whenever I return to my “second home”, Pembroke College, for the Oxford University Alumni “Meeting of Minds” Weekends, I find inspiration for my life and my work! It may have come in the past at a dinner at Pembroke sitting next to the late Sir Roger Bannister, or my “adopted uncles” Brian Wilson, the late Dr. Keith Lovel or more recently with Tim Brindley, or Gill Coates and the many fascinating fellow alumni with whom I dined at Hall throughout the years. Inspiration and knowledge also abounds in my meetings all around the University most notably with my fellow Pembrokians, our Master Lynne Brindley, Professor Matthew Freeman, Nicholas Cole or Stephen Tuck. During the Oxford alumni weekend, one need not venture out of Pembroke to enjoy the stimulating programs designed each year for alumni “returning home”. This year, Broadgates was filled with Fellows and Development Office Staff as a first stop welcome followed by a lunchtime music recital by Tim Keasley (2011), a Talk by Professor Adrian Gregory (“The Great War and the Making of Religion”), Chapel Service, reception drinks, and a Black-Tie Dinner.

Beyond Pembroke, lectures, recitals, tours, University updates from the Chancellor, Chris Patten and Vice-Chancellor, Louise Richardson, presentation of cutting-edge research, and “tastings” were the smorgasbord of rich experiences that were relished by my husband, Jim, business partner, Neil Douglas and me at both Pembroke and all-around Oxford. I had the great pleasure of meeting Shantanu Surpure from Nevada soon to be a Londoner on Sunday at an “Oxford and Film” Tour.

When I walked into the Hall for the first time this year, I was thrilled to see my fellow alumna, Michelle Peluso’s portrait hung in a prominent spot highlighting the contributions of this talented young woman to our College. On the opposite wall last year, we witnessed the hanging of the portrait of Professor Matthew Freeman, shortly after we met with him that week. To me, this attests to the recognition of our College of its alumni of the present along with the esteemed Masters and Members of the past.

The “likeness of mind and spirit” was also ignited with my conversations with Dan Vasquez and Vinnie Indelicato for the first time over the phone a couple of months ago and later as I met Dan in San Francisco in April for the North American Alumni Reunion.

In September this year at Pembroke, highlights for me were being with my fellow alumni whom I treasure meeting each year, meeting our new energetic Development Director, Alice Gosling, who I know will bring a valuable partnership to Lynne Brindley’s ambitious vision for Pembroke.

I was proud to see and later meet Christopher Mack (1983), awarded the Distinguished Friend of Oxford Award by Louise Richardson, joining me in receiving this great honor as I did in 2016.

These wonderful five days at Pembroke were followed by the treat of a week on the Isle of Wight, thanks to the generosity of Gill Coates which inspired the purchase of our new home in Houston!