University of Sussex Alumni Network

Did you know that the 10 December marks Human Rights Day? The day serves as "a reminder of the ongoing importance of equality, justice, and dignity for all people worldwide" [Source: United Nations].

Today we wanted to share this interview from Falmer magazine where Human Rights Champion Justice Albie Sachs (Sociology 1967) talks to recent graduate and Mandela Scholar Mpogi Mafoko (Conflict, Security and Development 2021) about his Sussex experience and what the future holds for their home country of South Africa.

Read and listen to the discussion here: https://archive.sussex.ac.uk/news/falmer/2022/people/the-pursuit-of-justice

A new research centre focused on sustaining digital Holocaust memory, was launched last month at the Imperial War Museum, London.

The Landecker Digital Memory Lab sits across the Weidenfeld Institute of Jewish Studies and the University of Sussex’s Digital Humanities Lab, in the Faculty of Media, Arts and Humanities. It will act as a central hub for interdisciplinary knowledge exchange and research on digital Holocaust memory, while helping to combat the growing challenge to expert knowledge on the subject in digital spaces.

Find out more:

Landecker Digital Memory Lab launches at the Imperial War Museum A new research centre focused on sustaining digital Holocaust memory was launched this week at a special event at the Imperial War Museum, London.

We were delighted to welcome back Sussex alumna Andrea Valdés (MA Geopolitics and Grand Strategy 2018) back to campus recently from Mexico! Andrea has volunteered her time as a mentor since 2022 and has also spoke online to current students about her career journey at our annual Make it Happen series of events.

It's such a joy to be able to stay connected with our alumni from all across the globe! 🌍

Find out more about how you can get involved: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/alumni/get-involved

We’re delighted to let you know that a Sussex alumni holiday social in Washington DC will take place next week on Thursday 12 December at 6.30pm at The Crown & Crow.

This is a great opportunity to meet with your fellow alumni, share memories of your university days with old friends and make new contacts in the city with whom you have a common connection.

The event is kindly hosted by volunteer Alumni Consul Lopaka Purdy.

Please click here to register your place: https://alumni.sussex.ac.uk/sussex-alumni-holiday-social-in-washington-dc

📸 Photo is from last year's alumni holiday gathering!

It's that time of the year when you can visit the Royal Pavilion Ice Rink! ⛸

Did you ever go during your time at Sussex?

📸Photo from our 2023 Alumni Yearbook.

This International Volunteer Day we wanted to say a big thank you to all our alumni and friends who volunteer their time to the Sussex community!

Through mentoring students and alumni on Sussex Connect to representing Sussex across the globe as an Alumni Consul to volunteering time to speak about their career journeys; we are grateful for the many different ways our alumni volunteer their time. ❤

Find out more about you can get involved here: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/alumni/get-involved

Did you know that today is World Wildlife Conservation Day? 🌳🌸

As part of the Big Biodiversity Conservation, Sussex has committed to increasing the percentage of campus biodiversity from the 2022 baseline of 38% to 42% by December 2027!

Find out more about biodiversity on campus: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/about/sustainable-university/get-involved/biodiversity

Meet Sussex alum, Chevening scholar, Top Sociology Scholar awardee and now PhD candidate in Public Health at the University of Cape Town, Landa Mabenge.

Landa is also an educationalist through his independent consultancy, Landa Mabenge Consulting, and is the author of the book, ‘Becoming Him: A Trans Memoir of Triumph.’

We spoke to Landa about his Sussex journey and how his Chevening Scholarship impacted him: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/alumni/news-events/news?id=66448

Coming full circle Chevening Scholar, Landa Mabenge tells how Sussex not only shaped his journey as a Black transgender man, it was the catalyst for his academic career.

Sussex scientists, as part of an international research team, have discovered three ultra-massive galaxies – nearly as massive as the Milky Way –reshaping our understanding of galaxy formation in the early Universe.

Find out more:

Scientists discover ‘Red Monster’ galaxies in the early Universe An international team has discovered three ultra-massive galaxies, known as “Red Monsters”, in the early Universe forming at unexpected speeds.

The Clarivate list of Highly Cited Researchers 2024 is out and includes five Sussex academics!

Congratulations to:

- Professor of Biology, Dave Goulson

- Professor of Innovation and Policy Acceleration, Felix Creutzig

- Professor of Cognitive & Computational Neuroscience, Anil Seth

- Professor of Energy Policy, Benjamin K. Sovacool

- Head of Ecological Economics and Environmental Policy at the Institute for Ecological Economy Research in Germany, and former Associate Faculty at the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), Dr Florian Kern

Find out more:

Five Sussex academics among world’s most highly cited The Clarivate Plc analytics company today (19 November) revealed its 2024 list of Highly Cited Researchers

Did you know that this week is ? 🌳

To celebrate we wanted to share this article from Falmer magazine discussing the trees that populate our beautiful Sussex campus: https://archive.sussex.ac.uk/news/falmer/2021/features/beneath-the-canopy

A big congratulations to Sussex alum Ross Montgomery (BA English and Film Studies 2008) whose book, 'I am Rebel', has been named by Waterstones as children’s book of the year!

Read more at The Guardian:

Novels about serial killers and loyal dogs voted Waterstones books of 2024 Booksellers chose true-crime inspired Butter by Asako Yuzuki as book of the year, while Ross Montgomery’s fun adventure I Am Rebel took the children’s prize

Happy Thanksgiving! As the season of gratitude surrounds us, we pause to reflect on the immense impact you, our alumni and friends, have on the University of Sussex community. Your support, dedication, and belief in our mission inspire everything we do.

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful and peaceful Thanksgiving filled with warmth, happiness and cherished moments. ❤

"I have gained a sense of pride and satisfaction knowing that I have equipped my mentee with the tools to help her excel."

Meet Sussex alumna and mentor Joan Sim (MA International Relations 2011) who was contacted by her mentee through Sussex Connect for advice on her career. Read about Joan's experience: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/alumni/news-events/news?id=66262

Find out more about becoming a mentor on Sussex Connect: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/alumni/get-involved/mentoring-and-networking/mentor

A big congratulations to Hannah Barnes who was recently awarded the Silver Award for ‘Student Social Worker of the Year’ at a ceremony in London!

Hannah is a third-year Sussex Social Work BA student and said this about her award: "Somehow, I’ve reached my third year and I am now in my second placement. I feel so fortunate to be surrounded by experts who are highly skilled, compassionate and true advocates for the people they are working with."

Sussex Social Work Student receives Silver 'Student Social Worker of the Year Award 2024' Third-year Social Work BA student, wins silver and Social Work Senior Lecturer is commended at the 'Social Worker of the Year Awards 2024'.

We're pleased to share that Sussex has been ranked within the top 100 globally for five different subject areas in the 2024 Shanghai Ranking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS).

Sussex is ranked for 18 subjects this year:

💼 Business Administration, our highest ranked subject at 15th in the world, 5th in the UK

👥 Sociology, ranked 39th globally, 8th in the UK

📈 Economics, ranked 51-75 globally

🌍 Geography and Political Sciences, both ranked 76-100 globally

Compared with other UK universities, Sussex’s strongest subject rankings are:

💼 Business Administration - 5th in the UK

👥 Sociology - 8th in the UK

📈 Economics - joint 8th in the UK

🗳️ Political Sciences - joint 12th in the UK

🧠 Psychology - joint 11th in the UK

Find out more about our performance: https://ow.ly/T2Sc50U8Ugg

Do you still have the tickets for any of the gigs that you went to at Sussex?

We love seeing the bands that were playing in the 90s on these tickets provided by Daniel Feakes (History with German 1991).

Would you like to share your expertise and help shape the strategic direction of - University of Sussex Students' Union?

As a volunteer Trustee or Non-Executive Director, you’ll guide our student-led charity in finance, governance and advocacy, empowering over 18,000 students across University of Sussex, Institute of Development Studies and Brighton & Sussex Medical School.

All the governance meetings are hybrid and take place between 10am and 6pm UK time, so you don't need to be UK-based, provided you can attend meetings within this time frame.

Non-Executive Director Role
Find out more and apply: https://sussex.staffsavvy.me/apply/position/non-executive-company-directors

External Trustee Role
Find out more and apply: https://sussex.staffsavvy.me/apply/position/external-trustees

The deadline for applications is 9am UK time, 2 January 2025. For an informal chat about either role, you are welcome to contact USSU CEO James Hann, at [email protected].

Non-Executive (Company) Directors | University of Sussex Students' Union Job Site We are looking for motivated and experienced individuals to become Non-Executive (Company) Directors sitting on the University of Sussex Students' Union Trading Limited's Board of Directors, helping to manage the strategy and finances of the company, whilst providing a solid structure of expertise,....