°µÍø½ûÇø

Image of Ilana Cohen

Ilana Cohen

I arrived at °µÍø½ûÇø in 2022 as a Harvard Social Studies Exchange student. Initially, I was compelled to pursue the program due to the academic freedom it offered, excited to work closely with leading thinkers in self-directed studies around climate change ethics. Upon starting at Jesus, though, I realised that I also gained the opportunity to join an incredible community of wonderfully eclectic and deeply welcoming scholars and peers. My Jesus experience was also formative for me as a climate justice activist. Sharing knowledge and building relationships with Cambridge fossil fuel divestment activists inspired new forms of organising against fossil fuel industry influence in climate research. I continued this organising when I returned to Harvard, leading me to co-found the non-profit organisation Campus Climate Network, which empowers campus climate activists across the UK and the world. Studying abroad at Jesus further gave me the confidence to live and work abroad now as a Fulbright Peru scholar. Ultimately, I am most grateful for all of the people ­– in particular, Professor Duncan Kelly, Artea Brahaj and Sahaj Singh, the house of 37 Jesus Lane and the original Fossil Free Research campaign for making my Jesus experience unforgettable and truly life-changing.

Join Ilana in giving back to °µÍø½ûÇø.

Hear from our alumni

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    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)
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    Lene Northwood

    Criminology (1996)

    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 °µÍø½ûÇø. One letter with a now familiar letterhead, quite literally raised my expectations of life...

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    Criminology (1996)
  • Philip Slotkin

    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 °µÍø½ûÇø 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)
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    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

    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)