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UCL takes over the US East Coast

24 October 2018

East Coast alumni celebrated another fantastic year with annual receptions in New York, Boston and Washington DC.

UCL takes over East Coast

Debating the future of the screen in NYC

Over 90 alumni came together for a night of fun at the annual New York reception on October 18. 

UCL’s President and Provost, Michael Arthur joined the group and kicked off the evening by presenting the Volunteer Group of the Year 2018 award to the UCL New York Alumni Club. 

The group is one of UCL’s longest, continuously running alumni clubs and was selected as this year’s award recipients for their ongoing work to expand membership and provide a fantastic line-up of innovative events and activities.

Committee members Tres Seippel and Simon Harris accepted the award on behalf of the club.

UCL President & Provost Professor Michael Arthur presenting award to committee members Tres Seippel and Simon Harris

Leading this year’s keynote address, Professor Stella Bruzzi, Dean of Arts and Humanities discussed how our viewing behaviours are in a “state of revolution”, evolving to embrace the small screen in the age of Netflix and other on-demand services.

US television is at the forefront of a shift towards quality, thought-provoking popular television. 

“American television now does the kind of quality that is promoting academic thinking as well as winning huge audience figures,” said Professor Bruzzi

Professor Bruzzi also recognised the important work UCL is doing to keep arts and film studies relevant and important. 

“Encouraging the next generation of students is vital to retaining the merit of art studies. The support and advocacy of UCL’s international alumni community is important to this in many ways.”

Take a look at the event photos below. 

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Missed out this year? To stay up to date on events taking place in New York, join the UCL New York Alumni Facebook group

 

UCL US receptions continued

US alumni also gathered in Boston and Washington DC on October 10 and 11, and in Palo Alto and Venice on November 13 and 17 respectively. 

Boston alumni were joined by Dr Tali Sharot, the founder and director of the Affective Brain Lab at UCL, who gave a keynote speech on understanding influence. Discussing the finding in her latest book, The Influential Mind, Dr Sharot explored the nature of influence, and how neuroscience can teach us how to be more effective leaders. 

In DC, we had a great gathering of alumni and a fantastic evening, despite the torrential rain! In both locations, the local alumni clubs have been drawing up event plans for the next 6-12 months to be shared with you soon.

And in November, alumni in California for the first time in Palo Alto. The reception was a huge success and we will be looking to organise more events both in South Bay as well as the city. 

Venice was our location in Los Angeles where we were joined by a great number of alumni, some of which graduated as recent as 2017. Volunteers for our alumni clubs in California where joined by a number of new and enthusiastic volunteers and we look forward to a new year filled with a variety of events across the Bay and Greater Los Angeles areas for you to take part in.