Telephone Campaign 2024

The Telephone Campaign is a fantastic way for us to stay connected with our alumnae and an essential part of our regular fundraising.

We thank you in advance for supporting Newnham and for your willingness to extend a hand across the generations.

Each year we reach out to our alumnae as part of the Telephone Campaign. The Telephone Campaign is an opportunity for students and alumnae to share experiences, enabling you to gain an insight into life in College today and allowing current students to learn from those who have gone before them. We contact alumnae all over the world, updating you on College news and asking for your support towards Newnham’s fundraising efforts. Our students thoroughly enjoy hearing your stories and we do hope that you enjoy speaking to them too.

Please let us know if you would prefer not to receive a telephone call as part of this year’s campaign by emailing development@newn.cam.ac.uk.

Contact us

Roll & Development Office
Newnham College
Sidgwick Avenue
Cambridge
CB3 9DF

Tel. 01223 335757

roll@newn.cam.ac.uk

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Areas of Support: 2024

Supporting Our Students

Wellbeing

Many students at Cambridge experience significant mental health challenges. Newnham must be at the forefront of developing better mental health support. To do this, the creation of the post of Wellbeing Advisor, based in College, is key.

We are asking you to support this new post so that students can access dedicated mental health support to ensure a more positive university experience, benefitting both their studies and future careers.

Postgraduate Scholarships

We ask you to support our postgraduate community, specifically Masters and PhD studentships to ensure we have funding so that we can attract the brightest students from all backgrounds.

Women continue to be underrepresented at postgraduate level across the University. Access to funding remains a barrier, as many young women meet the stringent criteria for a Masters or PhD course than can access the funding to actually start the course.

Your support will help expand the pipeline of highly qualified young women able to enter business, industry and academia and tackle the underrepresentation of women at senior levels.

Academic Research and Learning

We are raising funds for the following:

Shaping the direction of history at Newnham

History is a popular subject for undergraduates and postgraduates at Newnham

Two of our senior fellows in History, Professor Gabriela Ramos and Dr Kate Fleet, are due to retire. We are therefore raising funds to co-fund a permanently employed University Teaching Officer in history who is also a College Fellow and Director of Studies.

Senior Members Research Support (SMRS)

Research-led teaching is at the heart of the Cambridge experience. Newnham provides much valued extra funds for the cutting edge research carried out by our academics.

Applying for grants can be a time consuming process. Your support will enable us to respond quickly to the needs of academics.

In the past year Newnham academics have received funds to: complete a project on how children with Downs syndrome learn; run a symposium on biomedical research relevant to age-related disease and buy equipment to assess earthquake damage used to support search and rescue following the devastating earthquake in southeast Turkey earlier this year.

General

Your support will help build a community of inspiring women academics who can transform the lives of their students and create impact in the academic arena.

Research-led teaching is at the heart of the Cambridge experience, but only 20% of professorships in UK universities are held by women and just 15% of such posts held at Cambridge despite women accounting for 45% of the academic workforce. Female professors and senior academics are not made overnight but rise up through the promotion grades where the percentage of successful women drops at each successive step.

Newnham, with its all-female Fellowship, is in a special position to be able to understand and support female academics through community, mentoring and research. Help us shape the future of Newnham’s academic research and learning.

Greening Newnham

Thanks to generous support from previous donors to elements of the campaign, postgraduate students will benefit from refurbished houses that have had gas boilers replaced with air source heat pumps and improved insulation. Our vision is to work towards a carbon net zero site.

We are asking you to support us on our journey as we shape the green future of our College. By taking steps to green all Newnham’s buildings, we join the global effort to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard not just our College’s future, but also that of our planet.

Area of Greatest Need

Unrestricted gifts give Newnham flexibility to seize opportunities and address unforeseen challenges as they arise.

Whilst we are very grateful for gifts for a specific purpose, it is particularly helpful to the College to receive unrestricted donations. These are applied where the need is greatest: whether towards the the shortfall in annual teaching costs, maintaining our beautiful Champneys buildings, or other expenses, such as the salaries of vital support staff.

Meet the Callers

Paige: I'm going into my third year studying Classics and love all things related to my degree. I'm really excited to write up my dissertation this year as well as take up French again with the university language classes. Outside of my degree I spend a lot of time at the cinema, and through the NerdHerder society enjoy trying to integrate this with my academic interests too. I'm looking forward to the campaign and getting to talk to some of you.
Maureen: I’m in my final year studying Human, Social, and Political Sciences, and although I love my degree (most of the time), the highlight of my time in Cambridge is committing to the Newnham community, sports, and social stuff! I’m Newnham College Boat Club’s vice-captain + social media & IT officer, Newnham Netball’s social sec, and will hopefully be joining Uni Basketball this year as well! Had an absolute blast during the Campaign last year, and am very much looking forward to connecting with Newnham’s lovely alum this year again xx
Bushra: I am heading into my second year at Newnham studying Psychological and Behavioural Sciences. I really enjoy being part of and contributing to the Newnham Community, for example through my work as College Rep for Pink Week. Outside of my degree, I love to bake, dance, cycle, and do lots of arts and crafts like knitting and origami. I look forward to speaking with the inspirational alumnae, learning from them, and supporting the future of the College.
Bella: I am an incoming second year History and Politics student. I am very interested in current affairs and in my free time I love to listen to politics podcasts. I've spent the summer working in an American summer camp and then travelling around America campaigning for the Democrats, which has been very interesting. I'm looking forward to returning to Newnham where I will be social secretary for NCBC and continue my role as JCR access officer.
Katie: I'm a third year Philosophy student. I'm especially interested in Analytic Philosophy and logic. I was raised in America and I'm half Irish. Aside from my degree, I love being involved in sports in Cambridge – basketball, netball, and rowing.
Eve: I'm a third year law student. Aside from my degree, I love music - I've been playing the flute for over a decade and have performed in a couple of concerts in the Newnham orchestra in the last year - and more craft-based hobbies such as crochet and knitting. I'm really looking forward to being involved in the campaign and getting the chance to talk with Newnham alumnae!
Lotte: I'm a third year historian from Germany. I'm especially interested in (medieval and early modern) British, political and military history. In my downtime I like to read - especially fantasy books - do sports and knit. I'm looking forward to learning about your experiences while giving you (hopefully) interesting insights into Newnham-life today.
Alisha: I’m a second year historian with a particular interest in the early modern period (though I’ve recently been working at a Roman Palace). When I’m not at an ISoc or Newnham Akhawaat event (both of which I serve as secretary), I can usually be found with a matcha latte in hand at one of the many cafés in Cambridge!
Nach: Hello! I'm a medical student who's about to go into my second year at Newnham. Medicine is very busy, but I balance my work by spending time with my friends, taekwondo and cooking. I'm really looking forward to speaking with amazing Newnhamites and sharing my experiences of College today!
Nicky: I am a second year undergraduate Law student, who is interested in International and Human Rights Law. Outside of my degree, I love to bake and to row. I am currently Lower Boats' Captain for Newnham College Boat Club, and am looking forward to teaching novices to row in Michaelmas term! This summer, I have been mentoring summer school students which has been a fantastic experience, and allowed me to finally tap into my creative side, with lots of painting and games!
Natasha: I'm a fourth year Modern and Medieval Languages student, originally from Northern Ireland. I study Spanish and Italian and have recently returned to Newnham from my Year Abroad in Argentina and Italy. I'm enthusiastic about sports and have enjoyed participating in the Badminton and Football club at Newnham and taking advantage of the gym facilities when I can. In my spare time I love to read and cook. I am excited to contribute to the College by participating in the Telephone Campaign, as well as getting the chance to chat with Newnham's alumnae and learn about their experiences within and outside of Cambridge.
Lily: I’m a second year History student, and I’m particularly interested in feminist history and fashion. During my first year, I’ve done costume design for several student theatre productions and have been the Vice-President for Newnham College Feminist Society. I’m also on the Cambridge swim team and started rowing (as a complete beginner!) with Newnham College Boat Club last Michaelmas. I’m the JCR External Vice-President for this year and am really looking forwards to getting more involved with the Student Union and Newnham JCR. I’m super excited to be part of this year’s Telephone Campaign and be able to connect with some of Newnham’s incredible alumnae!
Millie: I’m going into my second year studying Human, Social, and Political Sciences, specialising in Politics and International Relations. In my free time, I enjoy reading, walking, and cooking. I’m also on the committee of Newnham’s Feminist Society as well as being a Newnham Ambassador, both of which I love. I’m really looking forward to being a part of this year’s Telephone Campaign!
Sophie (Maths): I’m a Maths student going into my final year, looking forward to specialising in applied maths and statistics. In my free time I like playing hockey for CUHC. I have also been the Hockey College League secretary and love representing Newnham in college sport.
Amelia: I'm going into my third year in my Classics degree. I'm particularly interested in Romano-British Archaeology, and love visiting museums and sites across the country, especially when I get the chance to dig. Other than my degree, I love reading - my favourite authors are Jane Austen and J.R.R. Tolkien, so I have somewhat eclectic taste! I'm also super interested in the history of Newnham and am always eager for an opportunity to learn more.
Sophie (MML): I'm going into my final year studying Modern and Medieval Languages, having spent my Year Abroad working as a language assistant in a school in France. Outside of my degree, I love knitting, playing music, and getting involved with access and outreach work for the College and university. As much as I enjoyed my Year Abroad, I'm very excited for another year at Newnham, and couldn't think of a more perfect way to immerse myself back into college life than taking part in the Telephone Campaign! I'm looking forward to hearing about your experiences and sharing my own.