Anne Lonsdale
Encyclopedia
Anne Lonsdale is a sinologist and was the third President of New Hall, Cambridge
.
in February 1941, the only child of Alexander Menzies, a professor of physics at the University of Leeds
, Lonsdale was educated at Heathfield School in Harrow
before winning a scholarship to read classics
at St Anne's College, Oxford in 1957. She then took a second degree in Chinese and taught classical Chinese literature before becoming a university administrator.
Lonsdale was chairman of the Board of Camfed International
(a Non-governmental organization
focused on education and job opportunities for girls in Sub-Saharan Africa), and is now chairman and honorary secretary of the Council for Assisting Refugee Academics
, a Trustee of the European Humanities University
in Vilnius
and of the Open Society Foundation
.
Lonsdale travelled and worked extensively in America, Europe, Asia and Africa, and was active for many years in both European and Commonwealth university organisations. Outside the University she was a Trustee of the British Association for Central and Eastern Europe, the Inter-University Foundation and the Moscow School of Social & Economic Sciences. From 1993-96 she was Secretary-General of the Central European University
based in Budapest
, Prague
and Warsaw
, founded by George Soros
in 1991. She developed a major interest in environmental research and policy and was involved in the setting up of a Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy at the CEU Budapest for students from all the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the former USSR.
In 1996 Lonsdale was appointed as the third President of New Hall, Cambridge
, a position she held until 2008. In this period she also served as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for External Relations, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and was a member of the University's Council and a Trustee of Cambridge in America, the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust and Cambridge Overseas Trust, a Trustee of the Cambridge Foundation, the Gates Cambridge Trust
, the Newton Trust, and the Cambridge European Trust, and was Chairman of the Syndicate for the Fitzwilliam Museum
. she is currently prorector of the governing board of the Nazarbayev University
.
In 2004 Lonsdale was awarded the CBE
for services to Higher Education.
New Hall, Cambridge
Murray Edwards College is a women-only constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It was founded as "New Hall" in 1954, at a time when Cambridge had the lowest proportion of women undergraduates of any university in the United Kingdom, and when only two other colleges admitted women...
.
Life
Born Anne Menzies in HuddersfieldHuddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
in February 1941, the only child of Alexander Menzies, a professor of physics at the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
, Lonsdale was educated at Heathfield School in Harrow
London Borough of Harrow
The London Borough of Harrow is a London borough of north-west London. It borders Hertfordshire to the north and other London boroughs: Hillingdon to the west, Ealing to the south, Brent to the south-east and Barnet to the east.-History:...
before winning a scholarship to read classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
at St Anne's College, Oxford in 1957. She then took a second degree in Chinese and taught classical Chinese literature before becoming a university administrator.
Lonsdale was chairman of the Board of Camfed International
CAMFED
Camfed - the Campaign for Female Education - is an international non-governmental, non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating poverty in Africa through the education of girls and the empowerment of young women...
(a Non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
focused on education and job opportunities for girls in Sub-Saharan Africa), and is now chairman and honorary secretary of the Council for Assisting Refugee Academics
Council for Assisting Refugee Academics
The Council for Assisting Refugee Academics is a British charitable organization dedicated to assisting academics who, for reasons including persecution and conflict, are unable to continue their research in their countries of origin...
, a Trustee of the European Humanities University
European Humanities University
EHU, the European Humanities University ) is a Belarusian university in Lithuania.From 1992 to 2004 EHU was a non-state establishment of undergraduate and post-graduate education in Belarus. In 2004, due to government opposition, EHU was forced to terminate its activities in Belarus...
in Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
and of the Open Society Foundation
Open Society Institute
The Open Society Institute , renamed in 2011 to Open Society Foundations, is a private operating and grantmaking foundation started by George Soros, aimed to shape public policy to promote democratic governance, human rights, and economic, legal, and social reform...
.
Lonsdale travelled and worked extensively in America, Europe, Asia and Africa, and was active for many years in both European and Commonwealth university organisations. Outside the University she was a Trustee of the British Association for Central and Eastern Europe, the Inter-University Foundation and the Moscow School of Social & Economic Sciences. From 1993-96 she was Secretary-General of the Central European University
Central European University
For other uses, see European University Central European University is a graduate-level, English-language university offering degrees in the social sciences, humanities, law, public policy, business management, environmental science, and mathematics...
based in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
and Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, founded by George Soros
George Soros
George Soros is a Hungarian-American business magnate, investor, philosopher, and philanthropist. He is the chairman of Soros Fund Management. Soros supports progressive-liberal causes...
in 1991. She developed a major interest in environmental research and policy and was involved in the setting up of a Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy at the CEU Budapest for students from all the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the former USSR.
In 1996 Lonsdale was appointed as the third President of New Hall, Cambridge
New Hall, Cambridge
Murray Edwards College is a women-only constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It was founded as "New Hall" in 1954, at a time when Cambridge had the lowest proportion of women undergraduates of any university in the United Kingdom, and when only two other colleges admitted women...
, a position she held until 2008. In this period she also served as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for External Relations, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and was a member of the University's Council and a Trustee of Cambridge in America, the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust and Cambridge Overseas Trust, a Trustee of the Cambridge Foundation, the Gates Cambridge Trust
Gates Scholarship
The Gates Cambridge Scholarships were established by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000 with a $210 million endowment to enable outstanding graduate students from outside the United Kingdom to study at the University of Cambridge. The awardees are given funding for postgraduate study at...
, the Newton Trust, and the Cambridge European Trust, and was Chairman of the Syndicate for the Fitzwilliam Museum
Fitzwilliam Museum
The Fitzwilliam Museum is the art and antiquities museum of the University of Cambridge, located on Trumpington Street opposite Fitzwilliam Street in central Cambridge, England. It receives around 300,000 visitors annually. Admission is free....
. she is currently prorector of the governing board of the Nazarbayev University
Nazarbayev University
Nazarbayev University is a higher education institution situated in Astana, the national capital, opened as a result of the personal initiative of the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev....
.
In 2004 Lonsdale was awarded the CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
for services to Higher Education.