Key academic appointment for Heythrop College

Release date: 16 September 2011

Key academic appointment for Heythrop College

Professor Griffith-Dickson strengthens link between academia and
social impact charity

Heythrop College, the specialist philosophy and theology college of the University of London, has appointed a new Vice-Principal – Academic, following the retirement of Dr Peter Vardy, who was Heythrop's Vice-Principal for twelve years.

Professor Gwen Griffith-Dickson, Founder and Director of The Lokahi Foundation, will take up her new role at Heythrop in January 2012. She will be responsible for the academic leadership of teaching and research in the College, and will report directly to Heythrop's new Principal, Father Michael Holman, who takes up his post in January 2012.

Professor Griffith-Dickson will remain the Director of The Lokahi Foundation, a social impact charity that delivers innovative programmes which address community tensions related to community and religious diversity, a link with the potential for future collaboration with the College in this area.

Born and raised in Hawaii, Professor Griffith-Dickson specialises in the philosophy and theology of different faiths. Her research focuses on the beliefs of different religions, their mutual relations and their impact on contemporary issues. She gained her degree and doctorate in Theology at Heythrop College and went on to Birkbeck College, University of London, where she developed and managed the country's largest continuing education programme in religious studies, along with Islamic studies, theology and philosophy. She left Birkbeck College in 2005 to found The Lokahi Foundation.

“I am delighted to accept the role of Vice-Principal - Academic at Heythrop College, and I am honoured to be joining its dedicated staff,” Professor Griffith-Dickson said. “I have been involved with Heythrop since the 1980s. I studied there, served as governor, and have deep knowledge of the College. Its distinctive identity is a great source of inspiration and its extremely outward and forward-looking mission has always impressed me.”

Professor Griffith-Dickson will play a lead role in developing and realising the strategic vision of the College and provide strong leadership of the academic portfolio of teaching and research. “There is a huge research potential here and rich opportunities to grow the College in the UK and internationally with its exciting mix of programmes. Innovative research and outreach has always been key to Heythrop’s mission, and so has making an impact on society’s most pressing issues. The Lokahi Foundation shares this vision and so it is my hope that they will bring rigorous academic insight to bear on creating real social change for the common good.”

-ENDS-

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For more information please contact

Phil Smith, Media Relations Consultant for Heythrop College, on 01727 733888 or phil@communicationsmanagement.co.uk

Kawika Solidum, Strategic Communications Manager for The Lokahi Foundation, on 020 7688 6722 or ks@lokahi.org.uk

ABOUT HEYTHROP COLLEGE

Heythrop was established in 1614 in Louvain by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) for the study of philosophy and theology. Since 1970, it has been a College of the University of London, while retaining a modern Catholic ethos, and offers an educational experience that respects all faiths and perspectives. In addition to undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, it also provides a resource for faith communities and others, especially through the work of the Centres and Institutes. College staff have a wide range of expertise, with particular research strengths in interreligious dialogue and comparative theology, Middle Eastern Christianity, practical and pastoral theology, Catholic theology, philosophy of religion, philosophy of mind/psychology, and aesthetics. Research is an increasingly important part of the College's academic life and Heythrop participated for the first time in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, gaining recognition for its work at an international level. Heythrop is also the Lead College for the University of London International Programme's Bachelor of Divinity degree and Diploma in Theology.

ABOUT THE LOKAHI FOUNDATION www.lokahi.org.uk

The Lokahi Foundation is a non-profit, social impact charity that was founded in 2005 by Professor Gwen Griffith-Dickson in order to enrich society and enable it to embrace community and religious diversity with respect and understanding. Lokahi is religiously impartial and works alongside community partners to develop and deliver innovative programmes that address problematic tensions and promote positive social change from within. The framework that Lokahi provides community organisations, businesses, government agencies and universities is based on their context and deep theoretical and practical knowledge of the fundamentals of religious and cultural relations. The charity pioneers projects with measurable impact and ground-breaking, evidence-based research that probes the universal foundations of society’s faiths, beliefs and values. Campusalam.org is one of Lokahi’s largest platforms, supporting university students and staff throughout the UK by supplying the advice, training and resources to bridge the gap between their hope of a safe, cohesive community and their reality. Lokahi’s mission is to make a positive impact on diverse communities by transforming the relationships within them. Through informed analytical research and practical community projects, Lokahi achieves harmony from diversity – which is what the Hawaiian word lokahi means.