SOAS alumni network

There are only a few days left to sign up to this unique event with alumnus Raju Kendre and Dr Subir Sinha, Director of the SOAS South Asia Institute, to explore 'Breaking Barriers: Higher Education Access for Marginalised Communities in India and the Global South'.

👉 Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eSAuqQPY

For our new Scholar Spotlight feature, Vix Anderton (MA Anthropology of Global Futures and Sustainability) shares how a scholarship can help people explore new paths at every life stage.

Her unconventional journey took her from a career in military intelligence and international development to coaching and facilitation work focused on leadership and resilience.

While supporting her clients, she noticed that “what shows up as individual struggles, like perfectionism and burnout, reflects much bigger systemic patterns.”

She says: “I realised I needed better frameworks to understand how individual experience and systemic transformation connect. That's what led me to anthropology.”

This option would not have been possible for her without the scholarship.

“Scholarships make it possible for people with varied life experiences and professional backgrounds to return to study, and that diversity of perspective makes institutions like SOAS richer for everyone.”

👉 Read more about her story via the link in the first comment.

Our June Events Series newsletter is out! 🗞️

June brings an exciting calendar of alumni events in North America, Europe and the Gulf. Make sure you’re signed up to reconnect with fellow alumni, make new connections, and access unique networking opportunities.

If you’re in the UK, don’t forget to explore the wide range of exhibitions, lectures, and performances taking place on the SOAS campus during summer.

👉For more information on our events, check out the newsletter in your inbox or email [email protected]

❓ Didn’t receive the newsletter? It’s time to update your details! Do it now: forms.office.com/e/KWQxvVJSgC

Your SOAS Alumni London group invite you to an alumni gathering to connect with your fellow alumni on Thursday 25 June 2026.

This informal drinks reception is a great opportunity to meet fellow SOAS alumni living and working in London. Whether you’re a long-time resident or new to the city, we’d love for you to join us and be part of this vibrant community!

📅 Thursday 25 June, 6-9.00 pm
📍 All Bar One Houndsditch, London EC3A 7BD
👉 Sign up here: soas.ac.uk/about/event/london-alumni-gathering

Anthropology Alumni, we need your help! 📚

To keep the Helen Kanitkar Library open for the 2026–27 academic year, we need to raise £2,500.

This space has always been more than a study room. It is a home for ideas, a place where conversations grow, and a community hub that has supported generations of students.

If you studied Anthropology, you will know how much this library matters. It offers calm when campus feels busy, it hosts student‑led projects, and it gives students a space to think, create and connect.

Your support also funds our paid student librarian, who helps preserve rare and older books, maintains the collection and keeps the library running day to day.

The library honours the legacy of Helen Kanitkar, a much‑loved lecturer whose care for students still shapes the department. Thanks to alumni generosity, we have been able to maintain the collection and upgrade essential cataloguing equipment, but we now need your help to continue this work.

❤️ Make your gift today: soas.ac.uk/about/news/helen-kanitkar-anthropology-library-appeal

We were really saddened to learn of the death Kanya King CBE, founder of the MOBO Awards.

In 2016, she was awarded a SOAS honorary Doctorate of Music in recognition of her outstanding contributions to music, culture, and social inclusion.

Kanya King was a key figure in British culture and Black music. She used advocacy and mentorship to break down barriers and support generations of artists. Through the MOBO Awards, she addressed the underrepresentation of Black talent and challenged systemic racism across the creative industries.

"Who I was destined to become was who I decided to be", she said when giving the opening remarks at a SOAS graduation ceremony in 2018.

Kanya King: Mobo Awards founder dies at 57 Sir Idris Elba, Alesha Dixon and Stormzy remember King after her death from cancer at the age of 57.

How do you build a career across cultures, markets and regions?

Alumna Valerie Lynn shares how studying Southeast Asian Area Studies at SOAS shaped her work in strategic business consulting across the Asia Pacific.

Her experience reflects the importance of cultural understanding, trust and long-term relationship building in navigating complex international markets.

Her advice on working across cultures is to “come with genuine curiosity and a blank slate. Listen far more than you talk.”

👉 Discover Valerie’s story via the link in the first comment.

Fantastic news for Japanese Art at SOAS and beyond!

We are pleased to share the launch of our jointly-funded lectureship in Japanese Art, in partnership with the Sainsbury Institute (SISJAC) for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures.

The Sainsbury Institute Lecturer in Japanese Art will play a central role in both teaching and research at SOAS. This has been made possible through a collaboration between SISJAC and the School of Arts at SOAS.

This significant new post reflects a shared commitment to advancing the global study of Japanese art and culture through strengthening scholarship, nurturing future academic leaders, and expanding public engagement in this important field, ensuring it continues to thrive, evolve, and reach new audiences.

The postholder will contribute to SOAS’s internationally recognised expertise in Asian art, while also engaging closely with SISJAC’s dynamic scholarly community and its programme of research and public engagement activities.

We are delighted to invite you to a special upcoming event to celebrate the 2025 Study UK Global Social Action Award winner and SOAS alumnus Raju Kendre.

Raju studied Development Studies at SOAS, and he is the Founder and CEO of the Eklavya India Foundation, an organisation supporting first-generation learners from tribal and rural communities to access higher education. His work is shaped by his own journey growing up in a nomadic tribal community in rural Maharashtra.

Join Raju in conversation with Dr Subir Sinha, Director of the SOAS South Asia Institute, to explore 'Breaking Barriers: Higher Education Access for Marginalised Communities in India and the Global South'.

Together, they will explore the challenges and opportunities in expanding access to higher education for marginalised communities, drawing on both academic insight and lived experience.

📅 Monday 22 June, 6-8.00 pm
📍 Room BG01, SOAS Gallery, SOAS Campus
👉 Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eSAuqQPY

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✨ A quick reminder of your SOAS alumni benefits:
• Alumni groups and networks
• Events and receptions in your region
• SOAS World - the SOAS Alumni magazine
• Library access and e-journals
• Careers support and professional development
• Exclusive discounts on venue hire and postgraduate programmes
• LinkedIn directory: find your classmates and meet new SOAS alums!

Make the most of your alumni experience by keeping your details up to date, so we can share events and opportunities near you: soas.ac.uk/about/alumni