Syracuse Abroad Appoints New London Director

Syracuse Abroad has appointmented Stephanie Solywoda as the new director of the Syracuse University London program, beginning Oct. 1.

Originally from New York, Solywoda joins Syracuse London after more than twenty years of studying and working at Oxford University. For the past eight years, she has served as director of Stanford University’s Montag Centre for Overseas Study at Oxford. As director, Solywoda was responsible for all operations of the Montag Centre, as well as local partnerships, staff/faculty leadership and program development, notably in the increase of science, technology, engineering and mathematics offerings.

A scholar of Russian history and philosophy, Solywoda graduated from Smith College with a bachelor of arts degree in Russian civilization, then relocated to Oxford to pursue a master of philosophy in Russian and Eastern European studies. In 2008-09, she was the Max Hayward Fellow of Russian Culture at St Antony’s College Oxford, and in 2015, she completed her doctor of philosophy in modern history at Oxford.

Throughout her career, Solywoda has expressed a deep commitment to widening access to education abroad. She herself studied abroad in Moscow as an American undergraduate and learned first-hand how living and studying in another country as a young scholar helps develop independence, global competencies and a sense of one’s place in the wider world.

“I see the setting of the London Centre as key to upholding and furthering Syracuse’s educational mission,” says Solywoda. “London displays the diversity of human experience and culture, from some of the world’s most vulnerable communities to the wealthiest. This amazing city provides a great platform for curricula that explores global human experience.”

Solywoda takes over the London program’s leadership from Troy Gordon, who, after ten years as director, moves into his new role of director of global teaching and learning, working across all Syracuse Abroad centers.

“I am genuinely happy to hand the leadership of our center to someone as capable and inspiring as Stephanie,” Gordon says. “I look forward to collaborating with her in my new role, working with all of Syracuse University’s abroad centers.”

Gordon’s new role will be based abroad and will focus on pedagogy and local faculty support, experiential learning and civic engagement, diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility priorities and curricular implementation.

In his new role, he brings his previous experience as a director, full-time faculty member, department chair and associate dean, as well as years of experience teaching at Syracuse University London. His academic leadership will be a valuable asset, as will his knowledge of the University and of Syracuse Abroad.