Syracuse Sun

Syracuse Abroad has appointed Stephanie Solywoda as the new director of the Syracuse University London program, starting on October 1.

Originally from New York, Solywoda joins Syracuse London after more than twenty years at Oxford University. For the past eight years, she served as director of Stanford University’s Montag Centre for Overseas Study at Oxford. In her role, she managed all operations of the Montag Centre and was involved in local partnerships, staff and faculty leadership, and program development. Notably, she increased offerings in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

A scholar of Russian history and philosophy, Solywoda graduated from Smith College with a bachelor of arts degree in Russian civilization. She then moved 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. In 2015, she completed her doctor of philosophy in modern history at Oxford.

Throughout her career, Solywoda has shown a commitment to widening access to education abroad. She studied abroad in Moscow as an undergraduate and learned how living and studying in another country helps develop independence and global competencies.

“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... This amazing city provides a great platform for curricula that explores global human experience.”

Solywoda takes over from Troy Gordon who served as director for ten years. Gordon will now be director of global teaching and learning 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.”

Gordon's new position will focus on pedagogy support for local faculty, experiential learning initiatives, civic engagement efforts, diversity priorities, inclusion practices, accessibility considerations, and curricular implementation. His previous roles include being a full-time faculty member, department chair, associate dean at Syracuse University London.