Fr Michael Holman and Heythrop College, University of London

Fr Michael Holman SJ, who has been appointed Principal of Heythrop College from January 2012, was educated at Campion Hall, Oxford, Heythrop College, London, Weston School of Theology, Cambridge, Massachusetts and Fordham University, New York.  He holds degrees in Philosophy, Theology and Educational Administration.  He will bring with him educational, pastoral, administrative and leadership skills to lead the development of the College, which in 2014 celebrates the 400th anniversary of its foundation. Dr James Sweeney CP is Acting Principal at Heythrop until Fr Holman takes up his position in the New Year.

About Heythrop College
Heythrop College 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.

Professor Keith Ward is a Professorial Research Fellow of the new Centre for Philosophy of Religion at Heythrop College and was formerly the Regius Professorship of Divinity at the University of Oxford for over a decade.  Before that he was the F D Maurice Professor of Moral and Social Theology at the University of London, where he was also Professor and Head of Department of History.  Professor Ward has delivered numerous prestigious public lectures and is the author of many books.  He is an ordained priest in the Church of England and was until 2003 Canon of Christ Church, Oxford.
Professor John Cottingham is a Professorial Research Fellow at the Centre for Philosophy of Religion, Heythrop College, University of London and Professor Emeritus at the Philosophy Department at the University of Reading, where he was for many years Head of Department and subsequently Director of Research/Graduate Studies.  He is also an Honorary Fellow of St John's College, Oxford.

Professor Cottingham is the author of numerous articles on early-modern philosophy, and on ethics and the philosophy of religion.  He has held the Radcliffe Research Fellowship in Philosophy, and has served as Chairman of the British Society for the History of Philosophy, as President of the Mind Association, President of the Aristotelian Society and President of the British Society for the Philosophy of Religion.

The AHRC Studentship Competition gives postgraduate students the opportunity to submit individual proposals for an award to fund Masters level or doctoral research studies in the arts and humanities - and Heythrop's trio of successful applications are the only ones awarded through the Studentship Competition in the fields of philosophy and religious studies.