Two Cities – One RC Community

The semester break offered a chance to reconnect – first in London, then in Boston – as Robert College leadership spent time with alumni across generations, geographies, and very different life stages. Our annual London AlumNight brought together more than 200 graduates, from RC 67 to RC 25, at Beaufort House. The evening was generously sponsored by Fırat İşbecer RC 98, whose support helped sustain what has become a long-standing London tradition.

Beyond the gathering itself, the London visit included a series of one-on-one meetings with community members, allowing for focused conversations and genuine exchange. We were also warmly hosted by the Ambassador of Türkiye in London, Koray Ertaş, whose hospitality we gratefully acknowledge.

For many alumni – particularly those from earlier generations – the visit carried an added sense of closeness. Spending time once again with Head of School Whitman Shepard and his wife, Bengü Shepard, brought back memories of campus life and underscored the continuity that remains central to the RC experience.

In Boston, nearly 70 alumni and friends gathered at the Harvard Faculty Club, despite a major winter storm forecast for the region. We were honored by the presence of Diğdem Buner, Consul General of Türkiye in Boston, whose attendance added a special note to the evening.

Board Chair Erol Hakanoğlu RC 74, Trustee Prof. Cemal Kafadar RC 73, Head of School Whitman Shepard, and Academic Dean Maura Kelly reconnected with alumni from different generations, many of whom have long-standing academic and personal ties to Boston. As in London, conversations unfolded easily – rooted in shared history and enhanced through continued engagement.

 

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