Studying at London Centre? British faculty offer insights to make experience extraordinary

While there are thousands of miles between London and Appleton, Lawrence University students studying at London Centre are made to feel right at home thanks to a faculty that stays engaged.

London Centre has been hosting Lawrentians since the program launched in 1970. British professors and visiting Lawrence faculty—Celia Barnes, associate professor of English, will be there in Spring Term—teach in the classroom and help guide the Lawrentians as they explore London’s rich history, from architecture and politics to literature and the arts. Acting as an extension of the Appleton campus, the London Centre program allows students to earn credit toward their degree while experiencing life in one of the world's most historically rich and culturally vibrant cities.

Learn more about London Centre and other study abroad opportunities

Are you thinking of going to London Centre next year? The student application deadline is Feb. 26.

So, what can Lawrentians expect? We reached out to the teachers who bring Lawrence’s London program to life to talk about what awaits on the other side of the pond.

British culture

Gemma Miller teaches British Life and Culture, a staple course in the London Centre experience. It’s worth two credits and is the only required course in the program. It involves experiential activities throughout London, including market tours, food sampling, football games, and theatre. Miller also teaches Shakespeare, with students studying the famous playwright while watching his shows performed by London actors.

Miller said she has her dream job working with study abroad students across a range of institutes.

“It’s quite a fun group,” she said about her experience with Lawrence students. “They’re always up for different experiences, which is great.”

Miller suggests students explore beyond the London Centre during their term, whether it be around the United Kingdom and Europe or just in London itself.

“Try and say yes to everything once,” she said. “You don’t know until you try it.”

History lesson

Kate Connelly is a historian with a focus on the 19th century. She is interested in the militant suffragette movements and has written about Marxism and socialist movements during the time. She teaches a course called The Impact of Empire on Great Britain, a history class that explores the effect of British imperialism on many levels, including arts, music, economics, and press.

“I love to hear what Lawrence students have to say,” Connelly said. “They bring so many ideas, so many experiences to the classroom.”

She encourages prospective students to come ready to explore London off the beaten path.

“We have this fantastic, interesting, weird, contradictory city right on our doorstep,” she said. “Ask us for tips and advice. We’re more than happy to recommend interesting places to go and explore.”

Urban anthropology

Nicholas James is an anthropologist who runs a small business and teaches at Cambridge University when he isn’t at the London Centre. He teaches Urban Anthropology of London, a project-based class where students choose an aspect of London life to study. Along with other readings and discussion, each student spends the term working toward completing an ethnographic paper of their own topic and design.

“My course's leading feature is the hope that each student will undertake an investigation of some aspect of London life that enables them, each in their own way, to become something of a London ‘local,’” James said.

He hopes those who participate in the program will use it as an opportunity to learn and explore.

Art history

Katie Godman teaches Art Now, an immersive contemporary art history class based on visits to many of London’s galleries and exhibitions. She’s busy outside the London Centre too; Godman is a lecturer on art of the 19th century. She’s written about gothic fashion history, and she is the curator of the Blandford Fashion Museum.

“I love going to museums and art galleries, so I get quite excited to show off the art galleries and the exhibitions to the students,” she said.

Godman loves the enthusiasm of Lawrence students, and she wants everyone who comes to London to feel welcome and comfortable, even with the change of scenery.

“We’ll do our best to make you feel at home,” she said.

Music and history

Even an ocean away from the Lawrence Conservatory of Music, Mary-Jannet Leith, or MJ as she is known, brings music to Lawrence students. She teaches a class called The Grand Tour. This course explores Western music between 1650-1800 and brings students to symphonies around London. She also lectures on historical performance practice at Europe University and is a professional recorder performer.

Leith loves the energy Lawrence students bring to her classroom.

“Everyone’s so enthusiastic, with such great passion for their own interests,” she said. “It’s so inspiring working with students who come here.”

Leith advises students to look into free venues and events in London, such as museums and galleries.

“Anything you’re interested in, you can find in London,” she said. “There are so many back streets with fascinating stories.”

Leith’s class is open to anyone, regardless of their experience or history in music, and she welcomes everyone to join.

British politics

Louise Raw describes herself as a jack-of-all-trades—a historian, writer, journalist, and activist. At the London Centre, she teaches Modern British Politics and A City Shaped by Migration.

Raw wants to rebuke any preconception that Modern British Politics is boring. In addition to exploring some of Britain’s most important places, such as the Palace of Westminster, where Parliament meets, she delves into scandals and controversies.

A City Shaped by Migration explores the successive ways people have come to London from all over the world.

“It’s no secret that I love teaching Lawrentians,” Raw said. “All my students have been so smart, so engaged, and have so many different skills. It really is a treat.”

Raw said Americans will find a warm welcome, even amongst the big city bustle of London.

“We’ll make sure you have a good time,” she said.

Literary London

Susie Thomas teaches Literary London, and she said the London Centre couldn’t be a better place for this class. She loves teaching in the heart of London’s literature scene where many famous writers lived and wrote.

“We can go in any direction and come across somewhere that’s set in a novel or somewhere a writer lived,” she said.

Thomas said studying in London can be a great adventure. 

“If you get a bit lost, you’ll find a tube station,” she said. “And in the process of getting a little lost, you might find your favorite cafe, or somewhere really interesting that you weren’t setting out for.”

A guiding voice

London Centre Director Lee White is the beating heart of the program. From his office in the London Centre, he plans excursions, schedules courses, and is ready to make London the best experience it can be.

“I think coming here, you have a real opportunity to get out of the Lawrence bubble,” he said.

White warns that the 10 weeks of the program go quickly, but with a good plan, there’s much to see and do even beyond London and the United Kingdom.

“Think about what it is you’re really interested in,” he said. “Find the thing which will allow you to create an experience you will remember for the rest of your life. It’s the small things that can make a difference.”

From Appleton to London

Every year, a Lawrence professor visits the London Centre to teach one or two courses. Next on the docket is English professor Celia Barnes, who will be at London Centre for Spring Term. She specializes in British literature at Lawrence, and this year she’s taking her expertise to the heart of British culture and history. 

Barnes will be teaching two classes. The first is Black Britons, which is inspired by David Olusoga’s book, Black and British. This class will explore empire and race in a global context and interact with the Black arts and culture of London. 

The second is called Domesticating Literature: the London House Museum. This class delves into the idea of homes of famous writers and other historical figures being used as museums in the modern day. Barnes said she’s fascinated by how a person’s life is told through their home and their belongings. 

“I love the idea of teaching these courses to LU students in London itself,” she said. “It’s such a lovely opportunity to make literature and history come alive by going directly to the source, as it were.”