Celebrating the life and achievements of Jane Moody
Family, friends, academic colleagues and former students will gather in York Minster on Friday 9 March to celebrate the life and achievements of Professor Jane Moody, who died in October last year.
A service of thanksgiving for Professor Moody, the founding Director of the University of York’s Humanities Research Centre, is part of a day of events to mark her academic contribution and her untiring efforts to champion the public value of the humanities.
The service, which will be led by the Dean of York, the Very Rev Keith Jones, will include contributions from Professor Jeffrey Cox, Professor Felicity Riddy and Jane Moody’s close friend, Sinead Smith as well as the Bishop of Warrington, the Rt Rev Richard Blackburn.
Following the service, a series of events and displays celebrating Professor Moody’s passionate advocacy for the humanities will take place in the Humanities Research Centre’s base, the Berrick Saul building at the heart of the University’s Heslington campus. Professor Moody oversaw the development of the Centre and was part of a core team which planned the Berrick Saul building.
A major public debate on the importance and relevance of the humanities will feature contributions from three internationally distinguished speakers: Professor Sally Shuttleworth, Professorial Fellow in English and Head of Humanities Division, Oxford University; Professor Miles Taylor, Professor of History and Director of the University of London’s Institute of Historical Studies and Professor Peter Holland, McMeel Family Professor in Shakespeare Studies and Associate Dean for the Arts, University of Notre Dame.
The debate will be followed by an open forum chaired by the University of York’s Academic Coordinator for Arts & Humanities, Professor Mark Ormrod. The proceedings will conclude with a brief ‘community of voices’ celebrating Professor Moody’s varied contributions to the University.
The University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Trevor Sheldon, said: “Jane contributed enormously to the University’s reputation for excellence in the humanities and enriched the lives of many people on both a professional and personal level. She is deeply missed by her colleagues and her students.”
The Jane Moody Scholarship Fund has been established in her memory to support the work of the most promising young researchers in the Arts and Humanities. The University will also name in the Berrick Saul building’s boardroom after her as a permanent reminder of her contribution to the University.
Further information