Meet Guest Speakers

Guest Speakers
In addition to the incredible faculty who teach seminars each summer, Oxford Academia programs feature guest speakers and experts who are leaders in their respective fields. Through evening lecture series and workshops with individual seminars, students enjoy unparalleled access to inspirational thought leaders, entrepreneurs, authors, political leaders, and historians. Meet a few guest speakers for summer 2025—more will be added as summer approaches.
Historian
Adam Smith is the Edward Orsborn Professor of United States Politics & Political History, a Professorial Fellow at University College, and Director of the RAI.
Food & Travel Writer
Catherine is a James Beard-nominated freelance food and travel writer who has written for The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, Eater, The Food Network, Travel & Luxury, TripAdvisor, and McSweeney’s, among others.
Associate Professor, University of Colorado DPhil in Biology, University of Oxford
Dr. Olivia S. Rissland has made discoveries that illuminate how genetic regulatory information is interpreted by the cell.
Author & Lecturer
Struan is the author of several best-selling young adult fantasy novels, he has a PhD in genetics, and is now a lecturer in biochemistry at the University of Oxford.
Writer & Journalist
Peter is a writer, journalist and lecturer. He teaches creative writing at the University of Oxford.
Political Scientist
Ziad Majed is a political scientist and Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the American University of Paris.
Historian
Adam Smith is the Edward Orsborn Professor of United States Politics & Political History, a Professorial Fellow at University College, and Director of the RAI.
Associate Professor, University of Colorado DPhil in Biology, University of Oxford
Dr. Olivia S. Rissland has made discoveries that illuminate how genetic regulatory information is interpreted by the cell.
Author & Lecturer
Struan is the author of several best-selling young adult fantasy novels, he has a PhD in genetics, and is now a lecturer in biochemistry at the University of Oxford.
Writer & Journalist
Peter is a writer, journalist and lecturer. He teaches creative writing at the University of Oxford.
Food & Travel Writer
Catherine is a James Beard-nominated freelance food and travel writer who has written for The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, Eater, The Food Network, Travel & Luxury, TripAdvisor, and McSweeney’s, among others.
Political Scientist
Ziad Majed is a political scientist and Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the American University of Paris.