Matthew Holland has been integral to Fordham London’s growth since he joined the University in 2016. In those early days as the campus’s head of student affairs, he handled everything from injured student emergency room visits to kayaking and surfing trips on the Welsh coast. The varied experience helped him and his team develop “the robust extracurricular programming that we have now,” said Holland, who became Fordham London’s senior director in 2024. Today, the campus continues to evolve under his watch. He discusses the new courses and programs coming to Fordham London below—and shares a personal recommendation for a trip across the pond.
What attracted you to Fordham London?
It felt like a dynamic place to be. We get to showcase a city’s culture and witness student development happening at such pace. You see that awe and inspiration in their eyes—and then that repeats every three or four months.
How has it evolved since you became its senior director?
It’s grown significantly. Just before I joined in 2016, the team was celebrating 100 students a semester. This past academic year, we came just shy of 600 undergraduate students who studied abroad in fall, spring, and summer.
We are better connected within the University, and that connectivity leads to greater programming opportunities. The Law School and the Graduate School of Education are both looking to host a conference here this year.
There’s interest in developing new programs and seeing London as an extension of the University’s mission and as a strategic outpost. We also aim to stand on our own merit, as a distinguished study abroad campus which serves the University and continues to attract exceptional partner students from other colleges.
What are some of the new programs coming to Fordham London?
We want to ensure that all student groups can study abroad in London if they would like to do so. In particular, we’re starting to offer more courses in STEM areas—biology, computer science, neuroscience, psychology—so pre-med and pre-health students don’t have to overload their schedules to make London possible.
We’ve been developing a suite of courses that offer a true London flavor, such as Britain Today, an interdisciplinary course that brings in different faculty members every week to teach topics from art history to what’s happening currently in politics.
We’ve also identified opportunities beyond undergraduate study abroad—we’re introducing a College at 60 London program this May.
What work are you proudest of?
Three things stand out. We’ve undergone a significant vision mapping exercise to connect our purpose, mission, and strategy to that of the wider University. This is fundamental to everything we are doing.
We’ve strengthened our sense of community [among faculty and staff] through transparency and trust. We created a clearer pay structure for faculty; introduced a professional development fund supported by Arts and Sciences and the Gabelli School; and developed an employee handbook that centralizes our policies.
And I’m proud of where our internship program has come in just a few years and where it’s headed. I can’t take sole credit for that—Kathryn Echele, our student experience and special programs coordinator and my team have supported it. It’s grown from four or five students per semester to 16 this fall and over 20 this spring. We’ve built partnerships with major firms like ICG, FactSet, and Lockton, as well as NGOs like HandsOn London.
You are passionate about pub culture. Where should London visitors go to experience it?
The Blue Anchor in Hammersmith, hands down, is my favorite pub. It’s right next to Hammersmith Bridge in a gorgeous setting. If you go on a Sunday and head to the top floor for a pint and maybe a Sunday roast, you’ll see people rowing up and down the Thames, families on bike rides or walking their dogs—all in the heart of central London.
Any British shows you’d recommend?
Line of Duty. It’s possibly one of the best cop dramas this country has ever produced. Every series [ed. note: what we call a “season” in the U.S.] has a different corrupt cop as the focus, and the writing is exceptional—just British writing at its best.
