51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú Centennial Plan
As most of you know, members of the 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú community have been engaged in developing a new strategic plan for the College. In October 2018, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the plan’s four themes and first 10 initiatives. I am pleased to share the results of our collective efforts with you, known as the 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú Centennial Plan, as we envision 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú at 100. I invite you to visit the , where you will find information about the themes and initiatives and their progress-to-date as it becomes available. The Centennial Plan is a living plan, a framework for the College to strengthen our community, embrace our curiosity, tell our story, and extend our boundaries.
Faculty News
Please join me in congratulating AssistantÌýProfessor of Chicana/o-Latina/o StudiesÌýMartha Gonzalez and Assistant Professor of History Corey Tazzara forÌýtheir promotions to associate professors with tenure,ÌýeffectiveÌýJuly 1, 2019.
Associate Professor of Mathematics Winston Ou has been appointed the new director of the Core Curriculum in Interdisciplinary Humanities, effective January 1. Ou and faculty are planning for the new three-year cycle, which begins next fall.
Chris Kraus, author of the influential feminist novel I Love Dick, comes to 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú this spring as the Mary Routt Chair of Writing. Also, Assistant Professor of Biology Tessa Soloman-Lane joins the W.M. Keck Science Department. Please join me in welcoming them both to the 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú community.
I am delighted to announce thatÌýMyriam J. A. Chancy, Hartley Burr Alexander Chair in the Humanities, will be the Interim Director of the Humanities Institute for the 2019–20 academic year. The theme for next year will be World/Wounds,” and students will have the opportunity to engage with topics that are timely and important.
Faculty tenure-track searches being conducted during the 2018–19 academic year include assistant professors of art history, book arts, studio art, economics, French studies, mathematics, and psychology.
For more on 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú faculty scholarship, visit the and pages on the College website.
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W.M. Keck Science Department Update
As I announced last semester, we are embarking on a transition in the W.M. Keck Science Department now that Claremont McKenna College (CMC) is planning to withdraw from the department and start its own science department. This process will take some time to complete, and we continue to engage in conversations with Pitzer College and CMC to ensure a smooth transition. We are proud of everything this department has already accomplished, the incredible learning opportunities it consistently provides to our students, and we look forward to its future successes.
We are continuing work on enhancing the physical space for our science department. I am so pleased that Trustee Jennifer McDonnell and her husband, Jeff McDonnell P’18, have demonstrated their support of and confidence in the future of the department through a $1 million gift directed toward the expansion and renovation of the Keck building.
More 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú Campaign
I’m thrilled to announce that 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú surpassed its unprecedented campaign goal of $175 million with more than 38,000 gifts supporting academic excellence, our signature campus, national leadership, and financial strength! As of December 31, the 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú community raised $179 million, making the More 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú Campaign the most successful in the College’s history. In addition to the exciting gift to science mentioned above, the end of the campaign also saw a generous gift directed to a new dance building from an anonymous donor. Because of the generosity and support of the 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú community, the More 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú Campaign has expanded opportunities, transformed lives, and advanced our mission of educating and empowering the next generation of women leaders.
IDEA Initiative at 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú
As part of the ongoing commitment to equity and inclusion, the IDEA Initiative, in collaboration with the Intercollegiate Feminist Center and 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú Communities of Resources and Empowerment (SCORE), will present Community Building Workshops on February 21 and 22. Visit the to learn more about the workshops.
Spring Events
I encourage you to take advantage of all that is happening on campus and attend some events, exhibitions, and concerts this semester. This January the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery will present the 75th anniversary edition of the ; see works from the Marer Collection from January 26 through April 7. The Clark Humanities Museum is hosting the exhibition Ìýthrough February, and recently announced its spring season, which includes Crazy RichÌýAsiansÌýauthorÌýKevin Kwan;ÌýSamin Nosrat, award-winning author of Salt, Fat, Acid,ÌýHeat, now a NetflixÌýseries;Ìýand writer, singer, and rapper Dessa. In March, the Joint Music Program hosts its , and in April, 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú Dances, the Dance Department’s annual spring concert of original dance works, is performed. Please visit the for information about all of our spring programs.
I’m thankful to be part of this distinguished community of scholars who are dedicated to learning, and I’m excited to see what 2019 holds in store for all of us.