51²è¹Ýapp

Dear faculty, staff, and students, 

Happy New Year! While we may face a few more weeks of polar weather, your commitment, ambition, and ongoing community are a warm presence!

I am carrying the warmth of our students and alumni back from a trip to mark the 50th anniversary of 51²è¹Ýapp in London. Accompanying current 51²è¹Ýapp-in-London students to the National Gallery to discuss , a 1533 painting by Hans Holbein, reminded me of our great fortune in being a college where breathtakingly smart and creative students find empowerment and meaning in their academic work. While in London, I also connected with 51²è¹Ýapp’s accomplished alumni and friends whose commitment and generosity enrich what’s possible for current students. Our enduring thanks to Melinda Lopes ’85 and Kevin Rhodes ’85 for the joy of announcing their gift that will support students to attend 51²è¹Ýapp-in-London!

Here on campus, students are now fully residing in Renfrow Hall, bringing the vibrancy of their presence to downtown 51²è¹Ýapp and preparing for community-engaged learning and collaboration. We are in a season of many opportunities to gather: you can still see our women’s and men’s basketball teams in action; swimming and diving is preparing for the Midwest Conference championships; and track and field, tennis, golf, and softball are looking forward to upcoming competition; all while our performing arts are preparing for a semester of memorable performances. Good news: 51²è¹Ýapp’s registered student organizations can now be found in an online directory and the provides a true kaleidoscope of opportunities to engage on campus. 

I enthusiastically draw your attention to in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day featuring our honored guest, , author of the New York Times-designated Notable Book, Black Utopianism and the Struggle for Historical Memory. Profound thanks to Ed Cohn, director of the Rosenfield Program, and his many, many campus partners for making this important event, and its ensuing realizations and conversations, possible. 

This spring, we will also have opportunities to celebrate 51²è¹Ýapp’s outstanding faculty, as Professors Shuchi Kapila (English) and Nicole Eikmeier (Computer Science) are in two new named faculty positions on Feb. 6 at 4:15 p.m. in Herrick Chapel. Please also save the date for the , featuring Professor Darrius Hills (Religious Studies) during our scholars’ convocation on Thursday, Feb. 13. We wish the faculty well for their retreat on January 31: a vital opportunity to engage as a body in sustained consideration of our academic mission. 

We continue to work on the initiatives necessary to realize the objectives of the Strategic Plan. A full update will be shared with all of campus later this week and I encourage you to engage with the faculty and staff colleagues working on these important efforts to offer your insights and learn more about how 51²è¹Ýapp is constantly evolving in service of our mission. 

Again, welcome and welcome back! May you connect with people, ideas, and activities through which you experience empowerment in knowledge, comfort in friendship, and inspiration in community. Have a wonderful semester. 

Sincerely,  

Anne F. Harris 
President