August 1, 2025
Dear alumni, family and friends of Connecticut College,
I hope this message finds you refreshed and recharged as summer winds down. As we move into August, the campus is humming with activity (lots of construction!) — and it’s heartening to feel that familiar momentum build as we prepare to welcome the class of 2029.
Here are a few updates as we ease back into the rhythm of a new academic year.
A Warm Welcome to New Faces
I'm delighted to introduce the following individuals who have recently joined us:
- Michelle Jackson-Huaqui, botany and environmental studies
- Sylwia Johnson, human development
- Cassie Raker, biology
- Kevin Steel, head coach, women’s swimming and diving
- Zheyu Su, East Asian languages and cultures
- Annika Tucksmith, visiting assistant professor of art
- Ryley van der Velde, head coach, women’s field hockey
- Brett Zanardi, interim head coach, women’s basketball
We are excited to have them on campus and look forward to all they will bring to the College.
In the Media
We’re proud to see Conn faculty and staff contributing their expertise to public conversations. Each month, we’ll share a sampling of recent media mentions, articles, and interviews featuring our community:
Marc Zimmer was featured in The Conversation with a widely shared article on the fragile state of U.S. research and appeared on the Critical Wit podcast.
Denise Pelletier reflected on the life and legacy of her mentor, Minnie Negoro, in an interview on Where We Live.
Maria Rosa contributed to CT Public’s Disrupted during a conversation about environmental research and the future of biological science in Connecticut.
Tim Stevens shared his expertise on the shifting landscape of television and political satire in features for Yahoo News and The Mirror.
You can view the full list of recent media coverage on Conn In The News.
Budget Reconciliation Bill – What It Means for Conn
The federal budget reconciliation bill signed into law in July includes significant changes to higher education policy — particularly related to student aid, loan programs, and repayment plans. The National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities offers a helpful summary. While these reforms are broad in scope, the direct impact on Connecticut College is expected to be fairly modest in terms of regulatory compliance, student aid and overall financial impact. That said, we will continually monitor and assess this continually changing federal environment.
New Student Convocation – August 25
We’ve renamed this year’s Convocation ceremony to New Student Convocation to better reflect the event’s purpose. It will take place on Monday, August 25, at 4:30 p.m. I hope you enjoy these lovely end-of-summer days and look forward to seeing many of you during Fall Weekend, Sept. 26-27.
Warmly,
Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D.
President