June 3, 2025

Dear alumni, family and friends of Connecticut College,

Happy summer!

We welcomed more than 700 alumni and friends of the College back for Reunion Weekend, and it was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and share good times together. We honored the following alumni with awards:

  1. Mach Arom ’89 Award | Jennifer Tejada-Tatis ’10
  2. Agnes Berkeley Leahy Award | Greg Fleischmann ’90
  3. Harriet Buescher Lawrence ’34 Prize | Edward Burger, Ph.D., ’85
  4. The Goss Award | Mario Laurenzi ’90
  5. The Alumni Tribute Award | Patricia Reilly ’75
  6. The Alumni Tribute Award | Dena Wolf Yeskoo ’75
  7. The Unity Award | Karin Kunstler Goldman ’65

Board of Trustees Meeting Highlights (May 15-17)

During its May meeting, the Board of Trustees continued its discussion of the Facilities Condition Assessment (FCA), which was initially reviewed at the February 2025 meeting and shared with the campus community through town halls. The Board also examined several high-priority deferred maintenance issues. Based on these discussions, the Board took the following actions:

  • Capital Planning and Funding Working Groups: Directed Board leadership and the administration to establish two working groups:
    • 1. Prioritization Group – to develop criteria and a transparent process for determining the order in which capital projects will be undertaken.
    • 2. Funding Group – to explore potential funding models for these projects, including the development of new residential housing.
  • Building Demolitions: Authorized the Facilities Department to develop a plan for the demolition of 358 Mohegan, 360 Mohegan, and Winthrop Annex. According to the FCA, the cost to renovate these buildings far exceeds their current value. While no demolition timeline has been established, 358 and 360 Mohegan will not be used for student housing in the upcoming academic year.
  • Tenure and Promotions: Please join me in congratulating the following faculty on their important milestones, as approved by the Board.
    Promotion to full professor
    • Virginia Anderson, Theater
    • Nadav Assor, Art
    • Chris Barnard, Art
    • Rachel Black, Anthropology
    • David Chavanne, Economics
    • Christine Chung, Computer Science
    • Karen Gonzalez Rice, Art History
    • Cherise Harris, Sociology
    • Chad Jones, Botany and Environmental Studies
    • Mónika Lopez-Anuarbe, Economics
    • Nina Martin, Film Studies
    • Ken Prestininzi, Theater
    Promotion to associate professor with tenure
    • Kendell Coker, Psychology
    • Stephen Douglass, Biology/Computer Science
    • Andrew Greenwald, Music
    • Emily Kuder, Hispanic Studies
    • Di Luo, Art History/ARC
    • Marie Ostby, English
    • Maria Rosa, Biology
    Promotion to associate teaching professor
    • Alex Gianninas, Physics, Astronomy, Geophysics
    • Karen Pezzetti, Education
  • Curricular Legislation (Curricular Equilibrium Project): Approved legislation proposed by the Academic and Administrative Procedures Committee (AAPC) that limits the number of majors and minors a student may pursue. Beginning this fall with the incoming class, students may pursue no more than:
    1. Two majors, or
    2. One major and two minors
    Current students are not affected by this change.
  • Board Membership Changes: The Board welcomed five new trustees: Sydney L. Lamb ’21; Randall T. Suffolk ’90; Tamah Nachtman Wiegand ’68; Jennifer Lapan Mann ’94 (president of the Alumni Association); and Bellaluna Castellanos Palacios ’25 (Young Alumni Trustee). It also thanked the following trustees for their service as they completed their terms: Chip Clothier ’79 P’10; Mark Fallon ’92 P’28; Samirah Jaigirdar ’22; and Raj Vig ’93.
  • Sustainability Initiative: Approved the South Campus Solar Project The project is a 730 kW ground-mount solar array that will be located at the south end of our main campus. This array will produce electricity equivalent to 7% of our main campus electrical needs. The array will be positioned along a south facing slope adjacent to South Lot.

Equity and Inclusion Progress

At the last faculty and staff meeting and at Camp Teach & Learn, Vice President of Success and Retention and Dean of the College Erika Smith presented an update on actions taken in response to the 2018–2025 Equity and Inclusion Action Plan and the 2023–24 Presidential Task Force subgroups on Campus Climate and Communication, and Faculty/Staff Retention. While there is still work ahead, it is edifying to see the progress that has been made, thanks to the shared commitment and effort of so many. A list of achievements can be found here.

Enjoy the summer, and thank you for your ongoing commitment to the College.

Warmly,

Chapdelaine Signature

Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D.
President

Yours,
 
Katherine Bergeron
President