NEW LONDON, Conn. — Connecticut College is excited to announce the appointment of Susan Purrington as its new AI fellow, a strategic role  focused on exploring artificial intelligence applications in teaching, supporting faculty development, and thoughtfully incorporating AI fluency, tools, and ethical considerations across the institution's esteemed liberal arts curriculum. Purrington will officially begin her tenure on Monday, July 21.

This pivotal appointment underscores Connecticut College's proactive approach to preparing students for a future shaped by AI, ensuring they possess both the technical understanding and the critical ethical frameworks necessary to navigate this evolving landscape.

"We are thrilled to welcome Susan Purrington to Connecticut College," said Jessica McCullough, director of research support & curricular technology. "Her expertise will be instrumental in empowering our faculty and students to thoughtfully engage with AI, ensuring our liberal arts education remains at the forefront of innovation while upholding our core values."

In her new role, Purrington, will lead the AI@Conn Initiative, a comprehensive effort to foster a campus-wide understanding and responsible application of AI. Her core responsibilities include:

• Faculty Development: Designing and delivering workshops, seminars, and resources on generative AI, providing essential technical and pedagogical support to faculty.
• Curricular Support: Collaborating with faculty in examining AI topics and experimenting with  AI tools in their courses.
• Tool Evaluation: Overseeing the acquisition, testing, and implementation of AI tools that align with the College's stringent information security requirements and ethical principles.
• Annual AI Symposium: Organizing and leading an annual symposium on AI and the Liberal Arts, featuring workshops, prominent speakers, and showcasing exemplary projects from across the College.

The inaugural AI and the Liberal Arts Symposium is set to take place October 17-19, 2025. This flagship event will bring together scholars and practitioners to explore the intersection of AI and the liberal arts, offering invaluable insights and fostering interdisciplinary dialogue. The keynote speaker for this year's symposium is Lance Eaton, who recently shared his perspectives on the event in an interview with Lori Looney, research and data librarian. 

Purrington will also cultivate extensive cross-campus collaboration, partnering with key departments and centers including the Dean of Faculty's Office, the Center for Teaching & Learning, the Ammerman Center for Arts & Technology, the Department of Computer Science, and the Connections Pathway: Data, Information, and Society.

This strategic appointment reaffirms Connecticut College's commitment to delivering a relevant and rigorous liberal arts education that equips students with the skills and ethical perspectives needed to thrive in an AI-driven world.

NEW LONDON, Conn. — A newly released report from the Centers for Housing Opportunity highlights the urgent need to diversify and strengthen civic participation on local land use boards across Connecticut—and Connecticut College students, alumni, and faculty played a key role in bringing it to life.

Titled Room at the Table: Increasing Civic Participation in Land Use Decision-Making, the report draws on two years of statewide research. It reveals that 10% of board seats in both New London and Fairfield counties are unfilled, with another 10% held by members serving expired terms. Most critically, the demographic makeup of these boards fails to reflect the communities they serve.

Three members of the Conn community directly contributed to the project: current PICA Scholars and Summer Civic Leaders Ava Gebhart ’27 and Josh Caskey ’27, and PICA alum and former Holleran Center Fellow Annika Brown ’23. All were involved in research and data collection during their time with the College’s Holleran Center for Community Action and Public Policy.

Ron Flores, professor of sociology and former faculty director of the Holleran Center, also served as a researcher and co-author.

“This project gave students the chance to connect research and policy at the local level—where change often begins,” Flores said. “It’s a reminder that our students’ contributions are not just academic—they matter in real-world decision-making.”

Connecticut College remains an executive committee member of the Centers for Housing Opportunity. 

NEW LONDON, Conn. — Connecticut College honored 433 graduates during its 107th Commencement on Sunday, May 18, on Tempel Green. The event marked the first Commencement led by President Andrea Chapdelaine, who took office this spring.

In her remarks, Chapdelaine applauded the Class of 2025 for its resilience, curiosity and contributions to the College and the broader community. “You’ve learned how to ask the right questions, think across disciplines and lead with integrity. That’s what the world needs now,” she said.

Keynote speaker Maxim Langstaff ’81, a Grammy- and Emmy-nominated producer, urged graduates to “step into ambiguity with curiosity,” sharing lessons from his decades in music, media and cultural storytelling.

Senior class speaker Natalia Hall ’25 reflected on four years of growth: “We are not the same people who arrived here — and that’s the point. We leave more aware, more grounded and more prepared.”

By the Numbers:

•     433 graduates, including 20 transfer students and one ROTC student
•     Students hail from 32 U.S. states and 19 countries
•     22% identified as students of color; 17% are first-generation college students
•     31% participated in Study Away or SATA programs
•     32 students graduated summa cum laude; 142 earned Latin honors
•     44 students were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa

•     284 students earned departmental honors

The class included double and triple majors across disciplines from neuroscience and government to dance and film studies. Nearly one in five graduates completed a Pathway or Certificate Program, including Arts and Technology, International Studies, and Public Health.

A photo gallery from the ceremony is available at:

conncoll.edu/news/news-archive/2025/commencement-2025

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NEW LONDON, Conn. — Afshan Jafar, the May Buckley Sadowski ’19 Professor of Sociology and chair of the Sociology Department at Connecticut College, has been named a 2025 fellow at the University of California’s National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement.

Jafar is one of 10 scholars, advocates and administrators selected nationwide for the prestigious program, which supports projects that strengthen the understanding and advancement of free expression and civic engagement in higher education.

Her research project, “Arbitrating Freedom: Title VI, Academic Freedom, and Free Speech Policies on Campus,” will explore how Title VI investigations and Department of Education actions are affecting academic freedom and free speech. The project also examines the expanding role of third-party consultants in the development and enforcement of campus policies.

“At a time when institutions of higher education are facing growing scrutiny, it’s essential to look closely at how these external pressures shape the policies and practices that impact classroom dialogue and faculty research,” Jafar said.

Her work will culminate in a set of policy recommendations for colleges and universities navigating the intersection of compliance, institutional values and the rights of campus communities.

Jafar, a widely published scholar, teaches courses on the sociology of gender, globalization and power. Her writing has appeared in Ms., Inside Higher Ed, The Chronicle of Higher Education and Contexts magazine. She also co-edited the book Bodies without Borders and is a past fellow with the Public Scholars Program of Scholars for Social Justice.

Learn more about the UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement and the full list of 2025 fellows here.

NEW LONDON, Conn. — Connecticut College celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Staff Council and recognized the contributions of four outstanding staff members during the 12th annual Presidential Staff Recognition Awards Breakfast held Friday, May 9, in the 1962 Room of Crozier-Williams.

The event, hosted by Staff Council, brought together faculty, staff and senior leadership to honor both the Council’s legacy and the dedication of employees who contribute to the College’s mission every day.

The 2025 staff awards recognized exceptional work in four categories: Camel Community, Innovation, Rising Star and Service Excellence. The selection committee received 92 nominations recognizing more than 60 staff members across campus. The following individuals were selected:

• Camel Community Award – Kip Wilson, senior donor relations officer
  
  
• Innovation Award – Stacey Flynn, senior assistant to senior administrator, Admission
  
  
• Rising Star Award – Jill Heilman, director of accessibility services
  
  
• Service Excellence Award – Rebecca McCue, director of community engagement and Holleran Center operations
  
  

“These awards reflect the extraordinary impact of our staff community,” said President Andrea Chapdelaine. “We are proud to honor the individuals whose commitment and care strengthen every corner of this campus.”

The ceremony also featured a retrospective slideshow celebrating 25 years of Staff Council. Formed in 1999 out of the Quality of Staff Life Committee, the Council was created to amplify staff voices in college governance. Over the years, it has played a critical role in shaping workplace policy, improving communication across departments and advocating for staff inclusion in campus decision-making.

“This Council exists because staff stepped forward with a vision for inclusion and respect,” said Lynne Crider, current Staff Council Chair. “We carry that vision forward as we continue shaping Conn’s future together.”

The selection committee included Jim Ward, adjunct professor and men’s hockey coach; Ari Rotramel, associate professor of gender, sexuality and intersectionality studies and chair of FSCC; Kelly Slack, senior human resources generalist; Shirley Parson, director of national and international programs and study away; and Lili Lan Visgilio, academic department assistant, psychology.

For more information about the Staff Council or to view highlights from the event, visit https://staffcouncil.digital.conncoll.edu.