Wesleyan in the News

In this recurring feature in The Wesleyan Connection, we highlight some of the latest news stories about Wesleyan and our alumni.

Recent Wesleyan News

1. Los Angeles Times: “As the World Warms, Deadly and Disfiguring Tropical Diseases Are Inching Their Way Toward the U.S.”

In this op-ed, Professor of Biology Frederick Cohan and Isaac Klimasmith ’20, both in the College of the Environment, write that infectious disease is a growing threat, resulting from climate change, that humans may find hard to ignore. Cohan is also professor, environmental studies and professor, integrative sciences.

2. Hartford Courant: “Trump’s Immoral Response to Climate Report”

Gary Yohe, the Huffington Foundation Professor of Economics and Environmental Studies, writes in this op-ed that it is “irresponsible” and “immoral” to ignore the findings of a major new report on climate change. Delaying action to mitigate and adapt to climate change will be increasingly damaging and expensive, he writes. Yohe is also professor of economics and professor, environmental studies, and was a reviewer on the new National Climate Assessment. He also recently co-authored an op-ed in HuffPost titled “People Are Already Dying by the Thousands Because We Ignored Earlier Climate Change Warnings.” 

3. National Geographic: “Both of NASA’s Voyager Spacecraft Are Now Interstellar. Where to Next?”

With both of NASA’s twin Voyager spacecraft now having crossed the threshold into interstellar space, Seth Redfield, associate professor and chair of astronomy, comments on what the spacecraft are likely to encounter on their journey. Redfield is also associate professor, integrative sciences, and co-coordinator of Planetary Science.

4. Inside Higher Ed: “Ordinary Education in Extraordinary Times”

President Michael Roth writes in this op-ed that in uncommon times, “traditional educational practices of valuing learning from people different from ourselves have never been more important.”

Recent Alumni News

1. The Takeaway; WNYC Studios: “Politics with Amy Walter: Pentagon’s First-Ever Audit Exposes Massive Accounting Fraud”

David Lindorff ’71, the investigative journalist who wrote an exclusive on the topic for The Nation, joins Walter’s guests—including Staff Sergeant Patricia King, Ambassador Eric Edelman, and Dr. Isaiah Wilson III, a retired Army colonel and senior lecturer with Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs—to discuss military spending and its alignment with the military’s strategic goals.

2. Colorado Public Radio: “Sen. Michael Bennet ‘Seriously Thinking’ About a 2020 Run for President”

“It turns out Gov. John Hickenlooper [’74, MA ’80, Hon. ’10] isn’t the only Colorado Democrat with his eye on the White House. U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet [’87, Hon. ’12] is considering a presidential bid, according to three people who confirmed to CPR News that they talked with him about it earlier this fall.” Sources declined to give their names. Colorado Public Radio entertains this possibility and consults political analyst Eric Sondermann,

3. Variety: “Toby Emmerich [’85] to Receive Producers Guild’s Milestone Award”

Gail Berman and Lucy Fisher, presidents of the PGA, noted: “Toby Emmerich is one of the most respected studio executives. He continues to deliver high-quality films in a variety of genres and attract some of the finest up-and-coming and veteran directors, as well as producers, and talent to create them.” Emmerich is chairman of Warner Bros. Pictures Group, and will be honored at the 30th annual Producers Guild Awards on Jan. 19 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

4. Crain’s New York: “CEO Rebrands a Former Orphanage into Children’s Welfare Nonprofit”

“Following Rising Ground’s partnership this summer with Brooklyn nonprofit Edwin Gould Services for Children and Families, CEO Alan Mucatel [’84] oversees a nonprofit dedicated to child welfare and support for the developmentally disabled that serves some 25,000 clients across the five boroughs and Westchester.” A Q&A with Mucatel offers him the opportunity to talk about his turnaround strategy as well as the basis for his commitment to serve in the human services sector.

5. NBC Connecticut: “Lamont Makes Key Appointments” (video)

One of the first two appointments made by Connecticut Governor-Elect Ned Lamont was that of Melissa McCaw ’01 to the secretary of the Office of Policy and Management. Most recently, she had served as chief financial officer for the City of Hartford.“‘I look forward to leading this process, to completing the budget in the coming months and to ultimately achieving the governor-elect’s vision for a budget and a policy plan that is balanced and addresses Connecticut’s fiscal crisis,’ she said.”