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. Wall Street International Magazine: “Tula Telfair: Reverie”

Professor of Art Tula Telfair’s new exhibition of landscape paintings, “Reverie,” is presented Feb. 7 through March 30 at the Forum Gallery in New York. According to the article, “In the fourteen paintings that comprise ‘Reverie,’ she explores the inner reaches of her dreams and memories, taking us to places she has been or believes in so fully that she is able to portray and take the viewer to the essential, emotional center of every location as she recalls not only the place, but the sense of discovery, of wonder she felt as she found it.”

2. Hartford Courant: “Don’t Throw Away Your Shot: Wesleyan University Expands Hamilton Prize for Creativity Scholarship”

The Courant reports on news that beginning this year, three incoming students will have an opportunity to be recognized for their outstanding creative work under Wesleyan’s prestigious Hamilton Prize for Creativity. In addition to the grand prize—a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to attend Wesleyan—the University will also award two honorable mentions, along with $5,000 grants to support creative work. The announcement was also covered in Playbill and The Middletown Press.

3. NBC Connecticut: “National Girls and Women in Sports Day Encourages Girls to Get Out and Play”

Wesleyan female student-athletes and coaches hosted a day of athletic fun to inspire young girls from the area to participate in sports.

4. Harvard Political Review: “Migration, Memorialized: The Art of the Refugee Crisis”

Ahmed Badr ’20, a former Iraqi refugee, discusses his artistic collaboration with Syrian architect Mohamad Hafez, an exhibit titled, Unpacked: Refugee Baggage. “I interviewed 10 refugee families, and then Mohamad took those stories and re-created people’s homes in a series of suitcases,” Badr told HPR. “You don’t have to think refugees are good or bad, you’re just simply hearing people’s stories of what they’ve learned and what they’ve overcome—I always like to say that it’s hard to argue with someone’s personal experience.”

5. The New York Times: “Diderot Was Way Ahead of His Time—And He Knew It”

Andrew Curran, the William Armstrong Professor of the Humanities, is interviewed about his inspiration to write about the 18th-century French philosopher, who was also an art critic, novelist, political writer, satirist, and a famous atheist. Curran was also recently interviewed on the BBC, among other coverage of his new book.

Recent Alumni News

1. Sports Illustrated: “How Belichick’s [’75, Hon. ’05, P’07] Master Plan Unfolded”

Sportswriter Andy Benoit offers analysis of Bill Belichick’s winning game plan, concluding:

“The Rams endured an outright butt-whooping at the hands of an only modestly talented Patriots defense. Afterwards, McVay put it succinctly: ‘I got out-coached.’

“He’s not the first Super Bowl foe Belichick had done that to.”

2. WGBH: “No Country for Old Men? Sorting the Democratic Presidential Field” 

Boston’s NPR station offers commentary on the number of Democrats who seem to be considering a run for President in 2020. Included in the list are John Hickenlooper ’74, MA ’80, Hon. ’10 and Michael Bennet ’87, Hon. ’12.

3. Broadway World Chicago: “First Floor Theater Announces Casting for ‘I’m Gonna Pray for You So Hard’”

New York-based writer and actress Halley Feiffer ’07 is the playwright for this piece, which will open April 24. The synopsis: “Ella is a precocious and fiercely competitive actress with a desperate need to make her father, David, a famous playwright, proud…. This daring play pulls the audience into the middle of a deeply complicated relationship, exploring how we build and break idealized versions of our loved ones.”

4. Forbes: The 2019 30 Under 30: Defining and Driving the World of News and Content; Media

The 2019 list for those in media includes Alexandra Ellerbeck ’13, North America program coordinator with The Committee to Protect Journalists. Ellerbeck is “responsible for managing the first line of defense for journalists in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.”

5. USA Rugby: Mike McKenna [’73] named to USA Rugby Board of Directors

In the press release, McKenna said: “As a former college and club player, I look forward to combining my passion for the sport and professional experience to help further strengthen our great game both here in the United States and within the international Rugby community.”