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The Africana Research Collective, a group of faculty, students, and recent alumni, journeyed to Southern Louisiana for a hands-on research experience focusing on the intellectual and cultural history of the African diaspora. This was the collective’s second ever trip after an inaugural research excursion to the Dominican Republic in 2022. This particular trip was organized around the theme of “agency,” which can be tentatively defined as “someone’s or something’s capacity to produce an intended or unintended effect,” said Assistant Professor of African American Studies Garry Bertholf. This four-day, cross-institutional research collaboration brought together undergraduate fellows from Wesleyan’s Bailey College of…

While Professor of Philosophy Stephen Angle was on sabbatical in Beijing, China in 2016-2017, he wanted to find a way to directly engage fellow experts on and advocates of Confucianism. He attended conferences and met with other Confucianists before coming up with the idea of organizing a series of dialogues about the meaning of Confucianism today. The dialogues—eight in all—culminated in Angle’s latest book Progressive Confucianism and its Critics: Dialogues from the Confucian Heartland. To Angle’s knowledge, the dialogues—most of which took place at Renmin University in Beijing—were the first of their kind to put Chinese Confucians, most of whom…

Assistant Professor of Mathematics Iris Yoon first became intrigued by topology—a branch of mathematics concerned with the study of shapes—as an undergraduate student. “I took a topology class in undergrad which was fascinating to me,” said Yoon. “And I found this field by accident. I went on Google and searched ‘applications of topology’ and found that it was an actual field of research.” That fascination led Yoon to contact a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, who invited her to join his weekly research seminars and ultimately served as advisor for her Ph.D. in applied mathematics and computation science. …

The Wesleyan community has demonstrated a commitment to the University’s sustainability goals. Undergraduate participation in sustainability in coursework, workshops, and research incorporating environmental justice is on the rise, as is the University’s engagement with Middletown on sustainability efforts. In 2023-24, 1,717 students, or 55 percent of undergraduates, engaged in one or more internships, courses, research projects, leadership experiences, workshops, or volunteer activities related to sustainability. This is an increase of 160 students from 2022-23, according to an annual progress report on the University’s Sustainability Strategic Plan. “It’s been exciting to see a continued increase in student engagement with sustainability both…

Wesleyan University’s Center for the Arts (CFA) continues to explore the capacity of art to reflect and transform the world this season with a spring semester featuring exhibitions and live performances of commissioned works by visiting artists, and convenings with the campus community led by this year’s artist in residence Anna Deavere Smith Hon. '97. CFA Director Joshua Lubin-Levy ’06 said this academic year that the Center for the Arts has been thinking about how art creates assemblies—a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. “We continue that work this spring with a wide range of special…

President Michael S. Roth ’78 called for wider access to higher education in a piece for The New York Times on anti-elitism. Roth highlighted Wesleyan’s partnership with the National Education Equity Lab, a nonprofit that offers free college classes to Title I high school students to increase educational opportunities for low-income students. “Education transforms lives; we just need to make it more widely available.” Roth’s piece was mentioned in a later Boston Globe article. Roth also wrote a piece on a collection of letters by neurologist Oliver Sacks for The Atlantic. “Writing would be his way of seeking recognition, of…

In early 2025, Wesleyan University’s website will unveil a reimagined presence—a result of more than a year of innovative work to redefine this front door to the University. Led by University Communications in partnership with a newly formed web governance committee and collaborators across campus, this ambitious project is set to deliver a completely overhauled "core" website, including new sections for Admission and Aid, news, and events. “As a university that prides itself on having an ‘impact disproportionate to our numbers,’ it is important that we continually look for ways to enhance our capacity to connect with current and future…

By: Phuc Ngo ’26 Each semester, The Connection shares highlights, including faculty fellowships, awards, publications and other achievements, with the community. Read more about the research and accomplishments that define the intellectual life of the University. Fellowships and Awards Professor of Dance, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and Global South Asian Studies Hari Krishnan was awarded a 2024 Guggenheim Fellowship for Choreography. His work explores the postcolonial complexities and queer themes at the intersection of traditional South Asian and global contemporary dance forms in the North American diaspora. Professor of Philosophy Lori Gruen has been named the 2024 Distinguished Philosopher…

A month after one of the most momentous national elections in recent memory, the Wesleyan Media Project hosted their 2024 Post-Election Conference at the Frank Center for Public Affairs on Dec. 6. The all-day event featured four panels, moderated by Government department faculty members: Associate Professor of Government Logan Dancey, Associate Professor of Government Alyx Mark, Professor of Government Erika Franklin Fowler, and Assistant Professor of Government Justin Peck. More than a dozen scholars from institutions across the country presented their research to the audience of faculty and students. The topics of panel presentations ranged from political advertising in 2024…

This fall season was full of excitement, and for some, championships, across the Cardinals’ athletic fields. Wesleyan’s student-athletes also performed academically as the University had 98 student-athletes named to 2024 NESCAC Fall All-Academic teams, including 42 members of the football program. Here is a quick look at this season’s athletic action: Football It was an historic, championship-winning season for the 8-1 Wesleyan football team, punctuated by several late-game wins. One of those wins came after a last-second diving touchdown reception by defensive back turned wide receiver Luke LaSaracina ’25, which secured Wesleyan a third straight Little Three Championship at Homecoming…

On Wednesday, Dec. 4, 15 students were formally inducted into Wesleyan’s Gamma chapter of Phi Beta Kappa Society. This impressive group were early-decision inductees, meaning they met the rigorous criteria before they are expected to graduate. At the start of the event, Nadja Aksamija, associate professor of Art History and president of the Phi Beta Kappa Committee, shared that these high-achieving students joined an estimated 525,000 society members from across the country. Aksamija went on to explain that Phi Beta Kappa, founded in 1776, is the oldest surviving Greek letter society in America. To receive this honor, the latest group…

By Phuc Ngo ’26 Director of the University Jazz Ensemble Noah Baerman appeared on WNPR’s “The Colin McEnroe Show” to discuss the musical inspiration he received from the myth of Sisyphus. “For me, it is the same boulder every day, in the macro sense,” said Baerman. “Love, justice, trying to facilitate transcendent experiences through art, basic humanity… the core mission I expect is going to be the same for each day that I’m fortunate enough to draw breath.” Architectural Record featured the new Pruzan Art Center, located between Olin Memorial Library and the newly renovated Frank Center for Public Affairs.…

Africana Research Collective Visits Louisiana

Angle’s New Book Debates Critical Questions About Confucianism

Math Researcher Provides New Tool to Study the Brain

Campus Sustainability Work on the Rise

CFA Spring Preview: Exploring How Art Creates Knowledge

Wesleyan in the News: January 2025

Exciting Changes Coming to Wesleyan’s Website in 2025

Faculty Achievements in Fall 2024

Post-Election Conference Probed Impact of Political Ads, Messaging

Cardinal Athletes Soar to New Heights This Fall

Fifteen Wesleyan Students Joined Phi Beta Kappa

Wesleyan in the News: December 2024