Olivia DrakeMembers of the Donor Associates, trustees, and emeriti trustees and friends celebrated the Bennet family legacy during a dedication of Bennet Hall on May 25. Bennet Hall is named in honor of Wesleyan President Emeritus Douglas Bennet ’59, P’87, P’94, Midge Bowen Bennet, and the Bennet family. The hall is located inside the Fauver Residence complex. (more…)
The Office of Parent Programs and the proud parents of the Class of 2012 hosted a gathering on May 26 for graduating seniors and their grandparents. Photos of the event are below: (more…)
Wesleyan alumni, friends and family participated in a lively festival of entertainment and games during the All-College Picnic and Festival on Foss Hill, May 26. The event was part of Reunion & Commencement Weekend. Photos of the event are below: (Photos by Bill Tyner '13)
Lauren RubensteinMembers of the Class of 1962 and guests celebrated their 50th Reunion during Reunion & Commencement Weekend May 24-27. During the reunion, Hank Sprouse '62 presented a cardinal carving to Wesleyan on behalf of his class. The carving will be permanently displayed in Daniel Family Commons. Sprouse and Bruce Corwin '62 also led a discussion on “Reinventing Ourselves As We Move Along” followed by a class discussion. In addition, the Class of 1962 dedicated the Highwaymen Common Room, located in the Romance Languages and Literatures Department. Photos of the 50th Class Reunion are below: (more…)
Alumni band Kinky Spigot and the Welders performed classic soul and covers during the All-Campus Party May 26 on Andrus Field. The event was held in conjunction with Reunion & Commencement Weekend. Band members include Lillian Ruiz ’08, Nicole Tirado Strayer ’07, Amanda Facelle '09, Marlon Bishop ’07, Vlad Gutkovich ’07, Yoni Rabino ’07, Jon Hutchinson ’07, and Tess Amodeo-Vickery '07. Photos of the event are below: (more…)
Wesleyan's annual West African Drumming and Dance concert, which took place on the Center for the Arts Green, was recently featured by the Middletown Patch. The article, published on May 15, notes: "The exhilarating performance featured the work of Ghanian choreographer Iddi Saaka, Wesleyan world dance artist-in-residence; and master drummer Abraham Adzenyah, whose energetic and spirited students gave a sampling of what they've learned in West African dance courses this semester, accompanied by guest artists and drummers. " Read the article and see the video of the performance here.
Assistant Professor Courtney Weiss Smith is finishing up her first year in the English Department, where she shares with students her enthusiasm for 18th century English poetry, literature and culture. A native of St. Louis, Mo., Smith earned a B.A. from the University of Dayton and received her M.A. and Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis. She originally intended to study the 19th Century novel in graduate school, but became increasingly drawn to earlier literature of the 17th and 18th Centuries. “I was curious where these 19th Century novels came from,” Smith remarks. “I became fascinated by the novelistic…
The following Wesleyan faculty members retired in May 2012: John Biddiscombe Director of Athletics (1988–2012) Adjunct Professor of Physical Education (1985–2012) Adjunct Associate Professor of Physical Education (1978–1985) Adjunct Assistant Professor of Physical Education (1974–1978) M.Ed., Slippery Rock University Joseph Bruno Professor of Chemistry (1996–2012) Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost (2006–2010) Associate Professor of Chemistry (1991–1996) Assistant Professor of Chemistry (1984–1991) Ph.D., Northwestern University Howard Needler Professor of Letters (1981–2012) Associate Professor of Letters (1973–1981) Assistant Professor of Letters (1969–1973) Ph.D., Columbia University Wallace "Pete" Pringle Professor of Chemistry (1987–2011) Associate Professor of Chemistry (1975–1987) Assistant Professor of…
Cynthia RockwellShalini Shankar ’94, associate professor of anthropology, associate professor of Asian American studies at Northwestern University, was invited to appear on WTTW (the Chicago PBS station) to discuss the recent Ashton Kutcher "brownface" controversy that arose from his Popchips ad. The segment explored representations of Asian Americans and issues of race in advertising. Host Phil Ponce notes that critics of the ad think it says something about the larger issue of race in America and Shankar agrees. “I was a bit shocked when I saw the commercial. Usually brownface is not something that is used to sell potato chips and…
Benjamin TraversWesleyan alumni and their families participated in the annual Parade of Classes During Reunion & Commencement Weekend May 26. A video and photos of the event are below: [youtube width="640" height="420"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMwcMYSdhsc[/youtube] (more…)
Bob Glasspiegel ’77, managing director and co-head of insurance research for Langen McAlenney, a division of Janney Capital Markets, was one of the Wall Street Journal's 'Best on the the Street'—number one stock analyst in the life insurance category. Recognized in eight prior surveys, he was notable this year for his pick to buy Torchmark Corp., which gave investors a 10 percent return. "What interests me is figuring out if interest rates are going to stay low and for how long," Glasspiegel told the WSJ. "I'm not ready to recommend names that depend on interest rates to go higher. I…
David LowThe prolific Paul Dickson ’61 is the author of the book Bill Veeck: Baseball Maverick (Walker Books), the first major biography of one of the most influential and smartest figures in baseball history. Dickson used primary sources, including more than 100 interviews to tell the story of Veeck (1914-1986) who was a baseball impresario, an innovator, and a staunch advocate of racial equality. Admired by baseball fans, Veeck was known for his promotional genius for the sport, while his feel for the game led him to propose innovations way ahead of their time. His deep sense of fairness helped usher…