Campus News & Events

Tom Morgan, the Foss Professor of Physics, is spending the month of June as a visiting professor at Seikei University in Tokyo, Japan. He is collaborating with Professor Tomoyuki Murakami on modeling the evolution of plasma (an assembly of ions and electrons) created by injecting energy into water, "a substance with many interesting properties and applications," Morgan explained. The work focuses on water in both the vapor phase and as a liquid. Morgan also is collaborating on this experimental work with Professor of Physics Lutz Huwel at Wesleyan. Huwel uses a pulse of laser light to provide the energy input to the water. "The…

Katja Kolcio, associate professor of dance, associate professor of environmental studies, was invited to attend White House Ethnic Day on June 2. The event brought together about 160 leaders from various ethnic communities for a discussion on immigration reform and foreign policy. The foreign policy discussion dealt predominantly with Ukraine, Kolcio’s area of interest.

This summer, crews around campus are hard at work on several major maintenance and capital projects designed to support Wesleyan’s ultimate goal of creating a more interconnected and sustainable campus.

This July, Wesleyan's 2015 Summer Film Series presents "Hollywood Icons: Jimmy Stewart," a four-film series sponsored by Wesleyan's College of Film and the Moving Image (CFILM). Films will be shown at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays in July at the Center for Film Studies. All films are free and open to the public and will be preceded by an introduction by Marc Longenecker, CFILM's programming and technical director. The "Hollywood Icons: Jimmy Stewart" film series includes Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (July 7), Harvey (July 14), Rear Window (July 21), and Winchester '73 (July 28). See Wesleyan's Summer Film Series website for more information.

The Wesleyan Writers Conference celebrated its 59th year by welcoming more than 60 new and seasoned writers and others interested in the writer’s craft to the Wesleyan campus June 10-14. Headed by Wesleyan Writers Conference Director Anne Greene, adjunct professor of English and director of Writing Programs, the conference featured seminars, workshops, readings, panel discussions and manuscript consultations led by Wesleyan faculty and other nationally known writers, editors and agents. Conference topics included the novel, short story, poetry, nonfiction, memoir, biography, journalism, writing for film and TV, new media, writing about food and travel, writing about science and medicine, preparing your work for…

Alumni, students, their families, faculty and staff are invited to attend Wesleyan's Summer Sendoff gatherings, happening around the globe throughout the summer. Generously hosted by alumni and parents, these casual receptions are the perfect opportunity to welcome Wesleyan’s newest students and their families to the community. Sendoffs will be held in the following locations this summer: Washington, D.C., June 25; Denver, July 14; Chicago, July 19; San Francisco, July 19; Beijing, July 26; Mamaroneck, N.Y., July 30; Seattle, Aug. 1; Seoul, Aug. 1; West Hartford, Conn., Aug. 4; Boston, Aug. 6; Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 11; Nashville, Tenn., Aug. 13; New York City, Aug. 18; Philadelphia, Aug. 20; and Los Angeles, date to be determined. For more information, including registration, visit the Summer Sendoff website. Watch a video about Summer Sendoffs here,…

David Potts '60 has published a long-awaited second volume of Wesleyan history, Wesleyan University, 1910-1970: Academic Ambition and Middle-Class America (Wesleyan University Press, 2015). In an interview in the new issue of the Wesleyan magazine, he describes a time of great change at Wesleyan, culminating in the arrival of women students on campus. Potts tells the Wesleyan magazine about his motivations for writing the book; the different challenges posed by the second volume compared to the first; Wesleyan's record of setting trends in higher education; and major institutional changes and figures in the university's history.

In its most recent meeting, the Board of Trustees conferred tenure on Hari Krishnan, associate professor of dance. He joins seven other faculty members who were awarded tenure earlier this spring. In addition, seven faculty members were promoted to Full Professor: Mary Alice Haddad, professor of government; Scott Higgins, professor of film studies; Tsampikos Kottos, professor of physics; Edward Moran, professor of astronomy; Dana Royer, professor of earth and environmental sciences; Mary-Jane Rubenstein, professor of religion; and Gina Athena Ulysse, professor of anthropology. Brief descriptions of their research and teaching appear below. Associate Professor Krishnan teaches studio- and lecture-based dance courses on Mobilizing Dance: Cinema, the Body, and Culture…

Watch highlights from Reunion & Commencement Weekend 2015 in this video: View additional R&C weekend videos, including several Commencement speeches, the Board of Trustees Welcome, the recognition of retiring faculty, the Senior Class Welcome and more on the Video @ Wesleyan website.

Graduates, their families, and other members of the Wesleyan community who gathered for the 183rd Commencement ceremony on May 24 were treated to some life advice in the form of rap, courtesy of Lin-Manuel Miranda '02, this year's Commencement speaker and the composer, lyricist and star of the hip-hop musical Hamilton. "I’m going to sing a little bit, so if you made a bet that I’d be rapping during the Commencement address, your friend owes you money," Miranda joked. He drew upon the stories of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr to discuss two different approaches to life: charging forward in the…

Lin-Manuel Miranda '02 made the following remarks at the 183rd Commencement ceremony May 24: Thank you, President Roth, Provost, Board of Trustees, faculty, students, families. Wes Wings, Thai Gardens and Neon Deli. As I look across the sea of proud, sleepy graduates, who just hours ago were turnt all the way up in the tent where your families now sit—seriously, your grandmother is sitting where YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID—I can’t help but wish I had been asked to be your freshman orientation speaker instead. Over the course of your time here, you have learned innumerable lessons, large and small, but I…

Beverly Daniel Tatum '75, president of Spelman College, was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree on May 24. She delivered the following remarks: Thank you, President Roth and the Board of Trustees, the faculty, for this wonderful honor. I can’t tell you how delighted I am to be here – especially on the occasion of the 40th reunion of the Class of 1975! The years I spent at Wesleyan were transformative for me, and when I left Wesleyan, I was a confident young woman with a clear career plan. I planned to go off to graduate school, earn…

Morgan Models the Evolution of Plasma as a Visiting Professor in Tokyo

Kolcio Attends White House Event, Presents Research in Ukraine

Wesleyan Works on Utilities Infrastructure Improvements, Landscaping Projects this Summer

Jimmy Stewart Stars in Free Summer Film Series

Conference Teaches Participants about New Media, Fiction Writing, Journalism

Alumni, Parents Host Summer Sendoffs for Students Around the Globe

David Potts ’60 Describes a Period of Change at Wes in New Book

7 Faculty Promoted, 1 Awarded Tenure

Watch Highlights from Reunion & Commencement Weekend

Wesleyan Awards 799 BA Degrees at 183rd Commencement

Lin-Manuel Miranda ’02 Delivers Commencement Address

Remarks for Honorary Degree Recipient Beverly Daniel Tatum ’75