Campus News & Events

During her four years at Wesleyan, Katherine "Kat" Eaton '21 not only fell in love with creative writing, but she also discovered interests in martial arts, fire spinning, and tabletop roleplaying games—Dungeons & Dragons, Monster of the Week, Masks, and more. "Basically, I'm a storyteller, whether that's on my own or with other people," Eaton explained. Eaton, who graduated on May 26 with honors for her English thesis titled "Myths and Legends of Aetheria: A Study in Worldbuilding," is also among only 88 students from the Class of 2021 to graduate with Phi Beta Kappa honors. On May 24, she…

Two proposed Venus mission concepts co-developed by planetary geologist Martha Gilmore were selected by NASA’s Discovery Program this week. The selected missions aim to understand how Venus became a scorching planet after it was potentially another habitable world in the solar system with an Earth-like climate. Gilmore, George I. Seney Professor of Geology, professor of earth and environmental sciences, is a co-investigator of both winning concepts. Each project will receive approximately $500 million per mission for development and is expected to launch in the 2028–2030 timeframe. The projects include VERITAS (Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy) and DAVINCI+…

Connor Matteson ’23 penned an open letter to President Biden as part of the Washington International Diplomatic Academy’s (WIDA) essay contest, which prompted college students to share their views on the role the United States should play globally. Matteson’s letter, titled “The World Needs a Democracy That Educates Its Citizens to Lead It” is one of two winning essays published on WIDA’s website. “Not just in the realm of democratic ideas, but also in the realm of environmentally sustainable economics, the United States should be a laboratory of tomorrow, a place where forward-thinking leaders from around the world can congregate…

Lily Barnes ’22 and Amy Du ’22 are recipients of the 2021 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Undergraduate Research Award. They will each receive $1,000 to support summer project research. Both students are members of Wesleyan’s ASBMB chapter. Barnes works in the lab of Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Teresita Padilla-Benavides, and Du works in the lab of Fisk Professor of Natural Science and Professor of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Ishita Mukerji. Following the research Barnes and Du conduct in their respective labs, each will submit a report to the ASBMB summarizing their findings.

Wesleyan’s intellectually dynamic faculty, students, alumni, staff, and parents frequently serve as expert sources for national media. Others are noted for recent achievements and accolades. A sampling of recent media hits is below: May 19 The New York Times — Drama Book Shop, Backed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, to Open in June. Mentions that the new owners are Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda '02, Hon. '15 and Thomas Kail '99. May 20 New Fairfield Hamlet Hub — Great Hollows announces the addition of Visiting Scientists. Features Robert Clark PhD '17. We-ha — Hartford, Connecticut-based Covenant Prep School Will Celebrate Extraordinary Successes at…

Each year, Wesleyan’s Alumni Association recognizes an extraordinary group of alumni and members of the Wesleyan community with Alumni Association Awards. These awards recognize individuals who have made remarkable contributions or achievements in their professions, their communities, or the creative arts. Traditionally presented at the Wesleyan Assembly and Annual Meeting during Reunion & Commencement Weekend, the awards this year were presented virtually by President Michael Roth ’78 as part of Virtual Reunion 2021. The recipients and descriptions are below: Laurence M. Mark ’71 This producer extraordinaire has garnered not just the industry’s most prestigious nominations and awards, but the deep affection of…

(Written by Katie Aberbach with contributions from Himeka Curiel, Allie Otlowski, and Sam O'Neill.) Perseverance, pride, progress, and graduating during a unique moment in history were on the minds of the hundreds of graduates and their families at Wesleyan University's 189th Commencement ceremony on Wednesday. “It was a difficult year," said Aidar Raev '21, a Posse Veteran from Kyrgyzstan who majored in the College of Social Studies with minors in international relations and Russian, East European, and Eurasian studies. (The Posse Veterans program supports veterans of the United States armed forces who are earning bachelor's degrees at American universities.) Raev…

From an excitement-filled Arrival Day to the unpredictable final three semesters of campus life that unfolded during the COVID-19 pandemic, "so much has changed in your lives since you were first introduced to Wesleyan," President Michael Roth '78 said in his remarks to the graduating Class of 2021, who sat in front of him on Andrus Field in a socially distanced 189th Commencement. Besides the obvious impacts of the pandemic, Roth was referring to social and political divisiveness in the country, which has increased in recent years, "exacerbated by" irresponsible media platforms. "Attacks on those considered 'outsiders' are a sick…

Bryan Chong ’21, a double major in government and psychology, delivered the Senior Class Welcome at Wesleyan's 189th Commencement. In a speech that was at moments emotional and rousing, Chong reflected on "an extraordinary year that has restructured the ways we socialize." He emphasized the ways that this time of "generation-defining change" has challenged students to re-examine their time at Wesleyan and the juxtaposition of coming together in unexpected community despite being forced apart by the pandemic. "Many say that we discover our true selves during times of crisis," he said. "This year, I discovered that amidst all the chaos…

Award-winning poet, memoirist, scholar, and social justice advocate Reginald Dwayne Betts delivered the 2021 Commencement Address during Wesleyan's 189th Commencement Ceremony on May 26. In a powerful speech tinged with moments of humor, Betts focused on the theme of time and understanding our duty as part of an expansive community that includes lesser-seen members outside the traditional campus. Reflecting on how "these [COVID-19] pandemic days have turned time different," Betts drew parallels to his own past history and that of other currently or previously incarcerated individuals, including eight students from Wesleyan's Center for Prison Education program, who were among those…

After being named a 2021 recipient of Wesleyan's honorary doctor of science degree, Catherine Coleman Flowers delivered a pre-recorded speech thanking the University for the honor and exhorting Wesleyan's Class of 2021 to go forth and "quickly dismantle the historical and structural inequities that have existed in this country since its inception." Flowers, a native of Lowndes, Alabama, gained national recognition through her tireless efforts to bring attention to failing water and waste sanitation infrastructure in rural areas (beginning with her hometown), in so doing highlighting structural inequities that perpetuate health and socioeconomic disparities. For her work, Flowers was awarded…

During Wesleyan’s 189th Commencement on Wednesday, May 26, the University presented three honorary degrees to Reginald Dwayne Betts, Catherine Coleman Flowers, and Scott Gottlieb ’94 for their significant contributions to the social, environmental, and public health of the United States. Reginald Dwayne Betts, who also delivered this year’s Commencement address, was named an honorary doctor of letters in recognition of his impact and influence as a poet, scholar, and advocate and for his “perseverance . . . poetic sensibilities, and embrace of education to empower life [and] use of that empowerment and those sensibilities to improve the lives of others.”…

73 Seniors Elected to Phi Beta Kappa

NASA Selects 2 Proposed Venus Mission Concepts Co-Developed by Gilmore

Matteson ’23 Wins WIDA’s Letter to Biden Contest

Barnes ’22, Du ’22 Receive ASBMB Undergraduate Research Award

Wesleyan in the News

Alumni Honored at Virtual Reunion

Perseverance, Pride, Progress Characterize 189th Commencement

In Commencement Address, President Roth Expresses Pride in “Courageous” Class of 2021

Chong ’21 Talks Solidarity Amid Hardship in Senior Class Welcome: “Juxtaposition”

Betts Reflects on Time, “What We Owe Each Other” in 2021 Commencement Address

Flowers Speaks about “Listening,” Environmental Justice at 2021 Commencement

Betts, Flowers, Gottlieb ’94 Receive Honorary Degrees