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In recognition of their career achievements, faculty members Karen Collins and Ellen Thomas were appointed to endowed professorships. Karen Collins, professor of mathematics, received an Edward Burr Van Vleck Professor of Mathematics, established in 1982. Collins joined Wesleyan’s department of mathematics in 1986 after receiving her BA from Smith College and her PhD from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her research focuses on graph theory, enumerative combinatorics, and algebraic combinatorics. Her most recent publication was “Split graphs and Nordhaus-Gaddum graphs” (Discrete Mathematics, 2016). She has served on several prize committees, most recently the committee for the 2016 George Polya Prize in…

On Nov. 28, Wesleyan's Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship received a $10,000 grant from the Newman's Own Foundation to support student internships. "The gift from the Newman Foundation will be used to offer stipends to students doing social impact and entrepreneurship work during the summer," explained Makaela Kingsley '98, director of the Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship. "We are grateful for the support of Newman’s Own and our other donors who make this work possible." Trustee Emeritus Bob Patricelli '61 P'88 P'90 is a board member for Newman's Own and has generously encouraged the foundation to support Patricelli Center programs over…

In this Q&A, Assistant Professor of Government Justin Peck speaks about his research interests, teaching at Wesleyan and road-tripping across the United States. (Brandon Sides ’18 contributed to this article.) Q: Professor Peck, what are your primary areas of research? A: My dissertation attempts to explain when and why post-WWII Congresses enacted legal constraints on executive authority. And that's now my primary area of research; the second area of my research concerns when and how the Republican Party’s position on civil rights issues has changed since the Civil War. Q: What are your current projects? A: I'm working on a book…

During an initiation ceremony on Dec. 6, 17 Wesleyan seniors were elected to the Connecticut Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa honor society. To be elected, a student must first have been nominated by the department of his or her major. He or she also must have demonstrated curricular breadth by having met the General Education Expectations and must have achieved a GPA of 93 and above. During the ceremony, Gamma Chapter PBK President Steven Horst, professor of philosophy, professor of science in society, said this class has a 94.4 GPA and above. "For students elected this fall, it is…

As the northern hemisphere nears the winter solstice (Dec. 21), the Wesleyan community acclimates to shorter days. Pictured are scenes of campus between 5 and 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 6: (more…)

Robert Rosenbaum, University Professor of Mathematics and the Sciences, Emeritus, died on Dec. 3 at the age of 102. Rosenbaum received his AB from Yale in 1936, and his PhD in mathematics from Yale in 1947. He joined the Wesleyan faculty in 1953 and taught mathematics here for 42 years until he retired in 1995. He was a member of the “Mystic Nine” — a group of faculty in the early 1960s who were instrumental in developing Wesleyan’s graduate programs. He became dean of sciences in 1963, provost in 1965, the first-ever vice president of academic affairs and provost in 1967, and chancellor…

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In the past few years, alumni, parents, and others have rallied in support of Wesleyan's participation in the national Giving Tuesday campaign, and they have unlocked millions of dollars for financial aid for Wesleyan students. On this year's Giving Tuesday, Nov. 28, members of the Wesleyan community showed an outpouring of support for financial aid yet again. Trustee Marc Casper ‘90 thanked everyone who gave as part of the #GivingTuesday challenge and said he is committed to supporting financial aid at Wesleyan now more than ever. "We received just over 3,300 gifts by the end of Giving Tuesday,” he said.…

Lin-Manuel Miranda ’02, the Pulitzer Prize winner, MacArthur Genius, and Tony Award winner for Hamilton and In the Heights was honored with the Latin Recording Academy President’s Merit Award at the 18th annual Latin Grammy Awards on Nov. 16. This is a special award, not given annually, and it was presented to the well known composer, lyricist, and performer by Latin Recording Academy President/CEO Gabriel Abaro to honor Miranda's many outstanding contributions to the Latin community. Abaroa told Billboard, “Lin-Manuel’s urban and social poetry have provided strength and encouragement to every Latino motivated to get ahead. He has brought pride to…

(By Karl Ortegon '18) Gretchen Millspaugh Cooney '83, who played field hockey and swam at Wesleyan in the late '70s and early '80s, recently returned home to Philadelphia after competing at the Ironman World Championships in Hawai'i. The race is synonymous with a super triathlon: swim 2.4 miles, hop on your bike and cycle through 112 miles of terrain, and finish it off with a 26.2-mile marathon. No breaks. For the World Championships, one can only compete by first racing in a qualifying Ironman prior, and going fast enough at the qualifier to secure one of a few slots designated…

This fall, singer-musician-writer Amanda Palmer ’98 and award-winning independent filmmaker Michael Pope teamed up to teach The Art of Doing: Creative Project Production and Making It Happen. On Saturday, Dec. 9, at 8 p.m., Palmer, Pope and their students will screen the class’s final project—a music video for an original song by Palmer, inspired by a free-writing exercise with the students—at the Goldsmith Family Cinema at Wesleyan, followed by a short performance by Palmer. Seating for the free event is limited. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. In this Q&A, Palmer and Pope reflect on their experience this semester. (more…)

Collins, Thomas Honored with Endowed Professorships

Newman’s Own Foundation Awards Grant to Support Internships

American Political Development Expert Justin Peck Joins Government Department

17 Seniors Elected to Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society

Campus Glows during Early Evening Hours

PIMMS Founder Rosenbaum Dies at the Age of 102

Students Teach DNA, Self-Awareness Workshops to Local Children

McKee Leads Graduate Series Discussion on Fossils, Climate’s Effect on Leaves

Wesleyan Community Makes More than 3,300 Gifts on Giving Tuesday

Miranda ’02 up for Moana Grammy, Receives Special Latin Grammy Award

Six Ironmans In, Cooney ’83 Is Still Devoted to Supporting the Wes Experience

Palmer ’98, Pope to Showcase Semester’s Work on Dec. 9