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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+…

In this continuing series, Annie Roach ’22, an English and Italian studies major from Middletown, Delaware, reviews alumni books and offers a selection for those in search of knowledge, insight, and inspiration. The volumes, sent to us by alumni, are forwarded to Olin Library as donations to the University’s collection and made available to the Wesleyan community. Ram Dass MA ’54 and Rameshwar Das ’69, Being Ram Dass (Sounds True, 2021) When Ram Dass, then known as Richard Alpert, was fired from his position as a professor of psychology at Harvard University for giving psychedelics to undergraduates in pursuit of…

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.

Artist Glenn Ligon '82, Hon. 12 was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters on May 19. The Academy is an honor society comprised of 300 architects, artists, composers, and writers. Each year, the Academy elects new members as vacancies occur, administers over 70 awards and prizes, exhibits art and manuscripts, funds performances of new works of musical theater, and purchases artwork for donation to museums across the United States. Ligon's work is an exploration of American history, literature, and society that builds on the legacies of modern painting and more recent conceptual art. He's best known for…

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…

Wesleyan's Class of 2021 was celebrated during the 189th Commencement Ceremony on May 26. View the images below and in the full Class of 2021 Commencement photo gallery on Flickr. (Photos by Olivia Drake MALS '08 and Tom Dzimian) (more…)

(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…

73 Seniors Elected to Phi Beta Kappa

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

“You Just Have to Read This . . .” Books by Wesleyan Alumni Dass ’69, Greenidge ’04, and Saba ’81

Matteson ’23 Wins WIDA’s Letter to Biden Contest

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

Ligon ’82, Hon. ’12 Inducted to the American Academy of Arts and Letters

Wesleyan in the News

Alumni Honored at Virtual Reunion

A Pictorial Look at the 189th Commencement Ceremony

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”