- Field Ecology Students Help Colgate Earn Tree Campus CertificationField Ecology Students Help Colgate Earn Tree Campus Certification mdonofrio@colg… With more than 3,500 individual trees and 130 species, Colgate’s lush tree canopy provides an undeniably stunning backdrop for study, work, and play. But when plant life is regarded as just part of the scenery — not something to learn about and engage with — it could point to a condition with serious implications for the future of our ecosystem. “Plant blindness is an actual phenomenon,” says Professor of Biology Eddie Watkins of the term coined by botanists James H. Wandersee and Elizabeth E. Schussler in 1998. When plants are seen as static or even purely decorative, Watkins explains, people are less likely to care about preserving them, despite their critical importance for air quality, food sources, and animal habitats. “Most of my career has been dedicated to helping people see plants from multiple perspectives — beyond their mere presence to who they are and what they do,” he says. Students in Watkins’ Field Ecology (BIOL 328) course joined in that effort last fall. With help from Oneida Nation botanist Sheri Beglen and Professor of Biology Emeritus Ron Hoham, students were tasked with developing a field guide, signage, and a website dedicated to the University’s diverse tree canopy, examining plant morphology and physiology and incorporating information about Native American traditions and medicinal uses. The project was supported by the President’s Office and funded through a grant from the Upstate Institute. The result of their semester-long endeavor: the Campus Tree Guide, a 69-page handbook with extensive information on every species from American Basswood to Sweet Gum, and an accompanying map, which guides visitors through the campus’ plant landscape, much like Hoham’s popular reunion tree walks. “[The goal] was to share the traditional wisdom of the Oneida while honoring the two most important people who have shaped our tree canopy: President Brian Casey and Professor Hoham,” says Watkins, adding that President Casey’s emphasis on tree health and sustainability as part of the Third-Century Plan has added hundreds of trees from dozens of species to campus and “helped create a botanical Shangri-la for anyone interested in plants.” As the work on the Tree Guide progressed, Watkins encouraged students to submit Colgate’s application for national certification from The Arbor Day Foundation. They did — and later received news that the University was recognized as a 2024 Tree Campus “for its dedication to enhancing community well-being through tree education, investment, and engagement.” At an end-of-term celebration, students unveiled the Tree Guide to community members — and reflected on their months of hard work. “What surprised [students] most was their ability to pull off something this complex, this big, this public, in a single semester,” says Watkins, noting that students have expressed how work on the project helped them appreciate plant life on a deeper level. “You really can’t miss plants on this campus anymore.” Academics Natural Sciences and Mathematics Research Third Century News and Updates Faculty & Staff Student Department of Biology Photo by Mark DiOrio
- Patti Rizzo ’26 Receives Goldwater ScholarshipPatti Rizzo ’26 Receives Goldwater Scholarship mniedt@colgate.edu Patti Rizzo ’26, a chemistry and applied math double major from Point Pleasant Beach, N.J., has been named as a recipient of the Goldwater Scholarship. The Goldwater Scholarship Program identifies and supports college sophomores and juniors on their way to becoming research leaders in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics. “Receiving the Barry Goldwater Scholarship is an honor,” Rizzo says. “It will provide the support, resources, and encouragement I need to explore new scientific ideas and work toward achieving my long-term career goal of continuing research at the graduate level.” During her sophomore year at Colgate, Rizzo joined the lab of Visiting Assistant Professor Shanmuka Shivashankara working on theoretical high-energy physics. This experience led to a co-authorship on a peer-reviewed paper — an achievement that she credits for giving her the desire to pursue a career in research. “Applying my knowledge of coding and matrices to create a deeper understanding of the behavior of subatomic particles and seeing these fundamental concepts contribute to higher-level research made me see how interconnected research and my passion for math could be,” Rizzo states. Following this experience, Rizzo completed a summer research opportunity, working under Assistant Professor of Chemistry Eric Muller on polymer analyses. Polymer blends are chains of different molecules that can come together to form patterns on a very small scale. But how can we see the arrangement of polymers in these nanostructures? Rizzo wanted to know. So she used infrared scattering scanning nearfield optical microscopy, IR s-SNOM, in a new way to take pictures of the nanostructures. The method allowed her to dig down and see how different pieces of polymer interacted with each other and with light. The information in her snapshots could aid in the design of electronic devices. Rizzo will continue this work with Muller this fall. In addition to pursuing research, Rizzo is the president of the Colgate Chemistry Club and tutors high school students with Colgate High School Tutors. She aims to inspire young girls to be curious and pursue science. She is also an oboist in the Colgate University Orchestra. Rizzo is currently studying abroad in Cardiff Wales, and she recently accepted a summer Research Experience for Undergraduates position at the Northwestern University Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, an interdisciplinary program focused on multi-functional nanoscale material structures. To learn more about the Goldwater Scholarship or other nationally competitive awards, reach out to Meghan Niedt, mniedt@colgate.edu, in the Office of National Fellowships and Scholarships to schedule an appointment. Academics Natural Sciences and Mathematics News and Updates Student onfs Department of Chemistry Department of Mathematics Patti Rizzo ’26
- Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith to Deliver Colgate University’s 2025 Commencement AddressFormer U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith to Deliver Colgate University’s 2025 Commencement Address rdowning@colgate.edu Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith will deliver the commencement address at Colgate University’s 2025 Commencement on Sunday, May 18. Smith is a distinguished national security expert with more than two decades of experience in U.S. and European defense policy, transatlantic relations, and geostrategic risk. She has held senior leadership positions at the White House, the Department of Defense, and the Department of State, where she has shaped NATO’s response to the Ukraine war, advanced U.S.-European economic and military partnerships, and addressed global security challenges stemming from China, North Korea, Iran, and Russia. As ambassador, Smith played a pivotal role in securing Allied support for Ukraine, coordinating intelligence sharing with allies, and finalizing Finland and Sweden’s accession to the alliance, from 2021 to 2024. She also led efforts to integrate China into NATO’s Strategic Concept. During the Obama administration, Smith served as acting national security advisor and deputy national security advisor to Vice President Joseph Biden. Prior to that role, she served as the principal director for European and NATO Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Her career spans influential roles at think tanks such as the German Marshall Fund, the Center for a New American Security, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where she published extensively on grand strategy, Russia, counter-terrorism, and China’s deepening relationships in Europe. Smith has been honored with multiple awards, including the Order of the Polar Star of Sweden, the U.S. Department of Defense Distinguished Service Award, the Sue M. Cobb Award for Diplomatic Excellence, and the Cross of the Order of Merit of Germany. Fluent in French and German, she has conducted extensive research in Europe, including fellowships at the Robert Bosch Academy and the American Academy in Berlin. At the May 18 commencement ceremony, Colgate will also honor Smith with an honorary doctorate, alongside Gretchen Hoadley Burke ’81, P’11,’20, Ann S. Masten, John McWhorter, Jill Tiefenthaler, Deborah Willis, and Richard Trusty Patrick Woolard ’65. Gretchen Hoadley Burke ’81, P’11,’20 Gretchen Hoadley Burke ’81 is deeply interested in education, providing access to underserved students, and supporting visual artists around the world. She has served in leadership roles on a number of philanthropic boards including The Episcopal Academy, Steppingstone Scholars Inc., Via Art Fund, and Tinworks Art. She has led numerous capital campaigns, including the $100 million raised to build a new campus for The Episcopal Academy and $35 million for the new children’s zoo at the Philadelphia Zoo. In her 13 years on Colgate’s Board of Trustees, she was vice chair for 8 years, co-chaired the $1B Campaign for the Third Century, and, together with her husband Steve ’80, funded several initiatives including the Upstate Institute’s endowed chair in regional studies; financial aid; the renovation of Case Library and Geyer Center for Information Technology; and Burke Hall, one of two residence halls that opened in 2019. While a Colgate student, Burke majored in English and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Burke earned an MBA from Harvard Business School, then worked in finance and banking prior to staying home with her five children, two of whom are Colgate graduates. Ann S. Masten Ann Masten is Regents Professor of child development and Distinguished McKnight University Professor at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Institute of Child Development. With her research focus on understanding risk and resilience in human development, she identified the fundamental psychosocial resilience factors in children that promote positive development and protect against adversity. In 2024, Masten received the Grawemeyer Prize in Psychology for her idea that resilience depends on ordinary but powerful processes. Past president of the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) and the developmental division of the American Psychological Association (APA), Masten is a fellow in the APA and the Association for Psychology Science. Among other awards, she has received the Smith College Medal, lifetime contribution awards from APA and SRCD, and an honorary degree from Erasmus University of Rotterdam. She was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2021. Masten has published more than 300 scholarly works, cited more than 110,000 times. Her free online course, “Resilience in Children Exposed to Trauma, Disaster and War,” has been taken by thousands of participants from more than 180 countries. The second edition of her book Ordinary Magic: Resilience in Development is coming out this spring and her autobiography is included in the 2025 volume Pillars of Developmental Psychology. John McWhorter New York Times columnist John McWhorter is also an associate professor of linguistics at Columbia University, where he also teaches music history. He specializes in language change and language contact, and is the author of The Missing Spanish Creoles, Language Simplicity and Complexity, and The Creole Debate. McWhorter has written extensively on issues related to linguistics, race, and other topics for Time, the New York Times, CNN, the Wall Street Journal, The New Republic, and elsewhere, and has been a contributing editor at The Atlantic. For the general public, he is the author of The Power of Babel, Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue, The Language Hoax, Words on the Move, Talking Back, Talking Black, and other books, including Nine Nasty Words and Woke Racism, both of which were New York Times bestsellers. He hosts the Lexicon Valley language podcast, has authored six audiovisual sets on language for the Great Courses company, and has written weekly for the New York Times since 2021. Jill Tiefenthaler As chief executive officer of the National Geographic Society, Jill Tiefenthaler is shaping the future of one of the world’s most iconic organizations. She leads the society’s mission-driven work, guiding a global community of National Geographic Explorers — scientists, innovators, educators and storytellers — dedicated to illuminating and protecting the wonder of our world. She also serves on the society’s Board of Trustees. Since becoming CEO in 2020, Tiefenthaler launched the society’s strategic plan, NG Next, ushering in a new era of growth and global impact. She is spearheading the transformation of National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C., including the opening of the Museum of Exploration — the most significant expansion of the society’s public space in 137 years. Under Tiefenthaler’s leadership, the society has achieved its most ambitious fundraising results, raising more than $100 million each of the past three years. She also strengthened the organization’s partnership with The Walt Disney Company and serves on the board of National Geographic Partners. A visionary leader in institutional transformation, Tiefenthaler spent more than 30 years in higher education. She served as president of Colorado College, provost at Wake Forest University, and professor of economics and associate dean at Colgate. Deborah Willis Deborah Willis is University Professor and chair of the Department of Photography & Imaging at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She has affiliated appointments with the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Social & Cultural Analysis, and the Institute of Fine Arts, where she teaches courses on photography and imaging, iconicity, and cultural histories visualizing the black body, women, and gender. She directs NYU’s Center for Black Visual Culture/Institute of African American Affairs. Her research examines photography’s multifaceted histories, visual culture, the photographic history of slavery and emancipation, contemporary women photographers, and beauty. Willis is the author of Kamala: Her Historic, Joyful, And Auspicious Sprint to the White House (Kevin Merida, co-author), The Black Civil War Soldier: A Visual History of Conflict and Citizenship, and Posing Beauty: African American Images from the 1890s to the Present, among others. Her curated exhibitions include “Framing Moments in the KIA” at Kalamazoo Institute of the Arts and “Free as they want to be: Artists Committed to Memory” at FotoFocus. Willis was awarded the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fellowship and was a Richard D. Cohen Fellow in African and African American Art at Harvard University’s Hutchins Center; a John Simon Guggenheim Fellow, and an Alphonse Fletcher Jr. Fellow. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, she was the Robert Mapplethorpe Photographer in Residence of the American Academy in Rome. A recipient of the Don Tyson Prize for the Advancement of American Art by the Crystal Bridges Museum in 2022, Willis was named the Mary Lucille Dauray Artist-in-Residence by the Norton Museum of Art and taught her masterclass Home, Reimagining Interiority at Anderson Ranch in 2023. In 2024, Willis was appointed board chair of the Andy Warhol Foundation and elected to the American Philosophical Society. Richard Trusty Patrick Woolard ’65 Early in his Navy career, Rick Woolard completed Navy SEAL and Army Ranger Training, then led more than 100 combat missions in Vietnam as a SEAL officer. Woolard later commanded SEAL Team Six, the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, and SEAL Team Two, where he spearheaded the initial development of SEAL Combat Swimmer, Sniper, and Mountain and Arctic Warfare capabilities. He also served with the British Special Boat Service and as director for combating terrorism in the Pentagon. His military decorations include the Silver Star and Legion of Merit as well as three each of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. His military experiences appear in several books and documentaries, including the film Minh: A Bond Unbroken, which tells how he and his SEAL Teammates found and rescued their Vietnamese combat interpreter 40 years after the war. After active duty, Woolard enjoyed a second career in the private sector and became involved in charitable work. He served as president of the Special Operations Fund and chairman of the National Navy SEAL Museum Board of Directors, creating the Navy SEAL Monument in Virginia and the Naval Combat Demolition Units/Scouts and Raiders Monument in Normandy. News and Updates Student
- Annual New Media Lecture Series Welcomes Bio-Artist and Filmmaker Kathy High ʼ77Annual New Media Lecture Series Welcomes Bio-Artist and Filmmaker Kathy High ʼ77 rtaurisano@col… Colgate University welcomed prolific bio-artist and experimental filmmaker Kathy High ʼ77 as part of the Eric J. Ryan and Film and Media Studies (FMST) Annual New Media Lecture Series, March 11–13. The series is part of the Middle Campus Initiative for Arts, Creativity, and Innovation, which integrates the arts into life and learning at Colgate. Read more. Academics Arts and Humanities Alumni Third Century Arts News and Updates Alumni Film and Media Studies Program Photo by Mark DiOrio
- Next Up on 13: A Conversation With Visiting Professor Stephanie MinerNext Up on 13: A Conversation With Visiting Professor Stephanie Miner kputman@colgate.edu On the latest episode of 13, the Charles Evans Hughes Visiting Chair of Government and Jurisprudence in the Department of Political Science Stephanie Miner shares her experiences as former mayor of the City of Syracuse. In the fall of 2019, Miner joined Colgate as a visiting professor. From 2010 to 2018, she served as the 53rd Mayor of Syracuse, N.Y. Miner was the first female mayor in the history of Syracuse, and she was the first woman to lead one of New York’s “big five” cities. Before becoming mayor, Miner practiced labor law at Blitman & King LLP and served as a Syracuse Common Councilor from 2002 to 2009, where she chaired the Finance Committee and championed funding for the Say Yes to Education program. Miner is a graduate of Syracuse University with degrees in political science and newspaper journalism. She later earned a JD from the University at Buffalo School of Law. Her new book, Madam Mayor: Love and Loss in an American City, published by University Press of Kansas, is now available. Each episode of 13, Colgate’s award-winning podcast, digs into the work of a University community member by asking questions. Episodes highlight the wide array of academic disciplines at Colgate, with interviews featuring faculty from political science, sociology and anthropology, physics and astronomy, women’s studies, English, Africana and Latin American studies, and many more. Find 13 on your favorite podcast platform, including Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Faculty News News and Updates Faculty & Staff
- David Kelley to Visit Colgate as Clifford Family Innovator in ResidenceDavid Kelley to Visit Colgate as Clifford Family Innovator in Residence jkellogg@colgate.edu Engineer, designer, and entrepreneur David Kelley will visit Colgate as the University’s second Clifford Family Innovator in Residence, April 8–10, 2025. Kelley is the Donald W. Whittier Professor in mechanical engineering at Stanford University, where he serves as faculty director of Stanford’s d.school, an interdisciplinary center for design, dedicated to helping students develop their creative capacity. Kelley is a leader in human-centered design methodology and design thinking. He is a co-founder of the Silicon Valley design and consulting firm IDEO and co-author of the book Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All. During his residency at Colgate, Kelley will consult with students and faculty members from Colgate’s Design for America studio, visit two Department of Computer Science courses on human-computer interaction, and lead an interdisciplinary seminar for students facing design-related challenges in their research or creative projects. In addition to these direct contributions to the curriculum, he will also help strategize about the next phase of Colgate’s Arts, Creativity, and Innovation (ACI) Initiative by touring Bernstein Hall, visiting current museum and gallery exhibitions, and meeting with the ACI Steering Committee. The Clifford Family Innovator in Residence program is funded by a permanent endowment from Trustee Emeritus Chris Clifford ’67, H’11, P’93 and Carrie Clifford ’93. The residency is a cornerstone of ACI, engaging students and faculty in the work of artists, designers, entrepreneurs, and creatives from various fields. Arts and Humanities Third Century News and Updates Faculty & Staff Department of Computer Science
- Convergence Leadership Summit Inspires StudentsConvergence Leadership Summit Inspires Students ddevries@colgate.edu Just steps away from the historic Apollo Theater on West 125th Street in New York City, more than 40 Colgate students joined with nearly 100 alumni for the 2025 Convergence Leadership Summit and a special Alumni of Color panel discussion about arts and innovation. The March 14–15 event, open to all students and organized by the Men of Color Success Network and the Women of Color Network, brought together students and successful alumni from a wide range of professional backgrounds to foster career exploration and networking opportunities. “This transformative experience brought together 44 talented Colgate students and dozens of inspiring alumni, creating a space for deep conversations, mentorship, and collaboration,” said Dean of Students Dorsey Spencer Jr. “From an empowering keynote to insightful workshops and panel discussions, the event was a testament to the power of community, leadership, and innovation.” Spencer also gave a nod to the students in attendance for giving up the first two days of their spring break to participate in leadership development and networking opportunities. “Your mission today is to connect with at least seven different people,” Spencer said. “Get their business cards, their LinkedIn, email, phone number, whatever. That’s what you need to do.” Convergence 2025 Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso Friday night keynote speaker Nicol Turner Lee ’90 shared her experiences working at the Brookings, where she is a senior fellow in governance studies, the director of the Center for Technology Innovation (CTI), and co-editor-in-chief of the TechTank blog and The TechTank Podcast. Her research focuses on the intersection between technology and social justice in areas that range from universal access to communications to the design and application of artificial intelligence models. Turner Lee delved into the subject of artificial intelligence, which she covers in her newest book, Digitally Invisible, How the Internet Is Creating the New Underclass. Lee said there’s value in having teams of people from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds working on AI to help design systems that don’t inadvertently discriminate based on the overwhelming amount of information being analyzed without context online. “Who sits at the table matters when it comes to technology,” Turner Lee said. “What data is used also influences the AI model.” Saturday panelists included: Senior Content Curator at Tubi Imani Ballard ’18; Colgate Assistant Professor of Film and Media Studies and Africana and Latin American Studies Aaron Dial; Founder and Executive Director of HOPE Murals and Vice Chair, City of Miami Arts and Entertainment Council German DuBois III ’91; Photography and Registrar and Archivist for Nick Knight CBE Kali McMillan ’10; Founder of Ballers4Life, Film Production and Literacy Teacher at Minneapolis Public Schools Jeffrey S. Williams ’89; and closing remarks were made by the Denny Gonzalez ’13, director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the Barrie School.Alumni Outcomes News and Updates Alumni Faculty & Staff Student Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso
- Colgate Students Earn Thomas J. Watson FellowshipsColgate Students Earn Thomas J. Watson Fellowships mniedt@colgate.edu Vishnu Anandraj ’25 and Gwen Eichfeld ’25 have been named Thomas J. Watson Fellowship recipients. Watson Fellows receive $40,000 for twelve months of travel to pursue an independent project based on their deepest interest on a global scale. After their Watson year, they will join a community of peers who provide support and inspiration.Vishnu Anandraj ’25 Anandraj is an economics major, political science and creative writing double minor, from Plainsboro, N.J. He will explore how development-induced displacement impacts economies, environments, and local communities during his Watson fellowship. He plans to travel to Ghana, Nepal, and Peru, where he will engage with urban planners, conservationists, and indigenous groups to learn how they are affected by and provide solutions for communities displaced by dams, mining, and other projects. Anandraj hopes this project will help inform his career in sustainable development. At Colgate, Anandraj is a sustainability intern, economics tutor, and president of Mock Trial. During the summer of 2023, He participated in a summer research project analyzing the economic and environmental impact of hydroelectric dam construction on local villages in Jammu, India, which helped inspire his Watson project. Additionally, he has held internships with The Friedlander Group and Spencer Stuart, and he is a writer for The Football Faithful.Gwen Eichfeld ’25 Eichfeld, a neuroscience major from Winnetka, Ill., will be exploring new approaches to the treatment of rare diseases during her Watson year. During an internship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the summer of 2023, Eichfeld was able to observe rare-disease grand rounds in which patients and their families told their stories of living with a rare disease. A team of doctors and researchers then engaged in discussions about the biological mechanisms, etiology, diagnostic approaches, and potential treatments of the disease. This experience in part inspired Eichfeld’s Watson project. She plans to travel to Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Chile, South Africa, Ghana, Germany, and Sweden talking to researchers, physicians, patients and their families, as well as other stakeholders and advocates for rare diseases, looking to learn about undiagnosed disease program networks across a range of cultures and healthcare systems. On campus, Eichfeld is a member of the Colgate Women’s Ice Hockey team. A Golden Fellow, she also co-founded the Neuroscience Club on campus and is a certified EMT. In addition to her summer at the NIH, she participated in the Amgen Scholars Program at Harvard last summer and is a Goldwater Scholarship recipient. She is also a semifinalist for Fulbright research in Germany. After Colgate, Eichfeld plans to obtain an MD/PhD focusing on neuroscience. She aspires to conduct research as well as design and implement science-based therapies at the intersection of neuroscience, genetics, and disease. To learn more about the Watson Fellowship or other national competitive awards, reach out to Meghan Niedt, mniedt@colgate.edu, in the Office of National Fellowships and Scholarships to schedule an appointment. Outcomes News and Updates Student Department of Economics Department of Political Science Department of English and Creative Writing Neuroscience Program
- 2025 Picker Interdisciplinary Science Institute Grants Foster Creative, Collaborative Research2025 Picker Interdisciplinary Science Institute Grants Foster Creative, Collaborative Research Contributing Writer The Picker Interdisciplinary Science Institute (Picker ISI) has announced this year’s awards supporting interdisciplinary approaches in innovative research. The awards bring together Colgate faculty and other researchers with complementary expertise to open new areas of study and to tackle existing problems in creative, new ways. “I am genuinely excited about the groundbreaking potential of the research projects we are supporting this year, as they have the ability to unlock discoveries and drive significant advancements across various fields,” says Professor of Biology and Mathematics Ahmet Ay, director of the Picker Institute. “These projects, while distinct in their scope, all embody the essence of interdisciplinary collaboration — pushing the boundaries of scientific inquiry and innovation to reveal new knowledge that has the potential to transform our understanding of the world." This year, there are four Picker ISI Awards: Ana Jiménez, associate professor of biology, and Geoff Holm, professor of biology, have received an award of $120,000 for their project “Cellular Metabolism and Virus Replication: Effects of Age, Breed Size, and Cellular Metabolic Phenotype on Oncolytic Virus Susceptibility in Dogs.” This study aims to better understand metabolic predispositions for cancer and the relationship between reoviruses and cancer cell metabolism, which has implications for the continued development of reovirus as an oncolytic virotherapy for both canids and humans. Bineyam Taye, associate professor of biology — in collaboration with Emily R. Davenport, assistant professor of biology at Pennsylvania State University — has received $100,500 for the project “Protozoan and Microbiome Interactions with Their Host: The Missing Evidence.” This research will utilize DNA/RNA sequencing and transcriptome analysis to examine how protozoan infections shape gut microbiota and function at a community level, aiming to develop a tripartite model linking host, microbiome composition, and protozoan infections. Karen Harpp, professor of earth and environmental geosciences and peace and conflict studies, and Val Finlayson from the Department of Geology at the University of Maryland, have received a $30,000 award for their project “A Reconnaissance Study of Tungsten Isotopic Ratios in the Galápagos Mantle Plume and Their Potential for Detecting Core-Mantle Material Transfer.” This study will apply cutting-edge tungsten isotopic analysis to lavas from the Galápagos archipelago to determine whether mantle plumes are sampling material from Earth’s core, with implications for planetary dynamics and early Earth formation. Catherine Cardelús, professor of biology and environmental studies, and Jeremy Quirós Navarro from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Connecticut have been awarded $19,000 for their project “Multi-species Latrines and Nutrient Hotspots: A Novel Driver of Rainforest Canopy Dynamics.” Their research will investigate multi-mammal latrines in rainforest canopies, using camera traps, environmental DNA analysis, and traditional ecological methods to study their impact on nutrient cycling and ecosystem processes. “Beyond their scientific significance, these projects offer invaluable opportunities for student engagement and curriculum development at Colgate," Ay says. “By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, we not only advance cutting-edge research but also enrich education — ensuring that our students actively participate in groundbreaking discoveries that shape the future of science. Furthermore, these initiatives have the potential to attract external funding, which would further enhance Colgate’s research impact and expand opportunities for innovation.” A brief description of each project can be found on the Picker ISI Funding History page. Faculty News Research News and Updates Faculty & Staff Picker ISI Department of Biology Department of Earth & Environmental Geosciences Peace and Conflict Studies Program Environmental Studies Program
- Author Jonathan Eig Details the Life of a Complex, Radical Martin Luther King Jr.Author Jonathan Eig Details the Life of a Complex, Radical Martin Luther King Jr. sdevries@colgate.edu In King: A Life, author Jonathan Eig focuses on Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of faith-based radicalism. During his Feb. 11 lecture at Colgate, Beyond The Dream: Embracing a More Complicated Martin Luther King, Eig said he believes King would be horrified at how his activism and writings have been overshadowed by a modern, more palatable version of the civil rights leader. “I wanted to write a book to help remind us that King was human, and I wanted to remind folks that he had fears, he had failures, had flaws,” Eig said of his 2023 biography of King, which received the 2024 Pulitzer Prize. “In celebrating King, we have watered him down to the point he wouldn’t recognize himself.” Eig began his lecture by noting King’s initial reluctance to get involved when asked to address the growing crowd on Dec. 5, 1955, having a panic attack before delivering his Montgomery Bus Boycott speech — which launched King into the spotlight as he led the fight for civil rights. Through his extensive research and interviews, Eig notes how King’s commitment to activism and radicalism became a constant choice throughout his life, even as he faced relentless harassment in the wake of the boycott, including having his home bombed, his windows shot out, and other incessant attempts at intimidation. Eig says King struggled in subsequent years with the relentless demands of being an activist protest leader, failing to “recreate the magic” of his Montgomery speech until his next big success with his famous Letter from a Birmingham Jail after his arrest in 1963 — marking a turning point in the war to end segregation. Eig points to King’s persistence and willingness to risk failure and press on as he insists on moving forward with the March on Washington. Eig says King continued to push back against injustice and the status quo even as, years later, his advisers urged him to step back and be less aggressive. They believed King was asking for too much, too soon, Eig says. Instead of being satisfied with the progress of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, King focused on expanding his mission from civil rights to human rights, income inequality, and guaranteed jobs and income. He called for a fundamental restructuring of America’s capitalistic society. He also began speaking out more aggressively against the Vietnam War, and as this happened, his popularity sank, Eig says. The FBI began an all-out campaign to destroy him, but King refused to back down, Eig says, only speaking out more aggressively and radically, planning the Poor People’s Campaign in 1967 to bring thousands of people to Washington, D.C., to disrupt the city and the government. Eig said the “watering down” of King’s radical message is intentional, noting that King’s close friend Harry Belafonte believed the national holiday was designed to destroy King’s power — the holiday was designed to “defang” his message and deemphasize his radicalism. For proof, Eig cites King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech. The way King is taught today, Eig notes, the emphasis is always on the second half of the speech, focused on judging people on the content of their character not the color of their skin, but not on the first half, which was, Eig said, “a radical speech about income inequality, police brutality, subtly suggesting that reparations were going to be needed before America could move on from the sin of slavery.” Addressing the daunting task of writing about King’s life, Eig credits significant support from experts, interviews with those closest to King, and troves of archival materials — some recently declassified. Eig worked closely with Dan Cattau ’72, his friend and editor for the book, and he reviewed Professor Coleman Brown’s 1979 dissertation, which reinforced the idea of a “radical King.” Eig says a national holiday and streets named after King are appropriate, but “not if it forces us to forget what Coleman Brown wrote in his dissertation: that King’s greatness was rooted in radicalism and that radicalism is rooted in his Christian faith. That’s essential to understanding King. If we deprive him of that, we deprive him of everything he fought for.” The lecture was sponsored by the Department of History, ALST, the ALANA Cultural Center, and the Department of Religion. Jonathan Eig is the author of six books, four of them New York Times best sellers. King: A Life was awarded a 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Biography and the New-York Historical’s 2024 Barbara and David Zalaznick Book Prize, which is presented annually for the nation's best work of history or biography. King was also nominated for the National Book Award. Academics Arts and Humanities Alumni People Faculty & Staff Department of History Department of Religion Africana And Latin American Studies Program
- Francesca Zambello ʼ78 Workshops Innovative Opera-Ballet During Arts ResidencyFrancesca Zambello ʼ78 Workshops Innovative Opera-Ballet During Arts Residency rtaurisano@col… Colgate University welcomed internationally acclaimed opera and theater director Francesca Zambello ’78 in late February as the inaugural Clifford Family Innovator in Residence. Read more. Alumni Third Century Arts News and Updates Alumni Student Francesca Zambello ’78 (Photo by Ryan J. Lee)
- Harris Named Vice President for AdvancementHarris Named Vice President for Advancement Contributing Writer Kim Harris, Senior Associate Vice President for Advancement and the University’s Campaign Director, has been appointed Vice President for Advancement at Colgate. The veteran higher education fundraiser takes over for Karl Clauss ’90, who held the position since 2020 and has moved on to seek new challenges. “I am extremely grateful that Kim has agreed to serve as Vice President and to continue the significant momentum we have experienced in the Campaign for the Third Century,” says President Brian W. Casey. “Kim has served as Campaign Director for the past several years at Colgate and will be sure to do well as she transitions into this larger role.” Harris, Colgate’s first female Vice President for Advancement, will lead a busy division that is moving the University closer to its extremely ambitious $1 billion campaign goal which seeks to significantly strengthen the University's core mission – from its academic program through student life. “In the Advancement Division, we are positioned between an institution’s aspirations and the resources our supporters have worked their whole lives to generate,” Harris says. “They are choosing to consider us. To sit in the middle and be an honest broker for that choice is a privilege. I am excited to partner with President Casey and others as we continue to capitalize on the momentum of this historic campaign to march into Colgate’s third century. As I step into this leadership role, I am very focused on caring for this hard-working division, for this university, and for our third century.” Harris began her academic fundraising career at the University of Kentucky, where she served in the colleges of Dentistry, Fine Arts, and Medicine during a 14-year tenure. She joined Colgate’s Advancement Office in 2021 as Associate Vice President for Major Gifts. Upon the launch of the campaign in 2022, Harris added Campaign Director to her title and began to manage teams that have been vital to the University’s current fundraising success. Their efforts have resulted in over $680M to date supporting the completion of four major building projects, the creation of 15 endowed faculty chairs, and the expansion of the Colgate Commitment — an initiative to significantly increase student financial aid. Moving forward, the University will reimagine the residential and social experience for students, completing the Residential Commons program while renovating structures and creating new residences along Broad Street. Colgate will also invest in its Division I athletics program with new facilities, increased endowment support, and additional current-use funds for its teams. Meanwhile, the University will continue its efforts to increase the percentage of aided students and invest in the academic enterprise that is the cornerstone of a Colgate education. “This campaign is in support of the Third-Century Plan, and we will achieve our goals and celebrate the next chapter for Colgate while lifting up and honoring our important history,” Harris says. “Campaigns are a key ingredient to a university’s ability to bring its vision to life and lift the words of our Third-Century Plan off the page and into reality.” Third Century News and Updates Faculty & Staff Vice President for Advancement Kim Harris
- College Presidents Address Challenges and Misconceptions of Higher Education During Presidential Speaker SeriesCollege Presidents Address Challenges and Misconceptions of Higher Education During Presidential Speaker Series nhendrickson@c… On Feb. 25, Colgate welcomed three presidents of leading liberal arts colleges to discuss the mounting challenges faced by higher education. The panel, part of the spring Presidential Speaking Series, was moderated by President Brian W. Casey and featured Grinnell College President Anne F. Harris, Lafayette College President Nicole Hurd, and Hamilton College President Steven Tepper. University leaders acknowledged a growing negative perception of higher education in recent years. Colleges and universities, once widely viewed as pathways for social mobility and personal growth, are now seen by some as ideological strongholds. For these presidents, such views are misconceptions as they stressed that campuses remain places of diverse ideas and beliefs. “We are noisy places with lots of ideas,” Tepper says. “We are not cathedrals — we are bazaars.” While some critics view university curriculums as focused on ideological conformity, the panelists argued that the goal of their curriculum is rather to explore a wide range of perspectives. “I think we should ask students how well faculty were able to put ideas in competition with each other,” Tepper says. “If we believe that kind of friction is actually what leads to truth and growth, then we should ask about it. And that’s also the question America’s asking us because they think we aren’t doing it — I think we are.” So, how can universities challenge this narrative? Harris emphasized the importance of confronting the restrictive legacies of higher education. “We need to fight our own history,” Harris says. “Structurally and historically, we have had this withdrawal from the world that makes us look elitist and disconnected when in fact now, we’re fully permeable.” For Tepper, ensuring that every student feels truly welcome and equal on campus is one of the crucial responsibilities of university leadership. “That is what our great project is: how do you actually make the pluralism for every single human that comes to our campuses?” he says. Hurd and Tepper also agreed that critics need to be reminded of the proven benefits of higher education, including increased civic engagement, increased life expectancy, and more. “A part of the way that you handle that attack is you explain what your outcomes are, and our outcomes are something that we should be very proud of,” Hurd says. These critiques are not just coming from the public. On Feb. 14, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights published a “Dear Colleague” letter suggesting that the department intended to interpret the 2023 Supreme Court ruling banning race-based affirmative action in college admissions as extending to all aspects of student life, calling into question the legality of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and the potential withdrawal of federal funding from institutions that don’t remove such programs. Despite these challenges, Hurd emphasized the importance of remaining hopeful in order to move forward. “A leader does two things: you tell the truth and you inspire optimism,” Hurd says. “It seems hard because there are days when you don’t feel like being optimistic, but it’s an act of optimism to be an educator.” Prof. Eddie Cole Discusses Universities, History, and Community During Presidential Speaker Series Blumenstyk and Stephens Kick Off Spring 2025 Presidential Speaker Series with Discussion of Role of Higher Education Spring 2025 Presidential Speaker Series News and Updates Faculty & Staff Debate and Discourse
- For Alliances with the Beaver People: Clifford Gallery Opens New ExhibitionFor Alliances with the Beaver People: Clifford Gallery Opens New Exhibition sliddell@colgate.edu On Feb. 12, Colgate University celebrated the opening of the Clifford Gallery’s new exhibition from Franco-American artist Suzanne Husky, titled For Alliances with the Beaver People. The exhibition features a singular physical object: an 11-meter-long embroidered tapestry that traces key moments in beaver-human relationships. Drawing inspiration from the historic Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Husky’s work reframes the traditional narrative of conquest and battle into one of mutual ecological regeneration. Her tapestry illustrates how rivers evolve through the interactions of humans and beavers and what these interactions mean for coexistence and environmental stewardship. “All of the landscapes depicted in Western art were created after beavers had already been wiped out in many places,” Husky noted during the exhibition’s opening panel. “That affects how we perceive what a healthy river should look like. In places like Europe, where people haven’t had the opportunity to see naturally meandering, beaver-influenced rivers, we need visuals to educate restoration teams.” In a curtained room to the side of the main exhibition, visitors can experience The Sound of a New Waterfall (2022), a short documentary film directed by Husky centering on Vermont naturalist Patti Smith. The film provides an intimate look into Smith’s daily interactions with beavers and the ecological insights she has gained from observing their behaviors. “When I first filmed Patti’s stream with a drone, it struck me that I was seeing a truly healthy stream for the first time,” Husky reflected. “For me, that realization underscored how our representation of landscapes shapes our understanding of nature." The exhibition’s opening reception brought together over one hundred guests to engage with Husky’s work. The event was followed by a panel discussion featuring Husky herself alongside naturalist and wildlife rehabilitator Patti Smith, SUNY ESF director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment Neil Patterson Jr., and Colgate Professor of Geography and Director of the Environmental Studies Program Mike Loranty. Associate Professor of Art Margaretha Haughwout served as moderator. The panel explored beaver ecologies and the future of watershed management, reinforcing the exhibition’s emphasis on environmental sustainability and cross-species collaboration. Segments of Alliances with the Beaver People Segments of Alliances with the Beaver People Segments of Alliances with the Beaver People Segments of Alliances with the Beaver People Segments of Alliances with the Beaver People Segments of Alliances with the Beaver People Husky spoke about the lessons beavers offer in ecological restoration and the need to shift from human-led management to a more collaborative approach. “One of the most significant shifts in hydrology has been the recognition that we cannot out-engineer nature. Beavers have been shaping landscapes for eight million years, and they know what they’re doing,” she said. “In a time of climate uncertainty, we need to form alliances with other species that can help us adapt.” The discussion also touched on practical solutions for coexistence. “Removing beavers is never a permanent solution,” Husky emphasized during the audience Q&A. “They always return, often causing worse flooding when no one is looking, and it’s not free to keep getting rid of them. Investing in coexistence strategies is more effective in the long run.” Husky’s exhibition at the Clifford Gallery is part of a broader collaboration with the Picker Art Gallery, which is concurrently showcasing her textile work La Noble Pastoral as part of the group exhibition A Thought Is a Thread: Contemporary Artists Reworking Textile Traditions. The exhibition at Picker runs through May 18 and brings together artists whose works explore the historical and cultural significance of textiles. Husky’s presence at Colgate is made possible through the cosponsorship of the Colgate Arts Council, the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, University Studies, Environmental Studies, Film and Media Studies, Biology, Romance Languages and the Literature, Geography, and History departments. During her time on campus, she will create a new textile work using the recently acquired TC2 digital loom in the Bernstein Center for Creativity and Innovation. This piece will be developed in collaboration with students, offering them a hands-on opportunity to explore the intersections of contemporary textile art and ecological storytelling. “We must learn to share the right to transform the world,” Husky said. “Humans have not always been good at this. Beavers remind us that every being — large or small — is a world-builder.”Arts Faculty & Staff Student picker art gallery environmental studies Film and Media Studies Program Environmental Studies Program Photo courtesy Suzanne Husky
- Colgate Thirteen Tours ChinaColgate Thirteen Tours China nhendrickson@c… This past winter break, the Colgate Thirteen a cappella group embarked on their first trip to China as part of their annual “Jan Tour.” While the group typically travels to different regions of the United States for their winter tour, this year marked their first international venture in decades. Over the course of two weeks, the group performed in Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai at a variety of venues — from international schools to a golf course and even the American Embassy. The trip was first conceived two years ago by Ruben Malovrh Kollman ’25, the current leader of the group. Malovrh Kollman, who attended his final high school years in Beijing, wanted to share his love of China with the group. “It was super important to me to have the guys see a place that I really love,” says Malovrh Kollman. Thanks to the support of the group’s alumni and the University, the ambitious plan became a reality. “A trip of this scale was uncharted water for us,” says fellow organizer Steven Torre ’25. While the performances were the undeniable highlights, the trip went beyond performing. Following their school concerts, the group hosted Q&A sessions for students to learn about Colgate and the American college experience. They also led singing workshops, allowing students to learn and perform a song with the group. For this trip, the group prepared a special song — the popular Mandarin love song, “The Moon Represents My Heart.” Torre was pleasantly surprised by the song’s overwhelmingly positive reaction from audiences: “They really loved it.” The group made time to explore China’s cultural landmarks between performances. They marveled at the Tian Tan Buddha in Hong Kong, wandered through the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, and, most memorably, walked a section of the Great Wall. “It was so beautiful, most of us were almost moved to tears just standing up there and watching the sunset,” Torre says. Since joining as first-years, Malovrh Kollman and Torre have led the Colgate Thirteen through numerous triumphs, including reviving the group after the pandemic and greatly expanding the group’s musical repertoire. However, this trip stands as a defining moment in their legacy, and they hope it inspires newer members to organize similar ventures in the future. “This trip was the culmination of all of our hard work, and it was really joyous to be able to go and do it,” Torre says. Alumni Arts Campus Life Student Clubs and Organizations News and Updates Student The Colgate Thirteen at the Shanghai Star-River Bilingual School in Shanghai (Photo by Mengdie Serena Wang)
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