Colgate Unveils Plans for Carey Center, New Athletics Quad Contributing Writer Tue, 05/28/2024 - 10:28 A new 65,000-square-foot basketball and volleyball arena will anchor a new athletics quadrangle at Colgate University, replacing the Reid Athletics Center. Construction of the facility, part of the University’s Third-Century Plan initiatives, is slated to begin in February. Named the Carey Center in honor of a lead $23 million gift from the Carey family — Trustee Emeritus Chase Carey ’76, his wife, Wendy, and their children Steve ’12 and Tara ’13 — the new arena will serve as the home for men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball. The facility will also be the first of two buildings planned for an athletics quadrangle that will ultimately replace the existing facilities currently housed in the Reid Athletic Center.Third Century Athletics Campus Life News and Updates Alumni Faculty & Staff Student

Graduates of Colgate University’s 203rd Commencement Encouraged to Draw From Their Bravery and Commit to a Cause rdowning@colgate.edu Sun, 05/19/2024 - 18:53 Over a weekend of ceremonies, receptions, and other events, Colgate University celebrated the graduating Class of 2024, which entered Colgate during what President Brian W. Casey called “the most inauspicious of times” — on August 23, 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The first thing I learned about you, this class,” Casey told the undergraduates during Saturday’s baccalaureate service, “was that you were brave. Never forget that you were brave . . . You made a hard thing good, together.” A special and popular offering of the weekend was the premiere of Colgate Together, a 30-minute film telling the story of the University’s pandemic response and the unusual first semester of the Class of 2024. The documentary was produced by Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee Jeff Sharp ’89. The class and their guests also heard inspiring words from an individual who epitomizes the notion of bravery — as he put it himself, “the person that Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, hates more than anybody in the Western world.” In his commencement address on Sunday morning, financier-turned–human-rights activist and author Bill Browder told the story of how he catalyzed the Global Magnitsky Act — international legislation that targets human rights abusers and corrupt individuals. The act honors the legacy of his lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who died in a Russian prison in 2009 after uncovering massive fraud committed by Russian government officials and being arrested, imprisoned without trial, and systematically tortured. Such efforts may seem far from the endeavors in which most college graduates would envision themselves becoming involved; yet, Browder posited, “many elements of my story will be elements of your story.” He went on to share four bits of inspirational advice:Prepare for uncertainty and be ready to course correct. “You will never be able to predict what will happen in your life. When I was your age in school, all I cared about was finding a job where I could make a lot of money. I was the least likely person to become a global human rights activist. Life is going to throw all sorts of unexpected curveballs at you. You are going to have to roll with the punches and adapt.” Do not let the cynics drag you down. “I can’t count how many people came to me and told me to keep my head down, not to seek justice, and just carry on with my life. But I could not do that — if I did, it would have poisoned me from inside.” Tenacity and persistence trump everything in the end. “Perseverance and unwavering commitment can move mountains. There were many people who did not want me to succeed both inside and outside Russia. But they were working Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. I was working all the time. There will be setbacks along the way. But keep pushing forward. Never give up. Never give in.” Do not go it alone. “Surround yourself with friends and loved ones who share your values and visions and who will believe in you and support you. A network of trusted friends and allies will give you formidable power … Success is a team sport. Embrace people who will help you succeed.” Find Your Sergei Magnitsky — “... the cause, the idea that sets your soul on fire. Commit yourself to it. Focus on it with laser intensity. The next chapter in history is going to be written by you.” Browder received an honorary doctor of letters degree from Colgate, which also conferred honorary degrees to four other eminent individuals: Angela Ferguson, supervisor of the Onondaga Nation Farm and coordinating committee member at Braiding the Sacred; author Mohsin Hamid; Michael J. Herling ’79, P’08,’09,’12, chair, Colgate University’s Board of Trustees, founding partner at Finn Dixon & Herling LLP; and composer/inventor Tod Machover, Muriel R. Cooper Professor of music and media at the MIT Media Lab. Class of 2024 Details Valedictorian: Michael Hanratty of Barkhamsted, Conn. Summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa Economics and political science majors High honors in political science. Salutatorian: Nikoloz Bujiashvili of Tbilisi, Georgia Summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa Physics and computer science majors Honors in computer science730 undergraduates recognized for earning the AB degree 6 awarded a Master of Arts in Teaching, with distinction 1 awarded a Master of Arts, with distinction 33 elected to Phi Beta Kappa 133 Summa Cum Laude 260 Magna Cum Laude 138 Cum LaudeInstitutional News News and Updates Student

Colgate Announces Faculty Promotions and Endowed Chair Appointments Contributing Writer Thu, 05/16/2024 - 11:16 During its spring meetings, the Colgate University Board of Trustees approved resolutions regarding faculty promotions to associate professor with continuous tenure and to full professor, as well as appointments to named chairs — all of which will take effect July 1, 2024. “The accomplishments of our colleagues are many and varied,” said Provost and Dean of the Faculty Lesleigh Cushing. “Together, they have made significant contributions to our academic curriculum and intellectual community, as well as to their respective scholarly communities. Their promotions are well-deserved.” Promotions to Associate Professor with Continuous Tenure Ynesse Abdul-Malak, Sociology AAS, Regents College; BS, MPH, American University of Beirut; MA, PhD, Syracuse University Ynesse Abdul-Malak served as a visiting assistant professor at Colgate in 2018–19 before joining the tenure stream in 2019. Her research centers around understanding how social structures impact the aging processes of individuals throughout one’s life — with a special focus on U.S. Caribbean immigrants. Abdul-Malak’s co-authored book, Grandparenting Children with Disabilities (Springer Publishing), was published in 2020. Her work has also appeared in several journals including the Journal of Elder Policy, Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, and Innovation of Aging. Abdul-Malak teaches courses on race, aging, gender, immigration, medical sociology, and research methodology. On campus, she has served as an elected member of the ALANA Affairs Committee and as a member of the Faculty Affirmative Action Oversight Committee and Fulbright Committee. Robert Davis, Mathematics BA, Susquehanna University; MA, PhD, University of Kentucky Robert Davis joined the Colgate faculty in 2020 following visiting assistant professor positions at both Michigan State University and Harvey Mudd College. His research focuses on polytypes and their uses within and beyond mathematics. Davis teaches courses such as Calculus III, Combinatorial Problem Solving, and Linear Algebra. His work has appeared in many journals including Discrete Applied Mathematics, Advances in Applied Mathematics, and The Electronic Journal of Combinatorics. He has also served as a referee for many journals. His service to the University includes serving as department liaison to Information Technology Services and as a member of the Curriculum Committee, Council for Faculty Development, and the Research Council. Ryan Hall, Native American Studies and History BA, University of Oklahoma; MA, MPhil, PhD, Yale University Ryan Hall joined the Colgate faculty in 2019 after teaching at the University of Toronto and Northern Arizona University. He is a historian of the North American West with a focus on Native American and borderlands history. Hall’s book, Beneath the Backbone of the World: Blackfoot People and the North American Borderlands, 1720-1877, was a finalist for the 2021 Spur Award for Best Historical Nonfiction Book. His articles have appeared in journals such as The Western Historical Quarterly, The Journal of the Civil War Era, and The Pacific Northwest Quarterly. Hall’s courses include The American West, Native American History, and Global Indigenous History. His university service includes membership on the Fulbright and Udall Fellowship Committees. Promotions to Full Professor Claire Baldwin, German BA, MA, Stanford University; MA, PhD, Yale University Claire Baldwin joined the German faculty in 2000. Before coming to Colgate, she served as assistant professor in the Germanic Languages and Literatures Department at Washington University. Her specialties include 18th-century literature and culture, contemporary literature and culture, Jewish German literature, gender studies, and narrative theory. Baldwin teaches a variety of courses, including first- and second-year German, Introduction to German Literature, seminars on Goethe, Challenges of Modernity, Core Distinction, and first-year seminars on the Berlin Wall and on Old Worlds, New Worlds. In addition to serving as department chair and university professor for Core 152, she has directed the Freiburg Study Group several times since 2003. Baldwin’s work has appeared in publications such as Transnational German Studies; Performing Knowledge, 1750-1850; Religion, Reason, and Culture in the Age of Goethe; and Women in German Yearbook. Baldwin is a past recipient of the Phi Eta Sigma National Honorary Society Professor of the Year Award. Jeff Bary, Physics and Astronomy Emory and Henry College; PhD, Vanderbilt University Jeff Bary came to Colgate in 2008 and was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2014. His expertise in infrared and optical spectroscopy of young sun-like stars is applied to a wide range of astronomical research projects. Two of Bary’s active research projects are the effects of large star spots on early evolution of low-mass stars and understanding accretion processes in substellar and planetary mass regime. He has published in leading journals such as Nature, The Astrophysical Journal, The Astronomical Journal, The Astrophysical Journal Letters, and Astronomy and Astrophysics. A subset of the papers include Colgate student coauthors. Bary teaches a number of courses in physics and astronomy including Solar System Astronomy, Intermediate Astronomy and Astrophysics, and Astronomical Techniques, as well as a Core Sciences course on Saving the Appearances: Galileo, the Church, and the Scientific Endeavor, and a Core Communities course on Appalachia. He has contributed broadly to astronomy education through his contributions to At Play in the Cosmos: The Videogame. He has directed an extended study on In the Footsteps of Galileo. He is presently the chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, and he has also served as a faculty co-director of a residential commons and as the University Professor for First-Year Seminars, Global Engagements, and Core Distinction. He presently holds the Sweet Family Chair. Jonathan Levine, Physics and Astronomy BA, Cornell University; BA, MA, Oxford University; PhD, University of California, Berkeley Jonathan Levine came to Colgate in 2009 and was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2016. His research interests are centered on the physics of the planets, planetary materials, and interactions between the Earth and its environment in space. He is the deputy principal investigator of a team developing a novel resonance ionization mass spectrometer for in situ dating of extraterrestrial samples. Their instrument has been selected to fly to the moon in 2027. He has published in leading journals including Earth Science Systems and Society, Planetary Science Journal, Groundwater, Earth and Space Science, and Planetary and Space Science. A subset of the papers include Colgate student coauthors. Levine teaches a number of courses in physics and astronomy including Solar System Astronomy, Introduction to Mechanics, and Planetary Science, as well as a Core Sciences course on The Air Up There. Jonathan is presently the faculty director of the Benton Scholars Program, directs the astrogeophysics major, and has chaired the National Fellowships and Scholarships Committee. William Meyer, Geography BA, Williams College; PhD, Clark University William Meyer first came to Colgate as the A. Lindsay O’Connor Visiting Associate Professor of American institutions and then served as a visiting lecturer and visiting associate professor before joining the tenure stream in 2012. His specialties include environmental change, hazards and resources, and environmental history. Meyer’s service to the University includes department chairmanship and membership on several committees including the Academic Affairs Board, the Library Advisory Committee, Petitions Committee, the Picker Interdisciplinary Science Institute Executive Advisory Committee, and the Environmental Studies Advisory Committee. He also served as faculty secretary at faculty meetings for four years. His monograph The Great Murdering-Heir Case: A Biography of Riggs v. Palmer is forthcoming from the State University of New York Press. His articles have appeared in several journals including Urban Geography, Geographical Review, New York History, New England Quarterly, and The Professional Geographer. Mary Simonson, Women’s Studies and Film and Media Studies BA, Rutgers University; MA, PhD, University of Virginia Mary Simonson first came to Colgate in 2008 as a lecturer in women’s studies and film and media studies. She joined the tenure stream in 2011. Simonson is the inaugural Daniel C. Benton ’80 Endowed Chair of Arts, Creativity, and Innovation. Her specialties include American cinema, American popular entertainment, film music, and 19th- and 20th-century opera and dance. Among the many courses she teaches are Introduction to Women’s Studies and Introduction to Film and Media Studies, Introduction to Performance Studies, Female Filmmakers and Feminist Films, and World Cinema. Her work has appeared in publications such as American Music, Journal of the Society for American Music, Journal of the American Musicological Society, and Leading the Way: Young Women’s Activism for Social Change. Simonson is president of the New York State-Saint Lawrence Chapter of the American Musicological Society. On campus, she has served as co-director of the Brown Commons, chair of the Colgate Arts Council, and director of the Film and Media Studies Program. Martin Wong, Earth and Environmental Geosciences BA, Williams College; PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara Martin Wong came to Colgate in 2007 and was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2012. He studies extensional tectonics and rifting, metamorphic core complex formation, 40 Ar/ 39 Ar geochronology and thermochronology, application of thermochronology to tectonic problems, and the geology and tectonics of the western United States and northwestern Mexico. He has published in leading journals including Geology, Tectonics, Geosphere, Lithosphere, Geological Society of America Bulletin, and Tectonophysics. A subset of the papers include Colgate student coauthors. Martin teaches geology courses including Evolution of the Planet Earth, Environmental Geology, Tectonics and Earth Structure, Structural Geology, and Tectonics, as well as a First-Year Seminar course on Geology Outdoors. He has directed the spring semester Australia Study Group. Martin serves on the Faculty Affairs Committee and the Committee on Promotion and Tenure. He has previously served as the associate dean of the faculty for global and local initiatives, a member of the Emergency Operations Center, a member of the Health Analytics Team, and chair of the geology department. Appointments to Named Chairs April Baptiste, Environmental Studies and Africana and Latin American Studies Inaugural Leary Family Chair in Environmental Studies Established in 2022 by Nora Gleason Leary ’82 and her husband Robert G. Leary, this new endowed chair recognizes teaching excellence and scholarly achievements in the study of the environment and sustainability. April Baptiste joined the Colgate faculty in 2009. She previously served as a Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow in the African American Studies Department and earned a Certificate in Latin American Studies from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University. Baptiste’s scholarly focus is environmental movements in the Caribbean, and she has published work examining the relationship between environmental attitudes and concerns toward oil and gas drilling in Trinidad as well as the relationship between environmental justice and the siting of aluminum smelters within the same context. Her co-authored book, Revitalizing Urban Waterways: Streams of Environmental Justice, appeared in 2018. Baptiste’s current project explores the intersection of environmental psychological variables and environmental justice issues within the region, as she links knowledge, perceptions, and behaviors to climate change in the Caribbean. Baptiste teaches courses in environmental justice, community-based perspectives on social issues, and Caribbean environments. She has served as the co-director of the Dart Colgrove Commons and is currently the associate dean of the faculty for global and local initiatives. Nina Moore, Political Science Inaugural William L. Boyle, Jr. ’55 Endowed Chair in Political Science This new chair was created to “recognize and support members of the Department of Political Science, whose contributions enrich the understanding of American government and politics, providing insight into the institutions, processes, ethical commitments, and events which influence our democratic systems.” Chairholders of this new chair are appointed for five-year terms. Nina Moore has been a member of the political science faculty at Colgate since 1998 and currently serves as director of the Forum on Race and Public Policy within Colgate’s Center for Freedom and Western Civilization. Moore’s teaching and research focus on the intersection of racial politics, institutional process, Supreme Court race jurisprudence, and criminal justice politics and policy. She is working on a manuscript titled Toeing the Line: The U.S. Supreme Court and Affirmative Action; her earlier books are The Political Roots of Racial Tracking in American Criminal Justice (Cambridge University Press, 2015) and Governing Race: Policy, Process and the Politics of Race (Praeger Publishing, 2000). Moore is a member of the editorial board of the Ralph Bunche Journal of Public Affairs and is currently serving a four-year term as a governor-appointed commissioner on the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct (CJC). She previously served a four-term as a gubernatorial appointee to the CJC and a three-year term as a New York State Senate appointee of the Advisory Council on Underage Alcohol Consumption and Substance Abuse. At Colgate, she has served as chair of the Colgate Faculty Affairs Council, treasurer of the Colgate AAUP Chapter, and vice chair of the Faculty Diversity Council. Kezia Page, English and Africana and Latin American Studies John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Chair The chair was established by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation in 1981. Since its creation, it has been awarded to a prominent faculty member in Colgate’s Africana and Latin American Studies Program. Kezia Page joined the tenure-stream faculty at Colgate in 2003. Her work has been published in the premier journals in her field including Callalou, Small Axe, Journal of West Indian Literature, and Anthurium. Her first book, Transnational Negotiations in Caribbean Diasporic Literature: Remitting the Text, was published in Routledge’s prestigious Research in Postcolonial Literatures series; her second book, Inside Tenement Time: Suss, Spirit, and Surveillance, is in the final stages of completion. Her honors have included a scholar-in-residence position at the Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture and an NEH grant. At Colgate, Page has been an important presence in Africana and Latin American studies, where her teaching and research centers on Caribbean literature, African diaspora literatures, African American literature, and American immigrant literature. Page has also been a central figure in her home department of English, where she is recognized as an outstanding teacher and colleague. She will return to the position of director of the Africana and Latin American Studies Program in the fall.Faculty News News and Updates Faculty & Staff

Colgate Celebrates Sustainability with 13 Days of Green sliddell@colgate.edu Tue, 05/07/2024 - 13:34 Colgate University’s annual celebration of sustainability, the 13 Days of Green, kicked off on April 10 this year. The event series, organized by the Office of Sustainability and now in its 14th year, engages the campus community in educational and entertaining activities centered around environmental awareness and action. Despite the rainy weather, the kickoff festivities persisted with a vibrant celebration in the Coop Media Lounge. Attendees listened to music from the student band Children at Play while enjoying low-waste treats such as Maxwell’s ice cream with green sprinkles. (“It’s low waste because you eat the cone,” explained one sustainability intern in charge of scooping the gluten-free mint chip.) Lined up at tables around the room, various green campus organizations dedicated to sustainability and the environment offered opportunities for students to learn how they could get involved. From Athletics Sustainability Liaisons with their basketball-themed “document dunk” table showing the prevalence of paper waste, to the Colgate Community Garden with their succulent potting and decorating station, there was something for everyone interested in promoting a greener campus. Perhaps one of the most crowded tables at the event belonged to the Students for Environmental Action (SEA) with their bake sale for the oncilla, a Central and South American wildcat threatened by habitat loss and human activity. Partnering with the Colgate Baking Club, this group was able to sell more than 100 brownies and gluten-free cookies, raising $330 for The Oncilla Track conservation project. Throughout the remaining 12 days, students had the opportunity to further explore sustainability and the environment through forest meditation sessions at Chapel House, a sustainable art party with Gate After Dark, and panel discussions with experts such as Colgate artist-in-residence Jackie Sumell and environmental science and forestry PhD candidate Sarah Nahar at The Locker Room exhibition. One standout event was the green-themed day of service on April 13, during which students partnered with local organizations such as the Colgate Community Garden, Spring Farm CARES Nature Sanctuary, and Wolf Mountain Nature Center for full days of garden preparation and trail maintenance. This annual hands-on approach to environmentalism allowed volunteers to directly contribute to creating a more sustainable future for Colgate and the greater Hamilton community. The culmination of the series on April 22 was marked by the Oak Awards ceremony, honoring outstanding contributions to sustainability on campus, and an Earth Day bird walk led by Director of Sustainability John Pumilio and Assistant Director of Sustainability Julia Sparks along the many trails that wind through Colgate’s back-campus.Campus Life News and Updates Faculty & Staff Student sustainability The Colgate community celebrates 13 Days of Green (Photo by Alex Cooper)

Podcast Host Avery Trufelman Explores “Everyday Performance” at Colgate University sliddell@colgate.edu Mon, 05/06/2024 - 08:09 Colgate University recently hosted a lecture by Avery Trufelman, host of the fashion podcast Articles of Interest. Trufelman’s talk, titled “Everyday Performance: How History, Politics, and Culture Shape What We Wear and How We Wear It,” delved into the intimate relationship among fashion, societal norms, and personal expression. Associate Professor of Educational Studies Mark Stern introduced Trufelman’s lecture, highlighting the significance of her work in understanding contemporary societal dynamics. Stern, who currently teaches a class on the history of home economics, expressed how Trufelman’s exploration of the domestic sphere resonates with his coursework. “Trufelman’s insights into the dynamics of contemporary American culture, particularly regarding clothing as a tangible manifestation of the boundaries that separate individuals from one another, has been invaluable to my class,” said Stern. Trufelman’s expertise stems from her extensive background in podcasting and journalism. Before diving into fashion, she covered architecture as a producer for the design podcast 99% Invisible and hosted podcasts for publications like New York Magazine. Her fashion podcast, Articles of Interest, which Stern used in his course, was recognized as one of the best podcasts of 2024 by The New Yorker and earned her a spot among the 500 most important people in fashion according to The Business of Fashion. During her lecture, Trufelman engaged the audience in a lively discussion, weighing in on topics such as the ongoing rivalry between Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren, fast fashion, thrifting, and the nuances of everyday performance. In the most interactive portion of her presentation, Trufelman challenged conventional notions of “classic” or “style-less” dressing, illustrating how historical, political, and cultural factors shape trends and influence individual choices. Projecting various black-and-white images on the screen, Trufelman challenged the audience to guess the era of the images presented. After several guesses, Trufelman would reveal the true era, often several decades off from the most popular guesses. This simple exercise revealed the ever-evolving and ever-repeating nature of fashion. “Clothing is the way of situating yourself in your time but it’s more complicated than that,” explained Trufelman. “It’s how we wear outside culture on our skin. Clothes serve as more than mere coverings; they encode information about one’s profession, the weather, and cultural affiliations.” The discussion then extended to whether one can opt out of fashion’s influence. Trufelman pondered, “Can you opt out of fashion or are we prisoners of sartorial circumstance?” In investigating this question, Trufelman delved into fashion archetypes and icons throughout history. From Madonna to Patty Smith, David Bowie to Bruce Springsteen, Trufelman explored how individuals navigate the ever-changing landscape of fashion, either embracing current trends or maintaining a so-called “timeless aesthetic.” One such timeless aesthetic Trufelman touched upon was that of “preppy” or “ivy” clothing. Referencing the book Take Ivy, which surveyed Ivy League college campuses in 1965 and has been dubbed “the bible of preppy style,” Trufelman noted the enduring appeal of this aesthetic. Despite evolving definitions and new takes on preppy style through platforms like TikTok, the elegance and sophistication of this aesthetic continue to resonate with consumers to this day. Circling back to her original question on opting out, Trufelman concluded, “When it comes to fashion, you can never truly opt out. Every fashion reflects its time and the larger elements of its culture. Ultimately, the only way to remain comfortably trapped in your person, in your time, in your skin, and in your clothes is to just enjoy the tango and see it less as a matter of choice and more as something that simply is.” This lecture, part of Colgate University’s Arts, Creativity, and Innovation series, received support from various academic departments and organizations, including the Center for Learning, Teaching, and Research, the Colgate Arts Council, and the Department of Educational Studies.Social Sciences Third Century Arts News and Updates Faculty & Staff Avery Trufelman (Photo by Tif Ng)

Jonathan Eaton ’24 Wins 1819 Award mcwalden@colgate.edu Fri, 05/03/2024 - 18:18 Jonathan Eaton ’24 of Bethel, Conn., is the recipient of the Colgate Alumni Corporation 1819 Award, given each year to the graduating senior whose character, scholarship, and service to others best exemplify the spirit that is Colgate. “[Jon] is, by all accounts, hardworking, active, and possesses a generous and giving spirit,” President Brian W. Casey said during the announcement at Colgate’s annual awards convocation. “That is well and good. But those who exemplify the Colgate spirit must also have energy and dedication. There must be drive, empathy, and commitment to place. There must be the understanding that, in this place, we are a community. Therefore, the winner should have demonstrated leadership skills and vision; they must have passion and compassion. Our senior has all of these.” Eaton, who currently serves as president of the Student Government Association (SGA), is an Alumni Memorial Scholar, Lampert Scholar, and Presidential Ambassador with a double major in international relations and Asian studies. Among his many acts of service to the community, he has also served as a speaking center consultant, an Office of Residential Life Link, and a member of the Colgate Activities Board, Student Conduct Board, and the Ciccone Commons Council. He is a past president of the Ballroom Dancers student organization, choreographing numbers for the group’s Dancefest performances. Members of the incoming Class of 2028 may also know him as an admission tour guide. Summer research, extended study in New York City, and off-campus study in China shaped Eaton’s academic experience — his intellectual pursuits have earned him the George W. Cobb Award, a Gilman Scholarship, and Phi Beta Kappa membership. Eaton was selected based on nominations from classmates, professors, and staff members. Many of those nominations mentioned Eaton’s efforts to reform the SGA and make it more communicative and responsive to the needs of the student body. That work has included initiating a rewrite of the SGA constitution and restructuring of the organization. “One often hears from senators about how much they approve of Jon’s leadership and transparency, balance of formality and personable nature, and genuine care for the challenges students face,” read one nomination. Another nomination noted that Eaton’s leadership style brings people together and sets an example. “I have met very few students who aren’t afraid to say that they did something wrong or own up to their previous actions,” it reads. “Jon is one of those few students.” Among Eaton’s other achievements, he helped to launch a new PE course on financial literacy, and he is translating a 162-page comic from Chinese to English as part of his senior thesis. “Each of these honors, positions, and projects,” Eaton says, “enables me to contribute my perspective while deepening my understanding of the world by hearing from others. I want to give in whatever ways I can, and I see my purpose much the same as when I ran for SGA president: turning this house — our campus — into a home.”Alumni News and Updates Alumni Student International Relations Program Asian Studies Program Jonathan Eaton ’24 (Photo by Mark DiOrio)