David Kelley to Visit Colgate as Clifford Family Innovator in Residence jkellogg@colgate.edu Tue, 03/25/2025 - 15:01 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 Students ddevries@colgate.edu Mon, 03/24/2025 - 12:38 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 Fellowships mniedt@colgate.edu Mon, 03/24/2025 - 09:06 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 Research Contributing Writer Thu, 03/13/2025 - 09:32 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. sdevries@colgate.edu Wed, 03/12/2025 - 08:26 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 Residency rtaurisano@col… Tue, 03/11/2025 - 08:16 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 Advancement Contributing Writer Mon, 03/10/2025 - 13:00 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 Series nhendrickson@c… Mon, 03/10/2025 - 08:29 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 Exhibition sliddell@colgate.edu Fri, 03/07/2025 - 08:00 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 China nhendrickson@c… Thu, 03/06/2025 - 08:00 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)

Colgate in the Media: February 2025 kputman@colgate.edu Wed, 03/05/2025 - 08:25 Colgate University faculty, staff, and alumni regularly provide their expertise and contribute to national and regional media outlets shaping discussions around vital research and current events.  Study: America’s unauthorized immigrant population dropping Pioneer Press, Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies Emerita Ellen Percy Kraly Peter Balakian reads in India for Tamil edition of “Black Dog of Fate” The Armenian Weekly, Donald M. and Constance H. Rebar Professor in Humanities and Professor of English Peter Balakian Trump’s NIH restrictions could cost lives and weaken defense Good Authority, Associate Professor of Political Science; Director of the International Relations Program Danielle Lupton and Assistant Professor of Chemistry Anne Perring Is Trump’s Gaza gambit a version of Nixon’s ‘Madman Theory’ of coercive diplomacy? Washington Examiner, Assistant Professor of Political Science Frances Wang Trump threatens ‘something very powerful is going to happen’ if Panama doesn’t give back canal Washington Examiner, Assistant Professor of Political Science Frances Wang Trump covets Gaza strip as US-owned ‘Riviera of the Middle East’ in plan to resolve Israeli-Palestinian conflict Washington Examiner, Assistant Professor of Political Science Frances Wang Black history in ten minute episodes, with connections to Upstate New York NCPR, Victoria Basulto ’21 KING JAMES is Coming to Syracuse Stage in February Broadway World, Jamil Jude ’09 Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado won't seek reelection as Hochul's running mate Newsday, Antonio Delgado ’99 The Jolly Pops’ music makes kids want to hop and bop Pioneer Press, Billy Hartong ’97 JP Conte: Building on the American Dream Through Action techbullion.com, JP Conte ’85 Zodiac Gold Strengthens Advisory Board with the Appointment of Industry Veterans Lawrence Lepard and Michael Kott Yahoo!finance, Larry Lepard ’79 Faculty News Alumni News and Updates Alumni Faculty & Staff

Unraveled: Student-Curated Exhibition Explores the Art and Meaning of Weaving sliddell@colgate.edu Tue, 03/04/2025 - 14:43 This spring, the Longyear Museum of Anthropology is showcasing the student-curated exhibition Unraveled: Labor and Meaning Behind Weaving. Created by 10 students in the fall 2024 MUSE 300: Museum Curating class, the exhibition brings together an incredible range of textiles, baskets, and fiber art from around the world, showcasing the craftsmanship, beauty, and cultural significance of woven works. Taught by Co-Director of University Museums and Curator of the Longyear Museum of Anthropology Rebecca Mendelsohn, Museum Curating is a hands-on, semesterlong exploration of exhibition-making. Students learn about the ethics of museum work, how to navigate curatorial challenges, and what it means to present cultural traditions in a museum space. The course alternates between Colgate’s two museums — the Longyear Museum of Anthropology and Picker Art Gallery — allowing students to work with different collections and curatorial approaches. Next fall, MUSE 300 will be taught by Co-Director of University Museums and Curator of the Picker Art Gallery Nick West, who will guide students in developing an exhibition for the Picker. Sections of Unraveled Makers and Their Tools Politics and Pride Weaving as Culture Commercialization, Globalization, and Consumer Culture In its Longyear iteration, the fall 2024 offering followed an “ungrading” model, giving students the freedom to take creative risks and build curatorial skills. Throughout the semester, students collaborated on all aspects of Unraveled, from researching the featured works to shaping the exhibition’s overarching story to deciding which color to paint the gallery walls. Drawing from the Longyear Museum’s extensive textile and basket collections, Unraveled highlights the technical mastery and cultural narratives embedded in woven art. The exhibition examines how fiber arts have responded to economic and political shifts, and the role textiles play in identity, nationalism, and resistance. It also features newly acquired pieces from the Jalabil Maya women’s weaving collective in Oxchuc, Chiapas, Mexico, as well as personal weavings and weaving-related pieces loaned by student curators. These student curator contributions are displayed in a separate case outside of the museum and include such works as an embroidery project passed down through generations, an enormous Christmas mitten, and a well-loved pair of L.L. Bean socks. Accompanied by curator-written labels and photographs, these items offered a glimpse into the emotional and cultural connections people have with textiles in their daily lives. One particularly meaningful contribution comes from curator Aleksia Taçi ’25, who shared a pair of papuçe — house slippers woven by her maternal grandmother from recycled threads. “Her papuçe have kept me warm during Hamilton’s cold winters,” Taçi wrote, “but they’ve also taught me how easily I can extend my clothes’ life cycles by transforming them into something else.” The Opening Celebration Meg McClenahan '25 leading a tour Students exploring an interactive portion of the exhibit Visitors enjoying an assortment of woven foods Bracelet and basket weaving Aleksia Taçi ’25 photographing one of the curator contributions Student curators bonding The exhibition’s opening event was a celebration of weaving as art, culture, and community practice. Attendees enjoyed a curated playlist and an array of woven-inspired hors d’oeuvres, including soft braided pretzels, lattice-topped quiches, and angel hair–woven meatballs. There were also hands-on activities like friendship braiding and a community weaving project, which will continue to grow in the gallery throughout the exhibition’s run. During the event, student curators reflected on the experience of bringing Unraveled to life. “I am not a group project person, and this class was one big group project,” admitted Emma Herwig ’25. “It was a personal challenge for me, but I couldn’t be prouder of how this group came together to create something truly meaningful.” She also touched on the research approach that shaped their work. “We started the class with the concept of collaborative autoethnography where multiple contributors bring their own identities, experiences, and cultures into their work. It was about embracing how we, as researchers, are reflected in our work and supporting each other in that process, all in the spirit of creating a single, unified project.” Unraveled is one of several exhibitions on campus this spring that explore the art and meaning of weaving. At the Clifford Art Gallery, For Alliances with the Beaver People features an 11-meter embroidered tapestry by Suzanne Husky, illustrating key moments in the intertwined histories of beavers and humans. Meanwhile, at the Picker Art Gallery, the exhibition A Thought Is A Thread examines how textiles continue to shape human relationships, language, and technology. Unraveled is now on view at the Longyear Museum through Spring 2025, and the full range of pieces featured can be viewed on the University Museums website. The Curators of Unraveled: Leila Bekaert ’25 Oscar Brown ’26 Kegan Foley ’26 Emma Herwig ’25 Bri Liddell ’25 Gloria Liu ’26 Meg McClenahan ’25 Anna Miksis ’25 Blanca Rivas ’25 Aleksia Taçi ’25Academics Career Development Faculty & Staff Student Longyear Museum Museum Studies Program Department of Sociology and Anthropology The Unraveled Curatorial Team

Oscar Wins for Alex Coco ’12 and Anora amayne@colgate.edu Mon, 03/03/2025 - 09:50 This year’s Academy Awards was a big night for Alex Coco ’12, producer of Anora, which won five Oscars, including best picture, best director, best actress, best original screenplay, and best editing. The film, a dark romantic comedy, had a budget of only $6 million, and was shot on location in New York City with approximately 40 crew members. In his acceptance speech, Coco encouraged independent filmmakers. “If you’re trying to make independent films, please keep doing it,” he said. “We need more. This is proof.” Coco will be back on campus for a screening of Anora and conversations with the Colgate community during Arts, Creativity, and Innovation weekend, April 3–5. Read more about Coco in Colgate Magazine’s “40 Under 40” feature.  Alumni Arts News and Updates Alumni Alex Coco ’12 and the cast and crew of Anora at the 97th Academy Awards (Oscars) at the Dolby Theatre on March 2, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)