- Picker Interdisciplinary Science Institute Announces 2024 Research AwardsPicker Interdisciplinary Science Institute Announces 2024 Research Awards 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 pleased by the breadth and depth of research projects that we funded this year,” said Professor of Biology and Mathematics Ahmet Ay, director of the Picker Institute. “While distinct in scope, they all reflect Picker Interdisciplinary Science Institute's dedication to interdisciplinary research.” This year, there are six Picker ISI awards: Paul Harnik, assistant professor of earth and environmental geosciences; Rebecca Metzler, professor of physics; and Damhnait McHugh, professor of biology, have received a $100,000 award for their project “Determining the Impacts of Anthropogenic Climate Change on Calcifying Marine Animals.” Cosmin Ilie, assistant professor of physics — in collaboration with Katherine Freese (University of Texas), Andreea Petric (the Space Telescope Science Institute), and Jillian Paulin (University of Pennsylvania) — has been awarded $84,500 in funding for the project “Probing the Nature of Dark Matter With the First Stars and Galaxies in the Universe.” Kelly Isham, assistant professor of mathematics — in collaboration with Kartik Lakhotia (Intel) and Laura Monroe (Los Alamos National Laboratory) — has been awarded $31,250 for the project “Exploring the Mathematics of Large-scale Computer Network Design: Toward Zettascale.” Anzela Niraula, assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences and neuroscience, in collaboration with Jacques Robert (University of Rochester), has been awarded $9,581 for the project “The Immune System as the Brain’s Sculptor During Metamorphosis.” Associate Professor Wan-chun Liu and Professor Spencer Kelly, from the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Neuroscience, have received an award of $8,344 for their project “Song-Entangled Beat Gesture in Songbirds: A Window to the Mind and Brain.” Professor of Physics Beth Parks, with colleagues Silver Onyango (Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda) and Crystal North (MGH/Harvard), has received an award of $7,120 for the project “Sensors for Enabling Personal Behavior Changes to Reduce Air Pollution Exposure in Uganda.” “These projects are important not only because of their scholarly merit but also because they will enrich the research opportunities our university provides for our students,” Ay said. “Furthermore, they lay the framework for creating new interdisciplinary courses and expanding our university’s curricula.” A brief description of each project can be found on the Picker ISI Funding History page.Academics Faculty News Research Centers and Institutes Faculty & Staff Picker ISI
- Colgate Students Are First Undergraduates to Present at Conference for the American Association of Teachers of FrenchColgate Students Are First Undergraduates to Present at Conference for the American Association of Teachers of French tmfonda@colgate.edu Kaitlin Maratea ’25 and Amelia Rastley ’25 recently became the first undergraduates to present at the Conference for the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF). Their presentation on the intersections of identity and the French language, titled “Multiple Voices from the Caribbean,” was delivered in Trois Rivières, Quebec, under the mentorship of Mahadevi Ramakrishnan, DA, senior lecturer in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures. Ramakrishnan’s Introduction to French Language and Culture course introduced Maratea and Rastley to the history of language, culture, and colonial and post-colonial identity politics in the French-speaking Caribbean region. “After taking Madame Ramakrishnan’s French class, I fell in love with the language,” Rastley said. Rastley’s portion of the presentation focused on Aimé Césaire, a Francophone-Martinican poet and politician. With the help of Visiting Assistant Professor of University Studies Aleksandr Skylar, Rastley researched Césaire’s life and influence in relation to his essay “Discourse on Colonialism.” “I chose to explore a text that I struggled with in class,” said Rastley. “I wanted to discern how Césaire’s use of different rhetorical tools contributed to making this text a revolutionary work in decolonial writing.” To highlight another figure in French Caribbean history, Maratea researched Maryse Condé, a French novelist and critic. Maratea’s analysis of Condé’s autobiography, Le Cœur à rire et à pleurer, served as a reference for her presentation on cultural and socioeconomic hierarchies in the French Caribbean. “My research is really focused on the concepts of internalized oppression, hierarchy, and Condé’s alienation within that context,” said Maratea. At the convention, Rastley and Maratea met a variety of French-language speakers, researchers, and educators. “It was nice not only to immerse myself in the language but also to be with teachers,” said Maratea, who plans to fuse her interests in education and the French language into a teaching career. Following their presentation, Maratea, Rastley, and Ramakrishnan were invited to present their work again at the next AATF conference, taking place this summer in San Diego. A synthesized article of their work was published in the January issue of the AATF National Bulletin. “To watch my two former students, who were both sophomores at that time, present with so much confidence was an extraordinarily proud moment for me as an educator,” said Ramakrishnan. “And this is just the beginning for them.”Academics Arts and Humanities Research News and Updates Student Romance Languages and Literatures Kaitlin Maratea ’25 (left) and Amelia Rastley ’25 (right) at the Conference for the American Association of Teachers of French in Trois Rivières, Quebec.
- Former Representatives Discuss Political Careers and American UnityFormer Representatives Discuss Political Careers and American Unity tmfonda@colgate.edu On Feb 26, former congressmen Mike Capuano (D-Mass.) and John Faso (R-N.Y.) joined Colgate students in the Golden Auditorium for an honest dialogue about the representatives’ careers on Capitol Hill and their stances on several key issues. Ellie Markwick ’24, a student majoring in international relations and peace and conflict studies, moderated the panel, which was organized by the Max A. Shacknai Center for Outreach, Volunteerism, and Education (COVE) and co-sponsored by the Colgate Vote Project and Democracy Matters. The panel began with Capuano describing his time in office (1998–2019) as an advocate for progressive causes such as affordable housing, transportation infrastructure, and environmental protection. Capuano was involved in key legislation such as the Affordable Care Act and the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill. “In politics, you’re just not going to agree on every single issue, so politics should be the art of the possible,” Capuano said. “Take healthcare, for instance — I don’t want to say no to 20 million people just because we couldn’t secure a program for 30 million. But those other 10 million, we’re still fighting for them. We’ll get them next time.” During Faso’s term in the U.S. House of Representatives (2017–19), his priorities included fiscal responsibility, advocating for lower taxes, and reduced government spending. At the panel, he offered his continued support for these causes: “Financially, I think the biggest issue we [the United States] are currently facing is our fiscal imbalance — that is really going to threaten our ability to accomplish certain things because we’re in so much debt,” Faso said. Considering future generations, Faso asked the students in the audience to think carefully about how they’re developing their political perspectives. “As college students, you’re in this unique time period, these four years, before you go out into the real world,” he said. “In terms of political issues, my advice is not to silo yourself to only sources you agree with. Challenge yourself to listen, watch, and read about other viewpoints.” Capuano agreed that a hopeful, united future in American politics can be brought about by a public that is engaged in conversation. “To me, the most interesting work in politics is talking to people with different perspectives and really trying to learn from them,” Capuano said. “A lot of people don’t do that. It’s hard work, but it opens doors.”Campus Life News and Updates Student cove
- Chasing the EclipseChasing the Eclipse sliddell@colgate.edu “Unless you have been living under a rock on another planet, you have to be aware of what is going to be happening in just a few weeks,” Professor Emeritus of Astronomy, Anthropology, and Native American Studies Anthony Aveni told an audience in the Ho Tung Visualization Lab last week. A total solar eclipse will cross North America on Monday, April 8. That day, buses will ferry more than 200 Colgate University students, faculty, and staff to Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where they will join ranks with students and astronomers to observe the celestial event, which will not take place again in the region until 2079. “We partnered with Hobart William Smith to find the perfect location within the path of totality,” explained Joe Eakin, technical director and designer at the Vis Lab, who will be leading the expedition. “You have to be in the totality path to truly experience the magic of a total solar eclipse.” In this path, the eclipse will reach Hobart William Smith’s campus in Geneva, N.Y., between approximately 2:07 p.m. and 4:34 p.m., achieving totality for 2 minutes and 21 seconds at 3:21 p.m. The sky will darken almost completely, and the sun’s corona as well as the mountains of the moon will be clearly visible. In anticipation of the pilgrimage, Aveni briefed community members on the physics and folklore of the phenomenon, which he has viewed in totality numerous times, usually from ships on the ocean. “Sublime. That’s the word that is often used to describe an eclipse,” said Aveni. According to the professor, an eclipse sparks a variety of natural phenomena as well as awe. During totality, birds fall silent, nocturnal animals emerge from hiding, winds can pick up, and temperatures plummet. Faces of friends can look grotesque in the odd shadows. Perhaps strangest of all, wavy dark and light lines or “shadow bands” are seen on surfaces immediately before and after the eclipse. “Weird things happen during totality,” Eakin confirmed. “And best of all, they’re going to happen right next door.” Colgate is hosting a wide range of activities in the weeks leading up to the eclipse including planetarium shows and an exhibition from Albright College artist Kristen Woodward inspired by the eclipse. Visit colgate.edu/calendar for dates and details. Academics Arts News and Updates Faculty & Staff Student Department of Physics and Astronomy Department of Sociology and Anthropology Pitris
- Jessica Johnson ’22 Named NIH Oxford-Cambridge ScholarJessica Johnson ’22 Named NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholar mniedt@colgate.edu Jessica Johnson ’22 has been selected for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program, an individualized and accelerated doctoral training program for outstanding students committed to biomedical research careers. NIH Oxford-Cambridge (OxCam) students partner with two investigators — one at the NIH and another at the University of Oxford or University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom — to perform a single collaborative dissertation project. “The NIH OxCam program is so incredibly unique,” Johnson states. “It allows me to utilize the resources of vastly different, yet highly adept, research institutions. In a way, this synergetic international collaboration is a macrocosm of my own interdisciplinary interests.” Johnson, an astrogeophysics major and German minor, is keenly interested in aerospace medicine, studying sustainable human health in weightlessness and extreme climates. Her research interests, at the intersection of physics, planetary science, and the cardiovascular system, guided her proposed research with OxCam. Johnson will be heading to Oxford in the fall to work with Ellie Tzima, PhD. They will study endothelial cell mechanosensor response to turbulent blood flow and shear stress in human vasculature. These effects are inherent factors of venous diseases and adverse fluid circulation in microgravity. While at Colgate, Johnson was highly engaged with the physics and German departments, tutoring for both. She worked closely with Professor Joseph Levy, researching boulder banding across Martian glaciers; the remote sensing of desert playa hydropatterns in Alvord, Oregon; and organic matter accumulation and distributions along water tracks in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. This work spanned three years and culminated in a six-week field expedition to Antarctica in December 2022. In addition to being highly focused on her research and academics, Johnson has been a strong proponent of advocacy through outreach. She was a founding member of the Colgate Student Coalition, for which she served as an adviser to the Internal Affairs Committee in the spring of 2020. This group created the social justice series 13 Days of Education and raised $75,000 in support of bail funds for individuals arrested as part of protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death. She was also a German language coordinator for the Foreign Language Program at Hamilton Central School, sharing her knowledge of German language, history, and customs with local second graders. Additionally, Johnson was an active student leader on campus. She was the president of the German Club, co-president of both the Senior Honors Society and Star ’Gate, and a student language ambassador at the Keck Center for Language Study. Johnson’s focus and academic achievement have not gone unnoticed. She has been honored with the Valentine Piotrow Prize in German Excellence, DAAD Rise Fellowship, Delta Phi Alpha, Phi Beta Kappa Daniel H. Saracino Prize for Scholarship of Exceptional Merit, Physics and Astronomy Joseph C. Amato and Anthony F. Aveni Award for Student Research, NIH Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA), and the Antarctica Service Medal. Most recently, she was recognized as one of 100 Polar Women by the Women in Polar Science Network and featured on the Black Women in Science Podcast for her research at Colgate, in Antarctica, and at the NIH. Currently, Johnson is completing the second year of her IRTA fellowship in the Multiscale Imaging and Integrative Biophysics Unit at the NIH under Dan Benjamini, PhD. They utilize novel, frequency-dependent multidimensional diffusion MRI techniques in the in vivo human brain to characterize tissue microstructure and degeneration. The goal is to apply this work to age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. She is also a semifinalist for a Fulbright Research Grant in Germany. “In life, do something you enjoy, even if it makes no sense to anyone else, and always take a moment to recognize the pillars who uplift you and challenge you to be your best,” advises Johnson. “I want to thank my family; professors Joe Levy, Jonathan Levine, and Matthew Miller; Steve Wright and ONFS and the many others who have provided critical guidance along my journey.” To learn more about the NIH OxCam Scholars Program 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.Alumni Outcomes University Statements News and Updates Alumni onfs Department of Physics and Astronomy Department of German Jessica Johnson ’22
- Next Up on 13: Hitching a Ride to the MoonNext Up on 13: Hitching a Ride to the Moon kputman@colgate.edu On the latest episode of 13, explore the cosmos with Associate Professor of Physics Jonathan Levine. Professor Levine shares his journey from his childhood interests in astronomy to his work on an upcoming 2027 lunar research mission through NASA’s recurring Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM) program. Levine’s professional interests are centered on the physics of the planets, planetary materials, and interactions between the Earth and its environment in space. His experimental work has included analyses of lunar samples collected by the Apollo astronauts, meteorites, presolar mineral grains, and interplanetary dust. He teaches courses in the traditional physics and astronomy curriculum, such as Introduction to Mechanics (PHYS 232) and Solar System Astronomy (ASTR 101), and also courses that draw heavily on his research themes, such as Planetary Science (ASTR 313) and a Core Sciences course on the atmosphere (Core 166S). Levine also works with the Benton Scholars at Colgate and discusses some of the exciting work being done by students in that program. Levine earned bachelor’s degrees from Cornell University and Oxford University and both his master’s and PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. 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 Profiles News and Updates Faculty & Staff
- Approaching the Arab-Israeli Conflict and the War in Gaza Through an Academic LensApproaching the Arab-Israeli Conflict and the War in Gaza Through an Academic Lens tmfonda@colgate.edu Throughout the spring semester, the Colgate community is engaging in a series of conversations and presentations on the Arab-Israeli conflict and the war in Gaza. These events are part of an ongoing effort to provide students with in-depth learning experiences and space to discuss complicated global conflicts. Associate Professor of Political Science Bruce Rutherford delivered a two-part introductory lecture in January and February. He began the series by presenting the Palestinian and Israeli perspectives in a full, neutral fashion. To represent the Palestinian perspective, Rutherford discussed their historical, spiritual, and legal claims to the land that is currently Israel as well as the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Rutherford described how, in this territory, Palestinians comprised a majority of the population prior to 1948. “Here, [Palestinians] developed an identity and history that was distinct from surrounding territories,” said Rutherford. “They claim the right to self-determination — to stay and build a state.” To present the Israeli side, Rutherford harkened back to the 19th century. This was when an influx of Jewish migrants traveled from Europe to Palestine. “The central reasons for that [migration] have to do largely with intensified anti-semitism in Europe,” said Rutherford. “So their stance was that, if they created their own state, they would have control over their physical security and the opportunity to protect and develop their religious culture.” Rutherford offered that this was when Zionism became a political movement, in the latter part of the 19th century into the 20th century. This position, alongside spiritual and legal claims, propeled the Israeli argument, he said, and a land dispute between the Palestinian and Israeli sides ensued. Rutherford bridged this dispute to the 2023–24 Gaza War in his second presentation and discussed the possibility of a ceasefire. “Despite the destruction of the conflict on both sides, the United States believes that there is an opportunity to build a broader regional peace,” said Rutherford. “At the end of that peace process, Israel will be more secure.” Rutherford’s lectures were the first in a series of ongoing academic events related to the Israel-Hamas war, featuring:Derek Penslar, William Lee Frost Professor of Jewish history at Harvard University (Feb. 14), who discussed emotions of hostility toward Jews and Zionism. Yair Rosenberg, staff writer at The Atlantic (March 5), who will discuss army service and national identity, Israel’s conduct in the war, and the press. Jonathan Price, professor of classics and history at Tel Aviv University (March 19), who will relate ancient theories to modern conflicts. Scholars Dana Olwen and Laura Jafee (March 20), who will discuss their work on Palestinian feminism in the Center for Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Lori Allen, political anthropologist and author (March 25), who will discuss her book on Palestinian commissions (A History of False Hope) in a Zoom session hosted by MIST. Michelle Campos, historian (April 3), who will speak on the history of Ottoman and mandatory Palestine.Academics Campus Life News and Updates Faculty & Staff Student Department of Political Science
- David Brooks Gives His Insight on ‘How to Know a Person’David Brooks Gives His Insight on ‘How to Know a Person’ sdevries@colgate.edu New York Times Op-ed columnist David Brooks recently joined Lampert Institute Director Illan Nam for a conversation about his book How to Know a Person, and offered his advice on the best ways to engage with others and encourage them to share their life stories. The Feb. 20 event was the second in the Lampert Institute of Civic and Global Affairs’ spring lecture series and touched on topics such as empathy and how to approach difficult conversations before Brooks took questions from the audience. Brooks spoke about the concept from his book of people being “illuminators” or “diminishers” when they interact with others. “Diminishers are not curious about you, they don’t ask you questions,” Brooks said, noting diminishers choose instead to stereotype, ignite, and make assumptions. “But people are more complicated,” he continued. “Illuminators, they make you feel lit up, they’re curious about you, they want to ask you questions.” Nam noted that Brooks’ message from his book was that people can learn to be illuminators. New York Times Op-ed columnist David Brooks joined Lampert Institute Director Illan Nam for a conversation about his book How to Know a Person on Feb. 20, 2024, in Golden Auditorium in Little Hall. Photo by Andy Daddio. “The act of knowing another person is being really good at conversation. One of the ways is to ask for stories and prize really good questions,” Brooks said. “Good questions are narrative questions. I no longer ask ‘What you believe?’ but ‘How did you come to believe that?’” Brooks noted that by asking meaningful questions about people’s lives, we offer them a chance to engage in narrative storytelling, which deepens their understanding of themselves as well as our understanding of them. He emphasized that we often underestimate how much we enjoy talking to other people, commenting that “No one ever says, ‘none of your damn business.’ Most people are willing to tell you their life story, but no one ever asked them.” Brooks noted that offering this kind of attention to others is a moral act. Nam noted Brooks wrote the book in part to help us overcome some of the challenges of our current political environment. “Embedded in this is a feeling we have gotten worse at seeing and being seen by each other — are we having a harder time now?” Nam asked. Brooks agreed, citing the rising mental health crisis, suicide, a reduction in romantic relationships, and time spent with friends, resulting in a sadder, meaner, and more lonely culture. “Now, fewer than half of Americans give to charity; there’s been this pulling in. People tell me they feel unseen constantly.” Nam asked what faculty can do in the classroom to help students cultivate empathy, and Brooks recommended a course on social skills, such as asking for forgiveness, how to have challenging conversations, or how to choose a life partner. “These are skills you learn, and if you get better at it, will be more considerate to people around you,” Brooks said. David Brooks is a bestselling author, op-ed columnist at the New York Times, and recurring commentator on PBS NewsHour. He has a gift for bringing readers and audiences alike face to face with the spirit of our times with humor, insight, and quiet passion. He is a keen observer of the American way of life and a savvy analyst of present-day politics and foreign affairs. His columns are among the most read in the nation. Brooks is the author of six books with many bestsellers among them, including How to Know a Person, The Second Mountain, The Road to Character, and The Social Animal. Brooks seeks to further explore and explain humanity and the way we live with every addition to his critically acclaimed body of work. With intellectual curiosity and emotional wisdom, he underscores the value of community and the importance of nourishing both the inner self and the social self in our journeys to live fulfilling lives. Lampert’s spring lecture series will continue next month with a visit from David Sanger, New York Times White House and national security correspondent, on March 26. Sanger is a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner who covers diplomacy, cyber conflict, national security, and geopolitics for the New York Times. Upcoming Lampert Institute lectures: “The Revival of Superpower Conflict: Cyberwarfare, AI, and Security” David Sanger, New York Times White House and national security correspondent 4:30–6:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 26, Persson Hall Auditorium “How to End the War in Ukraine: A New Framework” Michael O’Hanlon, Brookings Institution director of research and foreign policy and 2023–24 Lampert Institute non-resident scholar 4:30–6:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 9, Lathrop Hall 207 The Lampert Institute for Civic and Global Affairs, named after Edgar Lampert ’62, was first established in 2008 as the Institute of Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and renamed the Lampert Institute for Civic and Global Affairs in 2014. The Institute's mission is to teach students to apply the fundamental tools of a liberal arts education — identifying substantive questions and reading and writing with clarity, balance, and public purpose — to the most significant policy issues of the day, during their time at Colgate and beyond. Academics Arts and Humanities Social Sciences Centers and Institutes People Faculty & StaffNew York Times Op-ed columnist David Brooks discusses his book How to Know a Person on Feb. 20, 2024 in Golden Auditorium in Little Hall. Photo by Andy Daddio.
- STARS Program Expands Opportunities for Undergraduate ResearchSTARS Program Expands Opportunities for Undergraduate Research tmfonda@colgate.edu The Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Colgate University has launched the Science and Technology Accelerated Research Scholars (STARS) program, which connects first-year students from under-resourced high schools and regions to research opportunities. In 2022, the inaugural STARS program was directed by Professor of Biology Krista Ingram. Each cohort of first-year students receives 4–6 hours of work-study experience per week in a lab with a faculty partner. Projects vary across STEM disciplines such as physics, computer science, and biology. “STARS was formed as a grassroots effort to improve equitable access to STEM research at Colgate,” says Ingram. Etiosa Ojefua ’26, an international student from Nigeria, undertook his project with Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies Frank Frey. Frey’s ongoing investigation of environmental health issues in southwestern Uganda led to their project on antibiotic resistance. “I was tasked with analyzing the bacteria cells and coming up with a thesis, plus theories to support it,” says Ojefua. “Professor Frey guided me through everything and became my mentor. Our research will support funding for hospitals in Uganda — that’s what I want to be able to do in my home country one day.” Roma Lerner ’27 first realized her passion for sustainability and ecology at home in Oahu, Hawaii. Today, she’s working with Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies Tim McCay on a project about jumping worms, an invasive species. Their research seeks to correlate climate and soil properties with the seasonal behavior of three types of jumping worms. These positions continue throughout the academic year and into the summer, even as Ingram and her colleagues continue to build STARS into a staple program within the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. “Offering more opportunities for student-scholars to be involved in research early in their Colgate experience enhances our ability to build an inclusive and supportive Colgate science community,” says Ingram.Academics Research News and Updates Faculty & Staff Student Department of Biology Photo by Mark DiOrio
- Embracing Diversity at Colgate University at the Convergence Leadership SummitEmbracing Diversity at Colgate University at the Convergence Leadership Summit Contributing Writer The Convergence Leadership Summit took place this weekend, with intentions of “empowering the next generation of leaders from the Men of Color Success Network and the Women of Color Network.” Read more.Campus Life Student Courtesy of Spectrum News
- Financier-Turned–Human-Rights Activist Bill Browder to Deliver Colgate University 2024 Commencement AddressFinancier-Turned–Human-Rights Activist Bill Browder to Deliver Colgate University 2024 Commencement Address rdowning@colgate.edu Founder and CEO of Hermitage Capital Management, head of the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign, and author of Red Notice Bill Browder will deliver the commencement address at Colgate University’s 2024 Commencement on Sunday, May 19. Browder was the largest foreign investor in Russia until 2005, when he was denied entry to the country and declared “a threat to national security” for exposing corruption in Russian state-owned companies. In 2008, Browder’s lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, uncovered a massive fraud committed by Russian government officials that involved the theft of $230 million (U.S.) of state taxes. Magnitzky testified against state officials involved in this fraud and was subsequently arrested, imprisoned without trial, and systematically tortured. Magnitsky spent a year in prison under horrific detention conditions, was repeatedly denied medical treatment, and died in prison on November 16, 2009, leaving behind a wife and two children. Since then, Browder has sought justice outside of Russia and started a global campaign for governments around the world to impose targeted visa bans and asset freezes on human rights abusers and highly corrupt officials. The United States was the first to impose these targeted sanctions with the passage of the Sergei Magnitsky Accountability Act in 2012, followed by the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act in 2016. Since then, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Baltic states, the European Union, and, most recently Australia have passed their own versions of the Magnitsky Act. Browder is currently working to have similar legislation passed in other countries worldwide, including New Zealand and Japan, among others. Browder’s first book, Red Notice, A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice (2015), chronicles Browder’s years spent in Russia, the Russian government’s attacks on Hermitage Capital Management and his responses to Russian corruption, and his support of the investigation into the death of his attorney Sergei Magnitsky. A TV series based on the book is in development. His second book Freezing Order: A True Story of Money Laundering, Murder, and Surviving Vladimir Putin’s Wrath, was released in 2022. At the May 19 commencement ceremony, Colgate will also honor Browder with an honorary doctorate, alongside Angela Ferguson; Mohsin Hamid; Michael J. Herling ’79, P’08,’09,’12; and Tod Machover. Angela Ferguson Supervisor of the Onondaga Nation Farm and coordinating committee member at Braiding the Sacred, Angela Ferguson, a member of the Eel Clan, resides just off the Onondaga Nation lands in Central New York. Although much of her time is spent growing and preserving traditional foods of the Indigenous people, the art of “traditional cooking” using the techniques and tools from her ancestors is a skill she has learned and shares with other Haudenosaunee communities. Ferguson is one of Braiding the Sacred’s original founders. The organization coordinates gatherings in many different Indigenous communities to create opportunities for relationship building and knowledge sharing among traditional Indigenous corn growers throughout Turtle Island — what many Indigenous people call North America. These three-day events include the consumption of traditional food for the entirety of the gatherings, talking circles focused on corn and the relationships each community has with corn, and either planting or harvesting a corn field in the host community based on time of year. Rematriation of seeds back to their original tribes/nations/homelands is a significant part of Braiding the Sacred’s mission. Ferguson is leading the way in stewarding a seed collection in Onondaga of more than 4,000 Indigenous varieties of corn, beans, and other heirloom foods that were previously held by the late Carl Barnes, Cherokee Mohsin Hamid Mohsin Hamid is the author of five novels, including the international bestsellers Exit West and The Reluctant Fundamentalist, both of which were shortlisted for the Booker Prize, as well as Moth Smoke, How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia, and his most recent, The Last White Man. Hamid’s books have been translated into more than 40 languages, adapted for film, and awarded numerous prizes. Hamid speaks and writes on topics ranging from literature, culture, and the arts to migration, technology, business, and politics. He has lectured at universities and conferences on six continents. His essay collection Discontent and Its Civilizations brings together some of his writings for the New York Times, the Guardian, the Financial Times, the New York Review of Books, and other publications. Hamid studied international relations at Princeton University and law at Harvard University, and worked as a management consultant. He has spent about half his life in Lahore, Pakistan, where he was born, and much of the rest in London, New York, and California. Michael J. Herling ’79, P’08,’09,’12 The chair of Colgate University’s Board of Trustees, Michael Herling is founding partner of Finn Dixon & Herling LLP, a law firm in Stamford, Conn. He also serves as the non-executive chair of the board of The Brink’s Company and is a member of the Board of Directors of The Interlake Steamship Company. As a longtime active volunteer for Colgate, he chaired the search committee that hired Brian W. Casey as its 17th president, and served as the chair of the Presidents’ Circle Membership Committee and for 10 years on the Alumni Council. During his tenure on the Board of Trustees, he has, among other things, served as its vice chair and chaired the committee on athletic affairs. He also served on the Task Force on Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression. Active in his community, Herling has served on the Board of Directors of The Business Council of Fairfield County (Connecticut), as the past chair of the Board of Stamford Hospital, and as the past president of the Board of Trustees of the Darien Library, among others. He earned a JD from Stanford Law School in 1982. His wife, Nancy ’81, also served as a member of the Alumni Council, and each of their three sons, Doug ’08, Scott ’09, and Will ’12, graduated from Colgate. Tod Machover Called “America’s most wired composer” by the Los Angeles Times and “a musical visionary” by the New York Times, composer/inventor Tod Machover has led a career marked by a commitment to pushing the boundaries of traditional artistic and cultural norms. Machover is Muriel R. Cooper Professor of music and media at the MIT Media Lab, where he also directs the Opera of the Future group and is academic head of the Media Arts & Sciences graduate program. Before coming to MIT, Machover studied with Elliott Carter and Roger Sessions at The Juilliard School, and was the first Director of Musical Research at Pierre Boulez’s IRCAM in Paris. Machover also serves as visiting professor of composition at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Machover’s compositions, commissioned and performed by elite ensembles, opera houses, and esteemed soloists worldwide, have received numerous prizes and awards, including a Chevalier of Arts et Lettres accolade from the French Culture Ministry and being named Musical America’s Composer of the Year. Machover is known for developing new technologies for music, from Hyperinstruments that enhance performance expressivity, to Hyperscore that opens musical creativity for everyone, to numerous sonic strategies for promoting health and wellbeing. Machover is especially celebrated for his groundbreaking operas including the AI-infused VALIS (1987), the audience-interactive Brain Opera (1996), and the robotic Death and the Powers (2010), a Pulitzer Prize finalist. His Schoenberg in Hollywood (2018) was performed in Shenzhen, China, in November 2023, and he is currently working on his next opera, The Overstory, based on Richard Powers’ Pulitzer Prize–winning novel. Machover lectures and writes frequently about music and its widest potential, and two co-authored book chapters – AI and Musical Discovery (MIT Press) and Composing the Future of Health (Viking) – were both published in spring 2024.News and Updates Student
- Tim Tebow Talks Inspiration During Colgate VisitTim Tebow Talks Inspiration During Colgate Visit tmfonda@colgate.edu Tim Tebow, the two-time national champion, Heisman Trophy winner, first-round NFL draft pick, and former professional baseball player, hosted a Q&A with student-athletes in Cotterell Court on Sunday, Feb. 18. Read more.Athletics Campus Life Student Photo by Mark DiOrio
- Next Up on 13: The National DebtNext Up on 13: The National Debt kputman@colgate.edu On the latest episode of 13, professors from Colgate’s economics department discuss a topic that most hear about, but few understand: the national debt. Nicole Simpson, W. Bradford Wiley Professor of international economics and chair of the department of economics, and Assistant Professor in Economics Rich Higgins guide us through its complexities, from what the national debt is and how we got to where we are to the implications on the future of the global economy. Simpson is an expert in macroeconomics, immigration, remittances, and the earned income tax credit. Her current work focuses on the determinants of immigration, the impact of the earned income tax credit on labor supply when households face credit constraints, and the relationship between credit and college investment. Her work has been published in a variety of journals and textbooks. She holds a bachelor’s in economics from the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota and a master’s and PhD in economics from the University of Iowa. Assistant Professor Rich Higgins specializes in macroeconomics, monetary policy, and Bayesian econometrics. Higgins is the faculty adviser for the Colgate Fed Challenge team, a select group of economics students who compete in a national intercollegiate competition run by the U.S. Federal Reserve System. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the Pennsylvania State University and his PhD from the University of Oregon. 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, Spotify, and Stitcher.Faculty Profiles News and Updates Faculty & Staff
- Creativity in Unity: Durryle Brooks Inspires at Annual MLK CelebrationCreativity in Unity: Durryle Brooks Inspires at Annual MLK Celebration sliddell@colgate.edu Colgate University’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration kicked off on Jan. 25 with a keynote address from Durryle Brooks, PhD, founder of Love and Justice Consulting LLC. The event, organized by the ALANA Cultural Center and the Office of the Dean of the College, set the tone for a week of reflection, engagement, and exploration on the theme “Creativity in Unity.” It began with an introduction from Rhoman Elvis ’25 and a performance of the Black National Anthem by Blessed Jimoh ’24. Esther Rosbrook, director of the ALANA Cultural Center, set the stage and introduced Brooks. A trailblazer in LGBT African American history, Brooks shared his experiences and perspectives on the transformative power of love as understood through his examination of the sermons of Martin Luther King Jr. “I feel as though MLK is my personal mentor despite his being assassinated many years before my birth,” Brooks shared. Drawing inspiration from King’s 1967 speech outlining the three sins of the country — racism, excess materialism, and militarism — Brooks delved into the theme of love as a means to combat societal challenges. He emphasized the centrality of love to the human experience, invoking King’s words, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only love can do that.” And he challenged the audience to consider love not merely as an interpersonal emotion but as the mutual co-construction of full personhood. In the interactive session that followed his speech, Brooks encouraged those gathered in the chapel to engage in a collective pause, reflect on their motivations for attending, and personally define love. “What is love to the oppressed?” inquired Brooks. “What is love to the socially marginalized? What is love to the person who has been pushed to the margins of society, left out, exploited, and manipulated?” With the remainder of his time, Brooks turned toward understanding the political nature of love. Through personal anecdotes and academic insights, he argued that love, when unexamined, can become a tool of oppression. “At the intersection of love and oppression is where we can find a love drought,” explained Brooks. “So many of us operate and walk around so desperate for affirmation that we actually dry up. We are deprived, become desperate, and finally desiccate. To fix a love drought, a person must be treated much in the same way that a desiccated plant is treated with water: the person must be submerged in love.” In addition to the keynote, the MLK Week celebration was packed with events designed to engage the Colgate community in meaningful dialogue and action. Programming included a unity dinner, a day of community service, a Social Justice Summit, an Interfaith Creativity in Justice Dialogue, and a Sunday Service. As MLK Week drew to a close, Rosbrook led reflections on creativity and innovation in justice and on King’s vision of a more equitable and inclusive society. Durryle Brooks, PhD, delivers keynote (Photo by Mike Roy) Students participate in day of service (Photo by Mark DiOrio) Community members attend social justice summit (Photo by Andrew Daddio) Community members attend social justice summit (Photo by Andrew Daddio) Community members attend social justice summit (Photo by Andrew Daddio) Campus Life News and Updates Faculty & Staff Student ALANA MLK celebration keynote guest Durryle Brooks, PhD, founder of Love and Justice Consulting LLC (Photo by Mike Roy)
- Colgate University Designated Once Again as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. StudentsColgate University Designated Once Again as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. Students Contributing Writer For the sixth year in a row, Colgate University has been designated as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. students, Fulbright reported today in The Chronicle for Higher Education. In announcing the honor, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said, “As a diplomat, I’m proud of the Fulbright Program because it supports changemakers and fosters global cooperation on issues of shared importance. Fulbrighters strive to make the world a better place in classrooms and countries worldwide.” The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries. It is the world’s largest and most diverse international educational exchange program, facilitating cultural exchange through direct interaction on an individual basis in the classroom, field, home, and in routine tasks. During their grants, Fulbrighters meet, work, live with, and learn from the people of the host country, sharing daily experiences. Anna Gianneschi ’23, English Teaching Assistant For instance, Anna Gianneschi ’23 now serves as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in the northern Jordan city of Irbid. In her role, Gianneschi states that she “develops cultural and educational ties between Jordan and the United States through English language programming.” Not only is she teaching English at the local English center on a daily basis, but has enhanced her Arabic proficiency through classes funded by the Fulbright Critical Language Enhancement Award. Gianneschi, a peace and conflict studies major, Middle Eastern and Islamic studies, and Spanish double-minor, credits her many Colgate experiences for preparing her for her Fulbright in Jordan. “Studying in Egypt with both the monetary support of a Golden Fellowship and the emotional support of my Arabic professors definitely prepared me for life in Jordan in terms of language acquisition and cultural adaptability,” she states. Gianneschi encourages students to “stay flexible and open-minded, the right opportunity will find you.” As a sophomore, Gianneschi was also the recipient of the Boren Scholarship. The Office of National Fellowships and Scholarships (ONFS) is the advising and preparation center for the US Student Fulbright competition at Colgate. Students and alumni interested in applying for Fulbright are encouraged to reach out to Assistant Director, Meghan Niedt, mniedt@colgate.edu, to schedule an appointment.Outcomes News and Updates Alumni Student onfs
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