NEW LONDON, Conn. —  Connecticut College will formally inaugurate Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D., as its 12th president during an investiture ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 26, in the Athey Center for Performance and Research at Palmer Auditorium. The event is the centerpiece of a week of activities on campus highlighting the College’s mission and the enduring value of a liberal arts education.

President Chapdelaine, appointed unanimously by the Board of Trustees in March 2024, brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education as a professor, dean, provost and president. She previously served as president of Hood College in Maryland and is recognized for her strategic leadership and commitment to the liberal arts.

The investiture ceremony will feature remarks from distinguished guests and community members. A community picnic, games and live music on Tempel Green will follow the ceremony. Doors open at 10:30 a.m.; guests are asked to be seated by 10:45 a.m. A livestream and overflow viewing in Evans Hall, Cummings Art Center, will be available.

Inauguration Week Highlights:

Connecticut College will host a range of events open to the media and the campus community:

• April 21: Earth Day Kick-off, Tempel Green, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
• April 23: Chapswap — President Chapdelaine and a student exchange roles for the day
• April 25: Arbor Day Celebration, Chapel Green, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., including tree tours, educational displays, a tree dedication in honor of the inauguration (3:30 p.m.), and the “InDOGuration” of Koda, the First Dog (12:30 p.m.)
• April 26: Investiture Ceremony, Athey Center, 11 a.m.; Community Picnic on Tempel Green; Spring Choral and Orchestra Concert, Evans Hall, 6 p.m.
•  April 27: 18th Annual Walk to End Homelessness, New London Parade Plaza, 1 p.m.; POCA Fashion Show, 1962 Room, 7 p.m.

A full schedule and event details are available at www.conncoll.edu/presidential-inauguration.

What: Inauguration of President Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D.

Who: President Chapdelaine, Board of Trustees, faculty, students, alumni, community members

When: Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 11 a.m. (doors open 10:30 a.m.)

Where: Athey Center for Performance and Research at Palmer Auditorium, Connecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave., New London, CT

Media Access:
Media are invited to cover the inauguration. Check-in begins at 9:30 a.m. at Palmer Auditorium. Space is limited. Please RSVP by April 23. Media interested in attending should RSVP to Christina Flowers at cflowers@conncoll.edu or (860) 439-2109.

NEW LONDON, Conn. — The Commencement Student Speaker Selection Committee has announced that Natalia Hall ’25, a double major in architectural studies and art history from San Francisco, California, will deliver the student address at Connecticut College’s 107th Commencement.

Hall’s speech will accompany remarks from keynote speaker Maxim Langstaff ’81, a Grammy- and Emmy-nominated multimedia writer and producer, on Sunday, May 18, 2025.

Known for her thoughtful storytelling and creative leadership, Hall has pursued a dynamic academic and artistic path at Conn. She served as an Admission ambassador, a teaching assistant, co-chair of the Architectural Studies Student Advisory Board, and is an active member of the Dance Club. Her interest in the human experience through space and form has been the foundation of her studies and creative work.

“Connecticut College has been a life-changing place for me,” said Hall. “To the faculty and staff, thank you for your endless support, patience and dedication. I am deeply grateful for all that you’ve done for us.”

Earlier this year, Hall was selected to speak at Conn’s [Un]Freedom Colloquium, where she presented original research on how post-WWII urban planning shaped development and policy in New London. Her senior integrative project took her to Greece and Italy, where she interned with the Archaeological Conservation Institute, helping to conserve second-century mosaics in an ancient Roman villa.

After graduation, Hall plans to work as a freelance designer in New York before pursuing a graduate degree in architecture and design.

Learn more about Commencement 2025 at www.conncoll.edu/commencement.

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NEW LONDON, Conn. — Connecticut College faculty are pioneering new approaches to research and education through digital scholarship and open-access learning. Their latest projects explore innovative methodologies in historical research, anthropology, and filmmaking—expanding access to knowledge beyond traditional academic settings.

Three faculty members will showcase their recently published projects, which utilize digital publishing and open pedagogy to advance scholarship and enhance student learning:

• Kris Klein Hernández (History) – Beyond the Archives (Western Reserve Project) investigates the ways digital archives reshape historical narratives. The project critically examines archival sources related to Mexican American history and provides an interactive platform for students and researchers to engage with primary materials.
  
  
• Anthony Graesch (Anthropology) – The Kw’éts’tel Project (Kw’éts’tel Project) is a digital anthropology initiative documenting Indigenous material culture. Through collaboration with Indigenous communities, the project explores the role of cultural artifacts in shaping identity, tradition, and historical memory.
  
  
• Ross Morin (Film Studies) – Filmmaking Unpacked (Filmmaking Unpacked) is an open-access podcast and written audiobook designed as a free educational resource for aspiring filmmakers. The project provides insight into the craft of filmmaking, industry ethics, and the psychological impact of storytelling.

Each of these projects highlights the increasing role of digital tools in shaping scholarly research and making academic knowledge more widely accessible. By leveraging digital archives, interactive platforms, and open-access publishing, Connecticut College faculty are not only advancing their respective fields but also democratizing education.

New London, Conn. — Connecticut College will host the grand opening of its Disability Cultural Center on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, marking 40 years of disability advocacy at the institution. The event, themed “Disability is No Joke: 1985-2025,” will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony, guest speakers and a reception from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. A “Disability Dialogue” will follow at 6:30 p.m. in Smith House, first floor.

The celebration will honor the legacy of disability advocacy at Conn and highlight the progress made since the movement's inception in 1984. Alumnus John Sharon '86, who spearheaded early efforts to improve campus accessibility, will be a featured speaker. Sharon, a physical disability advocate with cerebral palsy, initiated a demonstration with 10 fellow students using wheelchairs to illustrate the lack of accessibility on campus.

The new Center will showcase artwork created by artists with disabilities and feature students utilizing the space. The event will also highlight the College’s commitment to accessibility, including recent facility improvements and the expansion of disability-related academic offerings such as “Disability in Media,” “ASL,” “FYS” and “ASL in Art.”

A media preview with honored guests, including Sharon, previous directors of Student Accessibility Services, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and students, will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Service dogs will be present.

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New London, Conn. — A new National Science Foundation (NSF) grant will support a major effort to synthesize decades of research on protists—microscopic organisms that play a vital role in aquatic ecosystems but remain largely understudied. Connecticut College botany professor Peter Siver will lead the project, which aims to consolidate his extensive research on these organisms, making it more accessible for future scientists studying microbial ecology, climate change, and evolutionary biology.

Funded through NSF’s Opportunities for Promoting Understanding through Synthesis (OPUS) program, the project will integrate findings from Siver’s lifelong study of silica-scaled chrysophytes, a group of protists found in freshwater environments. His work has provided critical insights into how these microorganisms contribute to nutrient cycling, ecosystem stability, and species migration over geological time.

“This research will help us better understand how microscopic life influences and responds to environmental change,” Siver said. “By synthesizing decades of data, we can provide a clearer picture of how these organisms have shaped aquatic ecosystems and what their role might be in future climate scenarios.”

Siver, recent research includes two landmark studies: one identifying an exceptionally preserved fossil of microscopic algae, reshaping the understanding of algal evolution (Scientific Reports), and another documenting fossilized palm phytoliths in Arctic Canada, offering new insights into ancient climate conditions (Annals of Botany).

“This project provides an opportunity to integrate decades of work on protists and highlight their vital role in shaping aquatic ecosystems over millions of years,” Siver said. “By making these findings accessible, we can better understand how microorganisms influence climate history and biodiversity.”

The NSF grant, totaling $204,499, will allow Siver to integrate these and other findings into a comprehensive resource for future research, ensuring that critical data on protists remains accessible to scientists studying Earth’s environmental history.