In February, the Board of Managers approved the promotion of three faculty members from associate to full professorship: Historian and current Departmental Chair Bruce Dorsey is a scholar of early American, 19th-century, U.S., gender, social, and cultural history. Chair of the Department of Religion Steven Hopkins specializes in Hinduism and Buddhism in South Asia, comparative [...]

For almost two years, Swarthmore’s mascot has been known and referred to simply as the Phoenix—a species label. No matter how fabulous and fantastical the creature, the Phoenix—though by no means anonymous—had no name.
Last semester, that changed. After a two-step voting process that involved the whole student body and lasted through the fall, the Phoenix [...]

On May 8, I will be inaugurated as Swarthmore’s 14th president. Inaugurations serve several functions in the life of a college. The event can serve as an installation—a ritual marking of the opportunity and obligation of the president to join the community of students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and other constituents. Inaugurations can also [...]

With a new president of the College and a new mayor of the Borough of Swarthmore, plans are afoot for increased town-gown collaboration. Having been an active participant in Hamilton, N.Y., while president of Colgate University, Rebecca Chopp (right) is looking forward to working with her new community as president of Swarthmore.
In January, Mayor Richard [...]

When the earth shook in Haiti on Jan. 12, the rest of the world shuddered, too, in shock and horror. And although the spring semester had not yet begun, Swarthmore students, unsurprisingly, sprang into action to see how they and the College could provide relief to the more than three million Haitians affected in some [...]

Alumni Weekend 2010
June 4–6
Please join us on June 4–6 for Alumni Weekend at Swarthmore. We’re celebrating all alumni—with a special focus on those class years ending in a “0” or “5” as well as the Class of 2008. Mark your calendar now, and plan to be with us.
INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION
For more information and online registration, [...]

Elizabeth “Liz” Braun, currently dean of students at Mount Holyoke College, will become Swarthmore’s dean of students on July 1, President Rebecca Chopp announced in February.
At Mount Holyoke since 2003, Braun has supervised the offices of residential life, student programs, and disability services. She has also worked closely with the dean of the college to [...]

Women’s Swimming
(5th, Centennial Conference)
Anne Miller ’10 completed one of the most illustrious careers in Swarthmore women’s swimming history with a two-medal performance at the Centennial Conference Championships. Miller—who went undefeated in dual meets in the 2010 calendar year—won the 200 butterfly with an NCAA Division III A-cut time of 2:04.14, guaranteeing her a spot [...]

The Board of Managers has approved an $8 million package of budget adjustments recommended by the Ad Hoc Financial Planning Group intended to return the College to financial sustainability over the next three to five years.
The action, taken at the Managers’ December meeting, comes in response to the decline in the value of the College’s [...]

Another beautiful structure has arisen to grace Swarthmore’s campus. Adding to the reds, yellows, and golds of autumn, the new Wister Education Center and Greenhouse—the College’s “greenest” new construction so far—opened in early November to high expectations for a “silver” award from LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
Chosen from among more than 2,500 nominations, [...]