President Valerie Smith's Introduction of Rose Wunrow '16

A native of Montpelier, Vermont, Rose graduates today as an Honors English major and an Honors history minor with a French minor and an emphasis in creative writing. She has studied at l’Institut d’Avignon in France and the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Among her equally varied co-curricular activities, Rose has performed Flamenco dance through the Dance Program, served as a Writing Associate at the Writing Center, and competed on the OASIS spoken-word poetry team. 

This summer, Rose will travel with Kailyn Witonsky ’16 to Geneva, Switzerland, and Edinburgh, Scotland. Together, they will build a collection of interviews designed to empower future generations of women scientists. Rose’s long-term goals include studying international human rights law and pursuing an MFA in creative writing.

This passion for seeking justice through the transformative power of narrative is reflected in Rose’s internships with Narrative 4, an organization that facilitates story exchanges between groups in the midst of conflict, and with Winter Tangerine Review, a literary and arts journal where Rose developed a spotlight series on capital punishment.

Rose’s contributions to Swarthmore and to the world speak to the powerful connections between the arts and social change, and we are proud that today she becomes a Swarthmore alumna. I am delighted to welcome Rose to the podium as the speaker for the Class of 2016.