Jonathan Alger ’86 Named President of American University
March 19th, 2024
Jonathan Alger ’86 was recently named the 16th president of American University and will assume the role on July 1. He has served as the president at James Madison University for the past 12 years.
Swarthmore Students, State Rep. Jared Solomon ’01 Rally at Capitol for Election Reform
November 8th, 2023
Nearly 20 Swarthmore students traveled to the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg over fall break to advocate for nonpartisan election reform through a rally and meetings with state representatives.
Honoring Legacy of Roz Zander ’64, Director of Sustainability Elizabeth Drake to Deliver McCabe Lecture
October 4th, 2023
Drake is set to deliver the annual McCabe Lecture on “The Climate Crisis and the Power of Possibility” at Garnet Weekend. Zander was scheduled to give this year’s lecture, but passed away on September 5.
Five Alumni Join Board of Managers
July 11th, 2023
The Swarthmore College Board of Managers welcomed five distinguished alumni to its ranks, effective July 1: Sean Decatur ’90, Lia Haskin Fernald ’94, Ayanna Johnson ’09, Paul E. Kuenstner ’80, and Gaurav Seth ’98.
Conductors, Colleagues, and Confidants: Andrew Kim '18, Shira Samuels-Shragg '20 Thrive in Musical Careers
March 31st, 2023
Just a few short years after graduating from Swarthmore, Andrew Kim ʼ18 and Shira Samuels-Shragg ʼ20 have had remarkable success in their early conducting careers.
Ann E. Cudd ’82 Named President of Portland State University
March 22nd, 2023
Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor at the University of Pittsburgh Ann E. Cudd ’82 has been named president of Portland State University and will begin her new role in the 2023-2024 academic year.
Architect, Economic Justice Advocate, and Wildlife Conservationists Named 2023 Honorary Degree Recipients
March 8th, 2023
During Swarthmore College’s 151st Commencement ceremony on May 21, President Valerie Smith will award honorary degrees to four distinguished alumni: architect Marianne McKenna ’72, USDA administrator Karama Neal ’93, and wildlife conservationists Bill Weber ’72 and Amy Vedder ’73.
In Honor of Political Journalist Victor Navasky '54 H'84
January 25th, 2023
New York Times: Victor S. Navasky, a Leading Liberal Voice in Journalism, Dies at 90
Sean Decatur ’90 Tapped to Lead American Museum of Natural History
December 8th, 2022
Sean Decatur ’90, president of Kenyon College, has been named the next president of the American Museum of Natural History. Decatur will become the museum’s first Black leader.
Alumni Win Elections in Three States
November 9th, 2022
At least three Swarthmore alumni were elected to statewide political office on Nov. 8: Josh Green ’92 H’22, was elected governor of Hawaii, Chris Van Hollen ’83 H’14 was re-elected to represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate, and Phil Weiser ’90 was re-elected as attorney general of Colorado.
A New Book by Daniel Laurison ’99 Explores How a “Privileged Few” Shape Politics
October 24th, 2022
Daniel Laurison ’99’s research focuses on deep inequalities in political participation and engagement and inequalities in “who gets listened to by politicians and political parties.”
Swarthmore College Names New Board Chair, Vice-Chair
May 9th, 2022
During its most recent meeting in May, the Swarthmore College Board of Managers announced that Harold “Koof” Kalkstein ’78 will serve as the Board’s next chair, and that Sujatha Srinivasan ’01 will be the Board’s next vice-chair. They will assume their respective positions on July 1.
Poet Daisy Fried ’89 Returns to Swarthmore to Read from Latest Book
March 10th, 2022
Daisy Fried ’89 returned to Swarthmore recently to share selections from her most recent book, The Year the City Emptied: After Baudelaire, a collection of translations of French poet Charles Baudelaire.
Taking Ownership
March 3rd, 2022
Entrepreneurship may not be one of the first things to spring to mind with the liberal arts, but it’s becoming increasingly important to the fabric of Swarthmore.
Swarthmore Faculty and Alumna Examine Russia-Ukraine War at Community Forums
March 8th, 2022
Amid the rapid acceleration of a new Russia-Ukraine war, Swarthmore presented two forums last week in which the College community considered both its historical context and present horror.
