In-Person Commencement for the Class of 2020
Watch video of Biddy Martin’s remarks at the special, in-person Commencement for the Class of 2020, held on June 11, 2022.
Archive
Conversation with Alumni and Parents, Fall 2015
September 24, 2015—In this webcast, President Biddy Martin answered questions submitted by alumni and parents.
Convocation Address 2015
September 7, 2015—Colleges “protect the free pursuit of knowledge for the good of society,” said President Biddy Martin in her welcoming address to the Class of 2015.
Commencement Address 2015
May 24, 2015—President Biddy Martin urged the Class of 2015 to follow the example of famous alumnus and legal activist Charles Hamilton Houston and restore faith in our society’s institutions by remaking them.
Conversation with President Martin, Homecoming 2014
November 8, 2014—Introduced by Kerry Brennan ’77, chair of the Executive Committee of the Alumni Council, President Martin spoke to alumni and the campus community.
Convocation Address 2014
September 1, 2014—President Biddy Martin quoted DeMott’s idea of a good classroom as “one in which collaborators enjoy a stretch of intelligently active, sympathetic engagement with one another,” and extolled the value of both teaching and learning on campus.
Conversation with President Martin, Reunion 2014
May 31, 2014—The president was joined by Cullen Murphy ’74, chair of the Board of Trustees. Their remarks preceded the annual meeting of the Society of the Alumni, presided over by the chair, William H. Woolverton ’73, P’17, ’12.
Commencement Address 2014
May 25, 2014—Quoting poet and alumnus Richard Wilbur, President Martin urged the Class of 2014 to celebrate achievements and “ramify.”
Conversation with President Martin, Family Weekend 2013
November 2, 1013—Biddy Martin addressed parents and answered questions during her annual Family Weekend Conversation.
Conversation with President Martin, Homecoming 2013
October 19, 2013—Biddy Martin addresses alumni, families, students and friends at Homecoming, quoting from JFK’s 1963 speech at Amherst.
Convocation 2013: President Martin Urges “Bridging” Friendships
September 3, 2013—President Biddy Martin took on those who question the value of a liberal arts education.
Conversation with President Biddy Martin, Reunion 2013
June 1, 2013—During the annual meeting of the Society of the Alumni, President Biddy Martin spoke about the state of the college and answered questions from alumni.
Commencement Address 2013
May 26, 2013—Quoting the poet Rainer Maria Rilke, President Martin exhorted the graduating members of the Class of 2013 to remain true to their liberal arts educations, and “hold to your desire for thought, hold to your desire for poetry.”
Homecoming 2012
November 10, 2012—Biddy Martin spoke with alumni, families and friends about the issue of sexual respect on campus, and, more broadly, about student life at Amherst.
Convocation 2012
September 3, 2012—President Martin addressed the Class of 2016.
Commencement 2012
May 20, 2012—President Biddy Martin delivered the 191st Commencement Address at Amherst College.
Family Weekend 2011
Nov. 5, 2011—President Biddy Martin spoke to parents and families attending Family Weekend, and answered questions. She was introduced by Allen Hart, Dean of Students and professor of psychology.
Homecoming 2011
October 22, 2011—During her first Homecoming Weekend, Biddy Martin conversed with alumni and visitors about Amherst’s planned new science center, rising costs of higher education and her own visions for the future of the college.
Inauguration of Biddy Martin, 19th President of Amherst College
October 16, 2011—On Sunday, October 16, 2011 Amherst College inaugurated its 19th president, Carolyn “Biddy” Martin. After receiving her honorary degree and symbolic gifts from the college, President Martin spoke.
Convocation 2011: Welcome, “Class of Irene”
September 5, 2011—President Biddy Martin, in her first Convocation address, noted similarities between her own recent arrival and that of the Class of 2015, and urged first-years to “treasure what Amherst has and what Amherst is: an unapologetic love of inquiry.”
Introducing the 19th President of Amherst College: Biddy Martin
June 16, 2011—On Thursday, June 16, at 11 a.m., an all-college meeting was held in Johnson Chapel to introduce Biddy Martin, the 19th president of Amherst College.