Reunion 2023 Schedule

All Black alumni and friends are invited to stop by this historic center throughout Reunion to spend time reconnecting with old friends and meeting new friends in our own dedicated "lounge" space!

Gerald Penny ’77 Black Cultural Center, The Octagon

Stop by for registration, schedules of class activities, messages, information on the Amherst area and light refreshments. Telephone: (413) 542–2065.

Alumni House, 75 Churchill Street

Join Jane and Robert Keiter Family Executive Director Jane Wald for a walking exploration of the restoration of Emily Dickinson's Homestead. The Museum reopened in 2022 after its greatest restoration campaign yet. Learn about the forensic and documentary evidence that resulted in the period treatments seen today. Tours begin at 3:30 and 4:15 p.m. and run for 30 minutes each. Please sign up in advance.

Emily Dickinson Museum, 280 Main Street

All Black alumni and friends are invited to stop by this historic center throughout Reunion to spend time reconnecting with old friends and meeting new friends in our own dedicated "lounge" space! 

Gerald Penny ’77 Black Cultural Center, The Octagon

Stop by for registration, schedules of class activities, messages, information on the Amherst area and light refreshments. Telephone: (413) 542–2065.

Alumni House, 75 Churchill Street

Get inspired by the current exhibitions and collections in the Mead! Family-friendly activities will be available throughout Reunion to tap into visitors’ creativity and expand on artworks on view. Create a collage about the places, people and symbols important to you and your culture, inspired by Ndjeka Akunyili Crosby’s artwork Nyado: The Thing Around Her Neck, from God Made My Face: A Collective Portrait of James Baldwin. Imagine and draw the original buildings and spaces of objects featured in the exhibition Architectural Ghosts. Add some color to objects from the Mead’s permanent collection with coloring sheets created by Charissa Doerr ’20. Finally, feel free to show off your photography skills and share your masterpiece by tagging the Mead (@MeadArtMuseum) on social media. All materials provided; children must be accompanied by a caregiver. Museum visitation hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (extended until 10 p.m. on Thursday).

Mead Art Museum

In this lecture, Marc Edwards, Assistant Professor of Biology, will share how his research program works to develop a deep mechanistic understanding of how cells move and how the Edwards Laboratory aims to train the next generation of scientists. Professor Edwards was recently featured in an episode of "Between 2 Mammoths". Professor Edwards will chart the lessons he’s learned and the discoveries he’s made together with students during his time at Amherst College.

Cole Assembly Room, Converse Hall

Psychological research suggests that parents play a critical role in teaching children about emotions and how to regulate them. Parents may react to children’s emotions in ways that are supportive and help them to understand and effectively regulate their emotions, or in ways that are unsupportive and communicate that emotions are not acceptable. How parents react to children’s emotions can then have downstream effects on children’s social adjustment and their risk for developing psychological disorders. In this talk, Julia McQuade, Chair and Associate Professor of Psychology, will present research from her lab at Amherst College that examines how parents influence the emotional development of children with attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), who often experience challenges regulating their emotions. Her work suggests that, although parents do play an important role in shaping children’s emotional capacities, not all children respond to parent behaviors in the same way.

Cole Assembly Room, Converse Hall

Tour the former U.S. Strategic Air Command (Northeast Command) nuclear communications bunker and learn of its history, led by Aaron Hayden, the College’s Capital Projects Manager and the unofficial authority on the history of the Bunker. The Bunker has served as the Amherst College Book Depository since its purchase by the College in 1992. Each tour is limited to 30 people. Please sign up in advance online or by phone at 413-542-2313. If space is available, you may sign up on-site at the Alumni House Reception Center (75 Churchill Street). Please note: You will need to provide your own transportation to and from the Bunker.

Amherst Bunker, 100 Military Drive, off Route 116 in the Holyoke Range

Join Maria Timina, Curator of Russian and European Art, for a talk on the Amherst Center for Russian Culture’s exhibition "Fragments of Utopia: Photographs from the VKhUTEMAS Workshops." The VKhUTEMAS was one of the world’s leading centers for innovation in arts education based in Moscow in the 1920s. Its visionary pedagogy was rooted in the artistic theories and practices of the leaders of the avant-garde movement who taught there—among them Alexandra Exter, Ivan Kliun, El Lissitzky, Lubov Popova, Aleksandr Rodchenko, Vladimir Tatlin, and others. The lasting influence of the VKhUTEMAS on the development of modern art, design, and architecture is often compared to that of the Bauhaus. The Soviet school, however, was several times larger and yet is far less well-known. The Center's exhibition features photographs of student exercises and projects alongside artwork by their professors. Taken together, these works offer glimpses into the historic VKhUTEMAS—fragments of a lost utopia.

The Amherst Center for Russian Culture, 202 Webster Hall

Academic freedom today is in distress. Conservative state legislatures have passed bills eradicating tenure and banning the teaching of controversial topics. Disturbing anecdotes circulate about intolerant and censorious students. A growing administrative class stands accused of chilling the speech of faculty and students alike. In the background, increasing numbers of professors teach and research on short-term contracts, lacking the protections of tenure. In this lecture, Adam Sitze, the John E. Kirkpatrick 1951 Professor in Law, Jurisprudence and Social Thought, will consider these events and dynamics in relation to the history of academic theory more generally. At the core of this lecture will be a question: Are our received doctrines of academic freedom adequate to the crises we face today? And if not, how might we rethink and renew those doctrines so that academic freedom can endure into the future?

Cole Assembly Room, Converse Hall

Join Museum Educator Fred Venne and Student Docents for a walk through the Beneski Museum of Natural History, which houses outstanding collections and exhibits that include vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology, minerals and other geologic specimens collected locally and from around the world since 1825. Particularly noteworthy is the world-famous dinosaur track collection. Bring your cameras.

Beneski Museum of Natural History

To kick off a weekend of Reunion programming, staff members from across the Mead’s various departments will be stationed in the galleries and ready to greet visiting alumni. Come for the friendly faces and conversation, and learn more about the exhibitions, the artworks and what’s going on at the museum. 

Mead Art Museum

Screening of Richard Wilbur: Keeping the Difficult Balance

A 179-minute adaptation of the longer opus Richard Wilbur and the Things of This World, Keeping the Difficult Balance has won worldwide recognition in over a score of film festivals. The film’s two parts place particular focus on the effects of World War II on poet Richard Wilbur ’42’s worldview—and the transcendence of age and loss to create a vast and meaningful body of work. In both documentaries, visits with Wilbur are complemented with a wealth of photographs from his family albums and revealing glimpses into his home, studio and libraries in Cummington, Mass., as filmmaker and friend Ralph Hammann builds an elegiac portrait of an exemplary man who calls us to the best versions of ourselves. Join the filmmaker for a special screening of the film, which features Wilbur’s final readings of many of his poems and interviews with such luminaries as Brian Bedford, Stephen Sondheim, Rhina P. Espaillat, Dana Gioia, Donald Hall, Barry Moser, Austin Pendleton, John Simon, David Sofield, A.E. Stallings, William Blakemore, and biographers Robert Bagg ’57 and Mary Bagg.

Stirn Auditorium

All Black alumni and friends are invited to stop by this historic center throughout Reunion to spend time reconnecting with old friends and meeting new friends in our own dedicated "lounge" space!

Gerald Penny ’77 Black Cultural Center, The Octagon

Stop by for registration, schedules of class activities, messages, information on the Amherst area and light refreshments. Telephone: (413) 542–2065.

Alumni House, 75 Churchill Street

Tour the former U.S. Strategic Air Command (Northeast Command) nuclear communications bunker and learn of its history, led by Aaron Hayden, the College’s Capital Projects Manager and the unofficial authority on the history of the Bunker. The Bunker has served as the Amherst College Book Depository since its purchase by the College in 1992. Each tour is limited to 30 people. Please sign up in advance online or by phone at 413-542-2313. If space is available, you may sign up on-site at the Alumni House Reception Center (75 Churchill Street). Please note: You will need to provide your own transportation to and from the Bunker.

Amherst Bunker, 100 Military Drive, off Route 116 in the Holyoke Range

Though he feels he is no expert, Emmanuel Aronie ’68 has deep roots in Ukraine. Three of his grandparents were born there. His first trip to Ukraine was in 1989 as part of a 25-day curiosity tour of the Soviet Union. He lived in Ukraine for most of 1992, 1995 and 1999. Because of other seasonal visits, his passport is stamped “Ukraine” or “Ukr” more than 50 times. He has lived in Ukraine since Aug. 10, 2022. Among other things, he has been leading English-language seminars and participating in an English-language movie club. In this presentation, he plans to address three questions: 1. What is daily life like? 2. How do Ukrainians feel about all the aid they are receiving, humanitarian and military? 3. What is the endgame of the current war with Russia and beyond? Presented by the Class of 1968.

Cole Assembly Room, Converse Hall

Get inspired by the current exhibitions and collections in the Mead! Family-friendly activities will be available throughout Reunion to tap into visitors’ creativity and expand on artworks on view: Create a collage about the places, people and symbols important to you and your culture inspired by Ndjeka Crosby's artwork “Nyado: A Thing Around Her Neck”, from God Made My Face: A Collective Portrait of James Baldwin. Imagine and draw the original buildings and spaces of objects featured in the exhibition Architectural Ghosts. Add some color to objects from the Mead’s permanent collection with coloring sheets created by Charissa Doer ’20. Finally, feel free to show off your photography skills and share your masterpiece by tagging the Mead (@MeadArtMuseum) on social media. All materials provided; children must be accompanied by a caregiver. Museum visitation hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mead Art Museum

Amherst owns and runs a working farm, Book & Plow Farm. It grows all manner of produce and supplies Valentine Dining Hall. And the produce is local: the farm is just a 15-minute walk from campus. There we’ll meet Farm Managers Maida Ives and Kaylee Brow for a tour of the Core Site and a (kid-friendly) farm activity, from 9 to 11 a.m. We’ll go rain or shine, but cancel for thunder and lightning. Maps to the farm will be available at the Alumni House Reception Center, and parking is available for people who prefer to drive. You are also welcome to visit the farm at any point during the weekend to enjoy the view!

Book & Plow Farm Greenhouse on Tuttle Hill, 425 South East Street, Amherst

Join Jane and Robert Keiter Family Executive Director Jane Wald for a walking exploration of the restoration of Emily Dickinson's Homestead. The Museum reopened in 2022 after its greatest restoration campaign yet. Learn about the forensic and documentary evidence that resulted in the period treatments seen today. Tours begin at 9 and 9:45 a.m. and run for 30 minutes each. Please sign up in advance.

Emily Dickinson Museum, 280 Main Street

Come learn about the technology behind DALL-E 2, GPT-4 and other artificial intelligences poised to take over the world. Scott Alfeld, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, will describe how AI works, how it will affect virtually every industry in the world, and how students and faculty at Amherst College are engaging with it. In addition, he will discuss the security ramifications of deploying AI techniques and how he and others are working to harden them against would-be attackers. Presented by the Class of 1958.

Stirn Auditorium

Featuring William Taubman, the Bertrand Snell Professor of Political Science, Emeritus, whose biography of Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev won a Pulitzer Prize in 2004. He’s also written a biography of Mikhail Gorbachev and other books on Russian politics. He will talk about what he’s learned about how, when and why a political leader makes a decisive difference in world history. Professor Taubman will be interviewed by Mark Gerchick ’73, P’13. Presented by the Class of 1973.

Johnson Chapel

Aaron Hayden, the College’s Capital Projects Manager, will give a short talk on the history of the steeple, its place on campus in the formative years of the College, and the Howe Chimes in its belfry. The church to which the steeple was attached was donated by the son of President William Augustus Stearns to be a centerpiece on campus and in campus life. The chimes were donated in honor of the members of the Amherst College community who died in the “Great War Between the States.” Aaron will play tunes on the chimes that might have been played when they were new—as well as some other favorites.

Neuhoff Sculpture Court, in front of the Mead Art Museum

Join the Class of 1963 and the Senior Director of Alumni and Constituent Engagement Fritz Kuhnlenz as they dive into data surrounding alumni engagement, strategic planning, and developing ways to enhance and grow connection between the College and its alumni. There will be a brief presentation, followed by a brainstorming session with the audience and fellow leaders of several alumni class cohorts. Additional alumni participants include Alan Bernstein ’63, P’94 and Miguel Gonzalez ’03. Presented by the Classes of 1963 and 2003.

Friedmann Room, Keefe Campus Center

Join Museum Educator Fred Venne and Student Docents for a walk through the Beneski Museum of Natural History, which houses outstanding collections and exhibits that include vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology, minerals and other geologic specimens collected locally and from around the world since 1825. Particularly noteworthy is the world-famous dinosaur track collection. Bring your cameras.

Beneski Museum of Natural History

Drawing on his 10 years with Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and 30 years as hospice medical director, Dr. Larry Lincoln ’68 will introduce some of his best life teachers, the men and women who resisted, struggled, surrendered and welcomed their final transition. Presented by the Class of 1968.

Lipton Lecture Hall (E110), Science Center

If you know Ruby Rowat ’93 and her trapeze work from our time at Amherst and previous reunions, you won’t want to miss this workshop letting us in on the evolution of some of her professional practice. Here we’ll learn about—and participate in—TaKeTiNa, an uplifting call-and-response process incorporating rhythm and movement. Peter Conroy ’93, Founder of The Difference App, will lead a Q&A with Ruby as well. Presented by the Class of 1993.

The Powerhouse

Come visit old friends and hear about what is going on in ACF. Drop by anytime between 1-2:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided. Hosted by Anthony Spina ’17, ACF Advisor and InterVarsity Affiliate.

Pemberton Lounge (formerly Chapin Lounge), Chapin Hall

The panel will feature a physician whose mentor helped shape his career as an inventor and led to a world-famous program that finds and fosters inventors. A minister and another physician will talk about mentoring younger colleagues (and being trained to do so effectively). The hope is that the panel will be useful to classes of many eras. Speakers include Dr. Jonathan B. Hayden ’73, former Clinical Division Chief of General Internal Medicine at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine; Charles E. (Ted) Wright, MDiv, ’73, P’04, Presbyterian pastor for 44 years, including four in Africa; and Dr. Paul G. Yock ’73, H’07, Emeritus Professor of Medicine at Stanford University and Founder of the Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign. Moderated by David Brown ’73, former science reporter at The Washington Post. Presented by the Class of 1973.

Stirn Auditorium

A mission concept since the 1990s, the James Webb Space Telescope is now a reality, which has exceeded all expectations of performance and sensitivity, revealing the farthest galaxies, the coldest brown dwarfs and the atmospheric composition of exoplanets and cloud layers in Jupiter in infrared wavelengths that are invisible to our eyes. In this talk, Daniella Bardalez Gagliuffi, Assistant Professor of Astronomy, will review the most recent and most impactful JWST discoveries during its first year of operation, with a particular emphasis on exoplanets and the lowest mass stars. Presented by the Class of 1958.

Cole Assembly Room, Converse Hall

Drop in to learn more about the Multicultural Resource Center, Queer Resource Center, Women’s & Gender Center, Center for International Student Engagement, Class & Access Resource Center and Center for Religious & Spiritual Life and connect with some of the OICR staff. Drop-in session ends at 4 p.m.

Atrium, Keefe Campus Center

Climate mitigation efforts continue to fall far short of what is required to limit further warming. U.S. Sen. Chris Coons ’85 of Delaware (via prerecorded video); Jim Boyce, Professor Emeritus of Economics at UMass and international consultant on environmental issues; and Melissa Hoffer, Massachusetts Climate Chief, will discuss major initiatives at the federal and state levels that they see having the greatest potential impact, what it will take to get those initiatives realized and how we best can channel our efforts to support them. Presented by the Class of 1968.

Lipton Lecture Hall (E110), Science Center

Individuals or groups of alumni can perform music, stand-up, poetry or any other creative performance at this special Coffee Haus: Reunion Edition. Prior to this open mic event, participants are asked to sign up in advance. Light refreshments will be served. Presented by the Class of 2018.

Friedmann Room, Keefe Campus Center

The path from medical school doesn’t always lead to a physician’s practice. Kathleen Knag Berchelmann ’98 started her career as an academic pediatrician, serving as faculty at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine for more than 10 years. In 2018, together with her husband, Greg Berchelmann ’99, she founded MyCatholicDoctor, a nationwide telehealth organization committed to making Catholic health care accessible. Kathleen will reflect on ways that doctors can forge nontraditional paths in the medical field and the motivation to do so in the rapidly changing field of healthcare. Presented by the Class of 1998.

Pruyne Lecture Hall, Fayerweather Hall

Presented by the Class of 1958.

Music Room 3, Arms Music Center

Spend an hour with a provisioner, an activist investor and a food systems professor, sampling and discussing “free” food. Come and share your food memories from Amherst and through the years and be inspired to join the movement supporting a sustainable food future. Panelists include Joseph Flueckiger, Executive Director of Dining Services and Hospitality Services, Amherst College; Andrew Kendall ’83, H’11, P’19,’22, Executive Director, Henry P. Kendall Foundation; and Esther Trakinski ’83, Food Systems Specialist and Adjunct Professor, NYU Law School and Fordham University School of Law. Presented by the Class of 1983.

Lewis-Sebring Commons, Valentine Hall

Turn Every Page — The Adventures of Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb

Lizzie Gottlieb ’93, P’25’s film about the 50-year collaboration between two literary titans—writer Robert Caro, author of The Power Broker, and legendary book and New Yorker magazine editor Robert Gottlieb (Lizzie’s father)—in a race against time to finish their life’s work. The film was named one of the five best documentaries of the year by the National Board of Review and was a New York Times critic’s pick. The paper called it “tantalizing … filled with wit, affection and detailed stories.” The Class of 1993 will host a screening, followed by a discussion with Lizzie. Runtime: 112 minutes, with 20-minute discussion to follow. Presented by the Class of 1993.

Stirn Auditorium

Come and join us for an LGBTQ+ alumni reception. This informal gathering will be a chance for LGBTQ+ alumni and their families to come together in community and celebration during Reunion weekend. Join us to share, celebrate and uplift the experiences of Amherst's queer and trans alumni. All are welcome!

Queer Resource Center, Keefe Campus Center

Mead Art Museum’s New Chapter: Discussion and Tour of God Made My Face: A Collective Portrait of James Baldwin

Following an extended closure, the Mead Art Museum reopened in January 2023 with a newly appointed director and an exciting vision for its future. Join Loretta Howard ’83, Vice Chair of the Mead Art Museum Advisory Board, and Siddhartha V. Shah, the John Wieland 1958 Director, for a conversation about the Mead’s new chapter and how the museum can help students become more thoughtful and compassionate members of society. Lisa Crossman, Director of Curatorial Affairs, will also lead a tour of the exhibition God Made My Face: A Collective Portrait of James Baldwin. The exhibition presents works from iconic artists such as Richard Avedon, Marlene Dumas, Alice Neel and Kara Walker alongside archival materials to explore the life, work and legacy of James Baldwin (1924–87), who served as professor and Distinguished Fellow at UMass Amherst,1983–86, finding a home within the W.E.B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies and teaching students from across the Five Colleges. The exhibition is curated by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Hilton Als, a featured Presidential Scholar at Amherst in 2023. Als is best known for his extensive body of cultural criticism and is increasingly appreciated for his curatorial work, including the exhibitions Toni Morrison’s Black Book and Joan Didion: What She Means. Presented by the Class of 1983.

Mead Art Museum

This discussion will focus on the ways in which the tumultuous events of the current historical moment—from the protests following the murder of George Floyd to the insurrection of Jan. 6—have reshaped, revitalized or redirected the activism of several members of the Class of 1988. Panelists include Patricia Spencer Favreau ’88, P’24, Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, Church Pension Group; Erica Stracher Fields ’88, Research and Evaluation Associate, Education Development Center and poet/blogger; Lynn Wood Mollenauer ’88, Co-Founder of the 1898 Legacies and Futures Research Collective at the University of North Carolina Wilmington; Charles Myers ’88, P’26, Chairman and Co-Founder, Signum Global Advisors; and Flora Stamatiades ’88, Associate Vice President, Leadership Transitions, Arts Consulting Group, and political activist. Presented by the Class of 1988.

Kirby Memorial Theater

Coming through the COVID-19 pandemic, facing current culture wars and confronting fractured media consumption, many Americans feel politics (and politicians) have caused deepening rifts among neighbors and families. Our panelists have seen the realities of these partisan divisions—and shifting political demographics—from multiple vantage points, as candidates, campaign managers and academics. Catherine Cugell Rombeau ’98 was first elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives in September 2021 and serves in a state legislature evenly split by party lines. Irene Lin ’98 has worked as a campaign manager in the Midwest, and can speak to the growing divisions between rural and urban communities. Sue McWilliams Barndt ’98 is a Professor of Politics at Pomona College who sits on the Executive Council of the American Political Science Association and whose work focuses on American political thought. Dermond Thomas ’98 was re-elected this year as a Trustee in the village of Valley Stream, N.Y., and oversees municipal administration after campaigning as part of a bipartisan coalition. They will discuss their perspectives on the increasing divide in American political culture and thoughts on how we govern going forward. Presented by the Class of 1998.

Johnson Chapel

Jesse Carr ’73, Ken Gold ’73, P’11, Greg Hayes ’73, Paul Salerni ’73 and Scott Wheeler ’73 present a program of vocal and instrumental music by Carr, Salerni and Wheeler, concluding with the Brahms Academic Festival Overture for eight hands at two pianos. The program includes settings of Amherst poets Emily Dickinson, David Ferry ’46, Robert Frost and Richard Wilbur ’42. Guest performers include Sarah Chalfy (soprano), George Kaye (bass) and Claire Arenius (drums). The Amherst Glee Club and Conductor Arianne Abela will appear on video in two premieres, both dedicated to the memory of Professor Lewis Spratlan. Presented by the Class of 1973.

Buckley Recital Hall, Arms Music Center

Global warming arguably is the most important issue of our time and certainly will affect the lives of every Amherst student for decades to come. To provide a picture of how Amherst is addressing climate issues, Wes Dripps ’92, Director of Sustainability, will speak about key climate initiatives on campus, and Nick Holschuh, Assistant Professor of Geology, will talk about how climate education works into the current curriculum. They will also be joined by Sara Zhu ’24, Sustainability Assessment Fellow with the Office of Sustainability. To be followed by a panel discussion on how Amherst can lead the way in the fight against climate change. Presented by the Class of 1968.

Lipton Lecture Hall (E110), Science Center

Join President Michael A. Elliott and others from the College for conversation and celebration. All are welcome. Reception ends at 6:30 p.m.

Valentine Quad

Join the Amherst Society of Black Alumni (ASBA) for a reception held in our beloved space, The Octagon. Gather and connect with fellow alumni of color for discussions of community and culture. ASBA was formulated to engage and connect the Black alumni of Amherst College for support, professional development and cultivation, so this reception will serve as an opportunity to meet fellow alumni in line with this mission. Light refreshments will be served.

Gerald Penny ’77 Black Cultural Center, The Octagon

All Black alumni and friends are invited to stop by this historic center throughout Reunion to spend time reconnecting with old friends and meeting new friends in our own dedicated "lounge" space! 

Gerald Penny ’77 Black Cultural Center, The Octagon

Stop by for registration, schedules of class activities, messages, information on the Amherst area and light refreshments. Telephone: (413) 542–2065.

Alumni House, 75 Churchill Street

Join us for a 3-mile loop, starting at the War Memorial. There will be some remarks about the life of Charlie Rapp ’93 and a moment of silence. All are welcome to join. Presented by the Class of 1993.

Meet at War Memorial, Memorial Hill

For 1,900 years, since the time of Aristotle,  most philosophers and scientists believed that all celestial objects orbited the Earth. Then, in 1543, Nicolaus Copernicus, a Renaissance polymath, presented a sun-centered view. In 1610, Galileo’s discovery of the phases of Venus overturned the Earth-centered view and bolstered the heliocentrism of Copernicus. More revolutions followed: In the early 1900s, Harlow Shapley demonstrated that the sun was not at the center of our Milky Way Galaxy. In 1929, Edwin Hubble discovered that ours was just one of many galaxies. Gaining acceptance in the 1990s, the Big Bang model is associated with the idea that there is no preferred or special observer. Another Copernican revolution may be emerging: recently, reputable witnesses have testified that highly intelligent extraterrestrial beings have been visiting us. This theory is compatible with the existence of wormholes. Presenter George Roush ’68 needs your help in answering this question: Is this testimony credible? Presented by the Class of 1968.

Lipton Lecture Hall (E110), Science Center

This panel of Amherst graduates spanning the past 60 years will share their perspectives, critiques and proposals on progress in the pursuit of diversity in the United States, with an emphasis on higher education but also how diversity in that area conditions diversity in other aspects of American life. Panelists include Julie Ajinkya ’03, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at APIA Scholars, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization devoted to the academic, personal and professional success of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans; Kyndall Ashe ’18, Senior Account Manager at LinkedIn and the Communications Chair of the Amherst Society of Black Alumni; Charles Myers ’88, P’26, Founder and Chair of Signum Global Advisors and member of the Board of Trustees of the Central Park Conservancy and the Board of the Mayor’s Fund for NYC; and Hugh Price ’63, H’98, former President of the National Urban League and longtime civil rights leader, activist and public intellectual. Presented by the Classes of 1963, 1988, 2003 and 2018.

Johnson Chapel

A close and frank look, many years later, at the experiences of the first women students at Amherst. 1976 saw the first female Amherst senior to graduate, followed by a few in the Class of ’77. But the class of ’78 included women who transferred in as sophomores and juniors, and 46 women graduated with that class. Why did women transfer into the Class of 1978? Was Amherst really as inhospitable to women then as people today assume it was? What did the men in the class think? Their professors? What are the women of ’78 doing now, and what are their views of their time at Amherst? Panelists include Sandy Hecker ’78, Hilary Umans ’83, Drew Casertano ’78, P’05, and Rick Griffiths, Class of 1880 Professor in Greek (Classics) at Amherst College, 1972–present. Presented by the Classes of 1978 and 1983.

Buckley Recital Hall, Arms Music Center

A morning hike through the Wildlife Sanctuary. Presented by the Classes of 2008 and 2018.

Meet outside the entrance to Wieland Hall

Get inspired by the current exhibitions and collections in the Mead! Family-friendly activities will be available throughout Reunion to tap into visitors’ creativity and expand on artworks on view: Create a collage about the places, people, and symbols important to you and your culture inspired by Ndjeka  Akunyili Crosby’s artwork Nyado: The Thing Around Her Neck, from God Made My Face: A Collective Portrait of James Baldwin. Imagine and draw the original buildings and spaces of objects featured in the exhibition Architectural Ghosts. Add some color to objects from the Mead’s permanent collection with coloring sheets created by Charissa Doerr ’20. Finally, feel free to show off your photography skills and share your masterpiece by tagging the Mead (@MeadArtMuseum) on social media. All materials provided; children must be accompanied by a caregiver. Museum visitation hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mead Art Museum

How can we boost children’s reading success? In recent years, a national conversation has gained steam about the way that reading is taught in American schools, fueled by strong journalism from Emily Hanford ’92, whose Sold a Story podcast illuminates issues with the way reading is commonly taught. Emily Glasgow ’98, Senior Director of Pre-K–5 Core Academics for Portland Public Schools, has been on the front lines of this vital debate and will share a conversation with Marti Dumas ’98, a former teacher turned children’s book author compelled by the opportunity to improve reading instruction in America. Our speakers will discuss the different approaches to reading instruction, as well as Emily Hanford’s journalism, which has propelled the issues to the front page of The New York Times. Expect a hearty discussion intended to support the efforts of parents, grandparents and educators alike. Presented by the Class of 1998.

Stirn Auditorium

Join us for an entertaining and fun magic show with the amazing Ed Popielarczyk, a professional magician, balloon sculptor, flea circus ringmaster and storyteller. Ed will keep kids enthralled and adults smiling during this comedy magic show with lots of audience participation.

Main Quadrangle

The Amherst men’s and women’s soccer teams will sponsor a game between odd- and even-class soccer alumni. Bring your black shorts, cleats and shin guards; we’ll supply shirts and socks. RSVP to Coach Alex Ortega (aortega@amherst.edu) so we have a headcount and spread the word to your classmates and teammates! Plan to go right to Gooding Field to get your shirt and socks prior to the match!

Gooding Turf Field

America’s favorite mode of transportation, the personal automobile, is moving into an electric-powered—and eventually driver-optional—future. This evolution solves problems and also brings problems with it. Two panel members will describe the issues to be faced and the obstacles to be overcome in the transition to an electric-car future. A third panelist will talk about the driverless revolution that is already occurring in California, Arizona and Texas. Panelists include Jeffrey L. Bleich ’83, Amherst College Trustee and Chief Legal and Policy Officer of Cruise, an all-electric autonomous vehicle technology company; Thomas G. Libby ’73, Automotive Analyst with the financial services firm S&P Global; and Carl E. Nelson ’73, Exploration Geologist. Presented by the Classes of 1973 and 1983.

Stirn Auditorium

Gather with other former students of Lewis Spratlan, the Peter R. Pouncey Professor of Music, Emeritus, to listen to selections of his works and to share musical memories of studying with him. This gathering is open to all. Presented by the Class of 2003.

Music Room 3, Arms Music Center

A liberal arts education, such as the stellar one offered at the Fairest College, has historically focused more on teaching students how to “think” rather than how to “do.” However, generation after generation of Amherst graduates continue to include successful entrepreneurs across all sectors. And entrepreneurship, to be sure, involves a whole lot of “doing.” So how has Amherst ended up producing such talented and successful entrepreneurs? We will discuss both historical and current resources and offerings available to Amherst students interested in entrepreneurship in the context of the broader curricular focus. We are honored to have several members of the Class of 2008 share insights on this topic, and more. Benjy Merewitz ’08, CEO and Co-Founder of Agile Devices, will moderate a panel consisting of Morgan Holland ’08, Founder of Minnow Ventures, early employee at Lyft and Growth Lead at Shopify; April (Lerner) Bar Siman Tov ’08, Vice President at Columbus Photovoltaics; Andrew Slutsky ’08, employee #3 at GoodRx; and Elizabeth Wilkes ’08, CEO and Founder of Exubrancy. Presented by the Class of 2008.

Kirby Memorial Theater

G.P. Gromacki has been Head Coach of women’s basketball at Amherst since 2007, after stints as Head Coach at St. Lawrence University and Hamilton College. After the 2021–22 season, his record stood at 402–36 at Amherst, 565–74 overall. His teams have won three D3 national championships and eight NESCAC championships. Hannah Hackley ’18 was captain of the team during her senior year. The team was undefeated at 33–0 in each of her junior and senior years, and was both D3 national champ and NESCAC champ in each year. During Hannah’s four years at Amherst, the team compiled a record of 121–6. At Amherst, Hannah ranks ninth in career blocks, 11th in assists and 17th in scoring. Coach Gromacki and Hannah will speak on the ups and downs (mostly ups) of coaching and playing women’s basketball at a place like Amherst. Presented by the Classes of 1968 and 2018.

Lipton Lecture Hall (E110), Science Center

Casting director and former President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences David Rubin ’78 will be joined by Gordon Radley ’68, former President of Lucasfilm Ltd. and Victor Levin ’83, P’23,’24, Golden Globe-winning film and television writer/director/producer, as well as Jackson Spilka ’18, to discuss the current inflection point in the way audiences view and prefer to enjoy filmed entertainment. Do the changes in the entertainment industry and the shift of focus to streaming platforms reflect permanent cultural shifts, or will there be a post-COVID return to popcorn and movie theater seats? Presented by the Classes of 1968, 1978, 1983 and 2018.

Buckley Recital Hall, Arms Music Center

Reproductive Justice Post-Dobbs

In Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the U.S. Supreme Court rescinded constitutional protection for the right to abortion under a cramped analysis that tethers the scope and meaning of liberty to prejudices from over 150 years ago. Less than a year later, 12 states are enforcing total bans on abortion, and access to abortion care across the South and Midwest is severely limited by gestational bans and other draconian restrictions. Meanwhile, the United States is in the throes of a maternal mortality and morbidity crisis and lags far behind other industrialized nations in policies that support pregnant workers and working parents. Against this shifting landscape, the reproductive health, rights and justice movement is faced with both the urgent needs to mitigate unprecedented harm on the ground and the opportunity to effectuate a broader and more robust vision of reproductive autonomy. As reproductive justice advocates have long recognized, reproductive autonomy embraces the human rights to have children and to parent one’s children in safe and sustainable communities—in addition to the right to not be(come) pregnant—and Roe was never enough to protect the needs of the most marginalized. Join Dana Bolger ’13, Shannon Selden ’98 and Alice Wang ’13 for a discussion about how advocates are fighting redoubled attacks on reproductive autonomy since Dobbs while developing long-term strategies for building more expansive and durable guarantees for bodily and family integrity. Moderated by Adam Sitze, John E. Kirkpatrick 1951 Professor in Law, Jurisprudence and Social Thought. Presented by the Classes of 1998 and 2013.

Cole Assembly Room, Converse Hall

Letitia Johnson took over the College's endowment in 2019. It's grown by $1 billion—that's Billion, with a "B"—since then. What investments did she inherit and how has she changed the portfolio? Amherst Trustee Nick Zerbib ’93, a Managing Director at Stone Point Capital, will moderate the session. Presented by the Class of 1993.

Johnson Chapel

Hats, animals, airplanes, cartoon characters, flowers, motorcycles—Ed can sculpt hundreds of things with balloons! Stop by until 1:30 p.m. and make a request!

Main Quadrangle

Join President Michael A. Elliott ’92 in conversation with Amherst College Trustee Sarah Bloom Raskin ’83, P’14,’17, including a first look at the Student Center/Dining Commons. Kathy Chia ’88, P’22,’27, President of the Society of the Alumni, will provide an introduction to the conversation. The program will be preceded by a brief annual meeting of the Society of the Alumni and the Alumni Council.

Johnson Chapel

Join us for a complimentary luncheon under the tent on the Valentine Quad. Look for your classmates under the decade signs!

Valentine Quad

Join a group of alumni in a roundtable discussion of their personal and professional experiences. Participants include Ernesto Acosta ’08, a Surface Warfare Officer and Aide to the Secretary of the Navy; Nick Avila ’08, a Country Program Director at the Navy International Programs Office; and Anton Kohut ’93, a former Marine Infantry Officer now working as a Regional Lead Investigator at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Presented by the Classes of 1993 and 2008.

Cole Assembly Room, Converse Hall

Jean René ’13 is a lawyer and public policy expert who leads the legislative strategy for the Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana, a new, progressive political party in the Puerto Rico House of Representatives. He recently ran in a special election for the San Juan City Council and plans to run for office in the 2024 general election. Join him and Paul Schroeder Rodriguez, the R. John Cooper ’64 Presidential Teaching Professor of Spanish, for a conversation on his experience running for office, the current state of Puerto Rican politics and the future of Puerto Rico’s political relationship with the United States. Presented by the Class of 2013.

Kirby Memorial Theater

Black Women of Amherst College: Continuing the Conversation

The award-winning Black Women of Amherst College podcast tells the untold stories of Black women throughout Amherst College’s history, including before coeducation. As featured on NPR’s Here and Now, the Black Women of Amherst College podcast spotlights “the invisible work of Black women” in higher education and throughout society. The podcast builds upon the book Black Women of Amherst College, by Professor Mavis C. Campbell, published in 1999, and expands upon this work, to tell a multidimensional story of Black women that: 1) incorporates students, alumnae, faculty, administrators and staff; and 2) illuminates the distinctive and influential contributions of Black women to Amherst College, as well as the similarly distinctive and influential contributions of Amherst’s Black women to the world beyond the College. Join Nadia Biassou ’88, Katherine Chen Abrikian ’08 and Kyndall Ashe ’18 to discuss some of the important issues that we didn’t get to discuss on the podcast, moderated by the podcast’s executive producer and host, Nichelle S. Carr ’98. Presented by the Classes of 1988, 1998, 2008 and 2018.

Buckley Recital Hall, Arms Music Center

Two weeks after Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine, Mickey Berdy ’78 was the last journalist at The Moscow Times to leave Russia. She took a minivan and crossed the border into the EU at night with a suitcase, her computer and her dog. But she wasn’t just leaving her job—she was leaving the place she’d called home since she graduated from Amherst. Fleeing an empire and starting over had not been on her bucket list. She’ll talk about how to escape, how to start over and the chances for change in Russia. Presented by the Class of 1978.

Stirn Auditorium

Advocates of liberal arts education laud the flexible skills that students develop at institutions like Amherst, where an emphasis on critical thinking and creative problem solving readies graduates to adapt and thrive in an ever-evolving employment landscape. This panel brings together members of the Class of 1988 to discuss the ways in which their Amherst experiences prepared them not only for their first but for their second careers as well. Panelists include Andy Dubin ’88, religion major and rabbi; Sandra Effron ’88, psychology major and international community service organization founder; Kate Hosford ’88, English and philosophy major and children's book author; and Lisa Wolf ’88, English major and nursing researcher. Presented by the Class of 1988.

Lipton Lecture Hall (E110), Science Center

David A. Kessler ’73, H’92, P’04,’07, M.D., J.D., a pediatrician and lawyer, was commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for seven years under President George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton, where he took on the tobacco industry, accelerated drug approval and devised the modern food label. Early in his career he was a consultant to the Senate Health Committee. More recently, he served President Biden as Chief Science Officer of the White House Covid-19 Response Team, where he ran Operation Warp Speed, responsible for all vaccines and therapeutics. He’s also been the dean of Yale School of Medicine and UCSF Medical School. He’ll talk about his years of government service with classmate and fellow pediatrician, Stephen N. Keith ’73, M.D., MSPH. Keith has worked in many aspects of medicine—clinical care, health policy, pharmaceutical development and research administration. As a Capitol Hill staffer, he helped manage Kessler’s nomination to be head of the FDA. Keith is Senior Medical Director of Syneos Health, a clinical research organization. Presented by the Class of 1973.

Johnson Chapel

If you peered between the trees along the riverbank and were startled to see a rowing shell gliding across the face of the water, the urge to jump into the boat would be difficult to extinguish. How satisfying would it be to lean on the rudder again and holler at individuals who are not your children, or press your weight against the foot stretcher to leverage the shell forward? The experience would fill the hollowness that has ensued since the last time you sat in a boat. Please join us for an afternoon on the river at our annual Reunion gathering at the boathouse. Coach Bill Stekl will also give an update on the progress and success of the students on the Amherst College rowing team, who move boats faster than any of us.

Amherst College Boathouse (Sportsman’s Marina, Route 9 at Coolidge Bridge)

Please join the Geology Department in celebrating the careers of Jack Cheney, Samuel A. Hitchcock Professor of Mineralogy and Geology, Associate Provost and Associate Dean of the Faculty; Peter Crowley, Professor of Geology, Emeritus; and Tekla Harms, Massachusetts Professor in Chemistry and Natural History (geology) and Director of the Beneski Museum of Natural History.

Beneski Museum of Natural History

Acclaimed author Jennifer Cody Epstein ’88 will read from her soon-to-be-released novel, The Madwomen of Paris (Random House, 2023). Jennifer’s most recent previous novel, Wunderland, was a USA Today bestseller, and her second novel, The Gods of Heavenly Punishment, was the winner of the 2014 Asian Pacific Association of Librarians Honor Award for outstanding fiction. Her career as a novelist began with an international bestseller, The Painter from Shanghai. She has also written for The Wall Street Journal, The Asian Wall Street Journal, The Nation (Thailand), Self and Mademoiselle magazines, and the NBC and HBO networks. She has worked in Kyoto, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Bangkok, as well as Washington, D.C., and New York, and has taught at Columbia University and Doshisha University. Moderated by Lisa Wolf ’88. Presented by the Class of 1988.

Friedmann Room, Keefe Campus Center

Precision neuropsychiatry. Psychedelics. Telemedicine. Find out about the cutting edge of diagnosis and treatment of brain illnesses from leading experts at a time when depression, anxiety, addiction, Parkinson’s and other conditions are on the rise. Research is advancing, such as using functional neuroimaging to pinpoint what goes awry in the brain when a person is suffering and to find treatments. Join the conversation with Emily Stern ’83, P’18, CEO of Ceretype Neuromedicine, a company which is using advanced imaging technologies and analytics, including AI, to find personalized treatments for mind and brain disorders; David Silbersweig P’18, a psychiatrist, neurologist and Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School; and Michael Sernyak ’83, Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine and CEO of the Connecticut Mental Health Center. The discussion will be moderated by Betsy McKay '83, Pulitzer Prize- winning senior writer on public health and medicine at The Wall Street Journal. Presented by the Class of 1983.

Lipton Lecture Hall (E110), Science Center

How do you make a “Bourbon for Everyone”? Join Tripp Whitbeck ’03 as he discusses what led to the creation of—and the success of—I Bourbon. I Bourbon has received 90 points from Whisky Advocate, won Best Bourbon in Las Vegas and garnered multiple gold medals—most recently from the highly prestigious San Francisco Global Spirits Awards. A newcomer to the spirits world, Tripp will discuss and take questions about quitting his corporate job four years ago without infrastructure, without employees and without any knowledge of how to get started. Available on the market for only the past two years, I Bourbon is available in brick-and-mortar stores in nine states and available for purchase online in 41 states. Presented by the Class of 2003.

Cole Assembly Room, Converse Hall

Our lives were abruptly altered in March 2020 by COVID-19—but some realms experienced enduring, even pivotal disruptions. Our panelists will discuss the disruptive nature of the pandemic to health and wellness, sports and entertainment, and education and opportunity in the United States. Michael Spirito ’98, Co-Founder and Partner of Sapphire Sport Ventures, will touch on the short-term and long-term changes across global sport and entertainment. Jessica Flynn ’98, sports medicine physician and youth football coach, will reflect on the seismic changes in the medical field and youth sports. And children’s advocate Karen Vaites ’98 will explore the disruptions and changes in the K–12 education landscape. Presented by the Class of 1998.

Johnson Chapel

Large numbers of us have entertained the fantasy of living in the  Valley again. So what would happen if we actually did it, as middle-aged adults and beyond? Ron Lieber ’93 will interview Ericka Alschuler ’93, a longtime resident; Wes Dripps ’92, the College’s Director of Sustainability, who just moved back to the area; and Andy Addison ’73, who returned about seven years ago. What kept them here or caused them to return, what do they love about living nearby, and what do they wish were different? Presented by the Classes of 1973 and 1993.

Stirn Auditorium

A discussion between Senior U.S. District Judge Peter Messitte ’63, P’93 and Lawrence Douglas, James J. Grosfeld Professor of Law, Jurisprudence and Social Thought; Chair of Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought. A look at the role of precedent; pros and cons of theories of constitutional interpretation (e.g., the living Constitution versus originalism); recent and upcoming decisions of the Court, suggesting a shift in outlook; where the Court appears to be headed; proposals for possible reform of the Court; and ethical issues of Supreme Court Justices. Presented by the Class of 1963.

Buckley Recital Hall, Arms Music Center

All are welcome. Reception ends at 6 p.m.

Lower Commons, Science Center (Outside of C025)

All alumni working in or passionate about the arts are invited to connect with each other and Amherst College faculty and staff. Light refreshments will be served in the Mead Art Museum’s historic Rotherwas Room, and attendees are welcome to explore the museum’s on-view exhibitions: Architectural Ghosts; God Made My Face: A Collective Portrait of James Baldwin; the Black Art Matters student artist showcase and the installation “Untitled” (Blue Placebo) by Felix Gonzalez-Torres. This reception is supported by the Amherst College Departments of American Studies, Art History, Architectural Studies, Education Studies, European Studies, Film and Media Studies, Music, and Theater and Dance; the Arts at Amherst Initiative; the Loeb Center for Career Exploration and Planning; and the Mead Art Museum.

Mead Art Museum

Join Tom Chen '07, Andrew Kim '18, Joon Kim '18, and the Amherst Asian Alumni Network (AAAN) to celebrate and be in community with Asian alumni across the years. Food and drinks will be provided. All are welcome. To RSVP, please email hello@amherstasianalumni.org.

Science Center Living Room

Apocalypse is a party for people who don’t like parties, hosted by Planworld. Come on by, play intellectual games, have conversations and enjoy a heart-stopping Black Sheep cake and other tasty refreshments. All who enjoy fine company are invited. We will continue until people stop talking.

Second Floor Lounge, Nicholls Biondi Hall, Greenway Residence Halls

The Zumbyes welcome all Zum-alums, Amherst alums, friends, fans and anyone else to celebrate the 73rd year of the group with a free concert of new songs, classic songs and, of course, our beloved College songs.

Buckley Recital Hall, Arms Music Center

All Black alumni and friends are invited to stop by this historic center throughout Reunion to spend time reconnecting with old friends and meeting new friends in our own dedicated "lounge" space! 

Gerald Penny ’77 Black Cultural Center, The Octagon

We'll be open for you to drop off your keys or ask last-minute questions before you head home. Telephone: (413) 542–2065.

Alumni House, 75 Churchill Street

Please join us for an ecumenical service to remember the lives of those alumni we have lost this year with Rabbi Dr. Andy Dubin '88 and The Rev. Megan Carr Holding '93, P'25, '26.

War Memorial, Memorial Hill (Rain location: Johnson Chapel)