National News Highlights: 2023-24 Academic Year
Major national and international media outlets and leading publications turned to Hamilton College faculty, staff, and alumni for their expertise and thought leadership on a broad range of topics during the 2023-24 academic year.Groundbreaking scholarly research and innovative creative endeavors by Hamilton’s faculty and staff not only advance knowledge in their fields, but can often also help broader audiences further understand the world’s most pressing issues. When media outlets feature faculty discoveries and accomplishments, it helps strengthen Hamilton’s reputation as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.
2023-24 Academic Year by the Numbers
19,900+
articles included Hamilton2,770+
broadcasts included Hamilton30+
faculty experts and 20+ academic departments highlightedResearch & Expertise
Associate Professor of Government David Rivera commented on the war in Ukraine in several Newsweek stories. Here he discussed deceased Russian mercenary leader Prigozhin’s outspoken views on the war with Ukraine. “Prigozhin’s lengthy video justifying his ‘march for justice’ expressed many truths about the war that Putin would not want the public to hear,” Rivera said.
Associate Professor of Government Erica De Bruin, author of How to Prevent Coups d’état, discussed the recent process used to achieve government takeovers. “Seize power, hang onto it long enough to hold elections, use electoral manipulation and other resources of leadership to win them, and then relax as sanctions on your no-longer-coup-installed regime are lifted.”
Assistant Professor of Sociology Mahala Stewart commented on the shifting demographics in home-schooling. “As integration brought White and Black students together, there was a White flight happening, as parents removed kids from those schools in order to home-school.”
Professor of Music Lydia Hamessley discussed the music of singer-songwriter Dolly Parton throughout this documentary. Hamessley is the author of Unlikely Angel: The Songs of Dolly Parton.
Professor of Religious Studies Brent Rodriguez-Plate spoke about various portrayals of Jesus. “Jesus is adaptable and moldable. He becomes whatever the culture is looking for.”
This article referenced Professor of Economics Stephen Wu’s research in which he found that those who feel luck and other outside factors play a significant role in their financial success are less likely save.
Professor of Sociology Emeritus Daniel Chambliss wrote a letter to the editor responding to the State of Florida’s elimination of sociology as a core college course. “Sociology often focuses attention on issues of inequality, race and gender — topics that Florida’s government would apparently prefer go unmentioned. Many college students, however, welcome the chance to discuss and learn about such issues of vital public and often personal relevance.”
Professor of Government Philip Klinkner offered a historical comparison of the issues faced by both presidents. “Today, many Democrats oppose Biden’s support for Israel’s military campaign against Hamas, but it’s easy to overstate this division. A recent Gallup poll found that only 1% of Americans cited ‘war in the Middle East’ as the nation’s top problem. In contrast, early in 1968, Gallup found that a majority of Americans – 53% – said that Vietnam was the most important issue facing the nation.”
Associate Professor of Sociology Jaime Kucinskas co-authored this essay about her research on federal employees during the Trump administration. “Our years of research about the people who work in the federal government finds that they care deeply about their work, aiding the public and pursuing the stability and integrity of government.”
Associate Professor of Philosophy Alex Plakias spoke about Zuckerberg’s awkwardness and her research on the topic published in her new book titled Awkwardness: A Theory. In this interview she said, “Being awkward is a social cost that you can only bear if you have a lot of social capital to burn.” She pointed to Mark Zuckerberg, noting that for him and men alike, awkwardness is “seen as not only excusable, but laudable. … If you're powerful enough, and if you're seen as intelligent enough, then you don't also have to be particularly charismatic and you don't have to be particularly socially considerate.”
Professor of Literature and Creative Writing Doran Larson discussed his research and new book, Inside Knowledge: Incarcerated People on the Failures of the American Prison. “My work aims at bringing incarcerated people into the conversation about incarceration,” Larson said. “They have been writing about the experience of incarceration for as long as we’ve had penitentiaries and prisons, but their work has been censored or destroyed or marginalized when it does hit print. Now, in the era of mass incarceration, there’s just too large a population to keep out of the conversation!”
Professor of Economics Ann Owen commented on including the cost of money in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). She suggested that doing so would give Fed Chair Jerome Powell a big communication headache. “It would definitely cause complications for explaining monetary policy. And that’s not trivial,” she said. The segment was broadcast on more than 800 public radio stations nationwide and was one of several in which Owen participated this year.
In an essay-length letter to the editor, Visiting Professor of History Ty Seidule emphasized that “Whom we honor reflects our values.” Seidule penned his letter in response to a Virginia School Board's decision to restore the names of Stonewall Jackson High School and Ashby Lee Elementary School, which had previously been changed during the national racial reckoning sparked by George Floyd’s killing. “By naming schools after Jackson, Turner Ashby, and Robert E. Lee, Shenandoah County tells its children and the world that the Confederacy’s values are their values,” Seidule wrote.
Visiting Assistant Professor of Classics and Religious Studies Ian Mills wrote about the Crosby-Schøyen Codex in an essay that appeared in outlets around the world. The Crosby-Schøyen Codex, dated to the middle of the 4th century, came from Egypt and contains a combination of biblical and other early Christian texts. This June Christies will auction it off for an anticipated two to four million dollars.
Professor of History Maurice Isserman wrote this essay about the history of American Communism and how the movement demonstrated that dogma and fervor are no substitute for popular support. Isserman is the author of the recently published Reds: The Tragedy of American Communism.
Leading by Example
“Colleges Can’t Keep Up with Students’ Mental-Health Needs. Teletherapy Companies Are Filling the Gaps” – Chronicle of Higher Ed, Jan. 12
Counseling Center Director David Walden discussed the Center’s engagement with outside companies that allows it to expand its caseload. Walden appreciates that the Center can also offer demographic variety in its providers, something that can be difficult to provide since Hamilton is located in a predominantly white area in upstate New York.
“Colleges Go Above and Beyond for the Solar Eclipse” – The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 3
Associate Professor of Instruction for Physics Adam Lark described the college’s plans for viewing the upcoming eclipse in the Adirondacks. One student accompanying Lark was quoted, “… a total eclipse is definitely rare beauty. But also, as a physicist, two of the celestial objects we know the best are crossing each other’s path. It’s going to be exciting to watch.”
“On Devising in the Classroom” - HowlRound Theatre Commons, April 16
Assistant Professor of Theatre Emily Harrison spoke about teaching devised theatre techniques. “The whole point of the liberal arts is encouraging people to explore the full realm of possibility as opposed to focusing on a singular element.”
President David Wippman
President Wippman co-wrote more than a dozen op-eds and letters to the editor that were published by major publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Hill.
“The instructive history of book bans” – The Hill, Jan. 21
President David Wippman and his co-author Glenn Altschuler began with the observation, “Book banning campaigns didn’t work, wasted time and money, upended the lives of innocent people and, most important, erased aspects of the past and of contemporary human experience.” Their essay detailed recent bans in Texas, Florida, and Georgia and legal challenges to others in Iowa and Illinois.
“Parting Thoughts from a Retiring President” – Inside Higher Ed, June 10
President David Wippman answered a range of questions as he reflected on his eight-year tenure at the College. Wippman said that he was proudest of the way he led the campus through the COVID-19 pandemic, and that he looks forward to writing about higher ed and continuing to participate in Harvard’s Presidents-in-Residence program to help prepare the next generation of college leaders.
Students in the News
“Moms for Liberty’s vision for America is narrow and dark. Why not help kids?” - USA Today Network, Dec. 7.
Hadley Noonan ’25 wrote an op-ed that appeared in many newspapers across the country via the USA Today network. Her essay was based on summer research she conducted as part of a Levitt grant investigating book banning and Moms for Liberty specifically. “Moms for Liberty is eliminating vital perspectives from public schools,” she wrote and asked, “What kind of future is Moms for Liberty creating for our nation’s children? A future where knowledge is curated through a narrow lens, or one where education equips young minds to thrive in a complex and diverse society? The answer seems painfully clear: Moms for Liberty is choosing the former, to the detriment of our nation’s future.”
“Military Aid Will Not End Terrorism in Africa” – The National Interest, March 10
Will Rampe ’24 contended that the U.S.’s continued emphasis on security over democracy in its dealings with African countries is not making the continent any safer. He wrote “Instead, the United States must alter its emphasis on military aid toward diplomacy and democracy to combat these groups’ influence effectively.” Rampe has written commentary that has also appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Reason, RealClear Defense, Council on Foreign Relations, and the Organization for World Peace.
“Opinion: Integration of immigrants starts from the ground up. Just ask Lewiston.” – Portland Herald (Maine), May 27
As a white native of Maine, Meredith Brubaker ’26 grew up alongside the first group of Somali refugees resettling in Lewistown, Maine. She wrote this essay, an outgrowth of her Politics of Asylum course, about that experience and her observations and recommendations for the country as it continues to accept asylum-seekers. “By instilling values of inclusion, diversity and cross-cultural appreciation in the next generation, we can cultivate communities bonded by our intrinsic identity as a nation of immigrants,” she wrote.
Alumni in the News
Marvel comics writer Steve Orlando ’08 spoke about his career, Hamilton, and growing up in Central New York.
Author Sarah Maas ’08 mentioned her time at Hamilton during this interview. She reminisced about how she and her husband met at the College on move-in day.
The Philadelphia Eagles’ draft selection rationale was reviewed along with NFL draft selection research published by Professor of Economics Stephen Wu and Kendall Weir ’12. The pair found that breaking a school rule was more damning to a player’s future success in the NFL than breaking the law.
More College News
Hamilton Invests in Digital Innovation with New $50 Million Facility
A new state-of-the-art facility equipped with best-in-class technology and resources will soon serve as the launchpad for the College’s multi-faceted digital fluency initiative, Digital Hamilton, and transform the academic experience on College Hill.
Five Faculty Retirees Reflect on their Time at Hamilton
Hamilton alumni, students, and colleagues send well-wishes and thanks to five members of the faculty who entered the world of retirement at the conclusion of the 2023-24 academic year. We asked them to reflect on their time on College Hill and what’s next.
