Hamilton's New President Greets Local Media

Joan Hinde Stewart, the 19^th President of Hamilton, was welcomed by the Hamilton community in a gathering at the College's Chapel on May 13.  After meeting with various groups on campus, Dr. Stewart greeted the local media in a press conference announcing her appointment to the public.  After a brief statement in which she shared her enthusiasm for her upcoming position and excitement at joining the Hamilton community, Dr. Stewart fielded questions.

Dr. Stewart commented that one challenge will be to "find ways to find quality in a difficult financial environment" while continuing Hamilton's great tradition of "finding new knowledge while giving old truths."

She sees a liberal education as a conversation, with a focus not only on commentary, but also critical listening. Dr. Stewart looks forward to "the recruitment, support and retention of really outstanding scholar teachers," a goal she believes a true asset of Hamilton and a continued aspiration for the future.

Daisy Mera '04, the student member of the Presidential Search Committee, said what set Dr. Stewart apart from the other candidates was her "enthusiasm about everything she did and said." She continued, "She took us out of our seats."

When asked how it felt to be the first female president of Hamilton Dr. Stewart joked, "it was a very enlightened search committee" and she said she thought they had made the right choice.