President Wippman’s Writings & Remarks

Next month, the College will begin a new strategic planning process. A steering committee will oversee the process, and three planning committees will examine issues ranging from curricular change to student success to the sustainability of our business model. Below please find the charges to the four committees. As you will see, the committees have been asked to consult widely, and I hope all of you will take advantage of opportunities to participate. We are in the process of forming the committees and will share the names of committee members soon.

The election campaign has laid bare deep rifts in our society. We can hope that Americans from across the political spectrum will now work to heal some of these divisions.

My thanks to all for the wonderfully warm welcome I have received in my first three months here. This past weekend was particularly rewarding (and particularly busy), with Fallcoming, Family Weekend, Inauguration and the busiest admission weekend of the year all coming at the same time. Highlights of the weekend included the Senior Gift Kick-off Reception; the premiere of PBS' Great Performances "Hamilton's America," the Comstock Memorial Scholarship Lunch; the launch of "Alex Talks" by Hamilton faculty; Vice President Walter Mondale's remarks at Inauguration; and the recognition of Barbara Starnes P'80, GP'11, as the George F. Little Volunteer of the Year.

I am writing to share news that Life Trustee James L. Ferguson’49 died last Wednesday following a brief illness. He was 90.

Welcome to the start of the fall semester. I have had the opportunity to meet many of you during the last two months, and I hope to meet all of you in the months ahead.

I had hoped my first email to you as President of Hamilton College would be to recognize and celebrate one of the many wonderful aspects of our extended community. I write instead in response to the extraordinary sequence of recent tragic events in Orlando, Baton Rouge, St. Paul and Dallas, and in so many other communities around the world, from Iraq to Bangladesh.

As he begins his tenure, President Wippman describes the “love of place” he’s experiencing at Hamilton and the importance of ensuring a welcoming and inclusive environment.