November 1, 2025
Dear alumni, family and friends of Connecticut College,
As we approach the end of the semester, every corner of the campus is alive with activity.
Scholarship and Discovery at Conn
Last month, Conn hosted our first AI and the Liberal Arts Symposium , a three-day gathering that brought together more than 150 participants from 65 institutions across the U.S. and Canada for thoughtful conversations about the ethics and equity of artificial intelligence and the future of liberal arts education. A consistent theme emerged: The liberal arts are uniquely equipped to shape the future of AI, not the other way around. That message resonated powerfully throughout the Symposium and reminded us why the liberal arts matter so profoundly in times of change. My heartfelt thanks to everyone whose teaching, scholarship and planning made this such a meaningful experience for our guests and one another.
On Nov. 6 we will showcase the power of a liberal arts education at the All-College Symposium. This annual event highlights the integrative learning that defines the Connections curriculum, as students share the results of their academic work and experiences through presentations, panels and poster sessions.
Search for New Leadership in Marketing and Communications
We’re launching a search for the next leader of our marketing and communications team, who will help advance the College’s visibility and storytelling.
Community Gatherings
Our community came together for a Halloween gathering hosted by Staff Council. I joined the festivities dressed as “first dog Koda,” my favorite animal—besides the Camel, of course! Events like this remind us of the joy and camaraderie that make our campus community so special.
On Nov. 18-20, CREDO, a higher education consulting firm, will be on campus to speak with faculty, staff and students. The board of trustees has engaged CREDO to help develop a student-centered plan for our campus. A more detailed invitation will be sent shortly. I recognize this is a busy week, as it overlaps with advising and other activities, but we need to move forward on prioritizing and then addressing our significant deferred maintenance.
Conn in the News
October was another strong month for media visibility across our community. Highlights include:
- Kris Klein Hernández, assistant professor of history, was featured in CT Mirror discussing the impact of proposed changes to the H-1B visa fee on Connecticut employers. He also spoke with The Arizona Republic about the lack of official Spanish-language information during the recent federal government shutdown.
- Tim Stevens ’03, adjunct professor and writer in marketing and communications, contributed to an essay in Seasons Magazine exploring the decline of listening as a cultural skill and its importance in today’s discourse.
- Susan Purrington, the Harold F. Wiley Generative AI Teaching and Learning Fellow, was highlighted in University Business for helping bring together more than 50 liberal arts institutions to explore the role of generative AI in teaching and research during the AI@Conn Symposium.
- MaryAnne Borrelli, Susan Eckert Lynch ’62 Professor of Government, was featured in an NPR commentary on the history and institutional significance of the White House East Wing and the evolving role of first ladies.
- I contributed an op-ed to Inside Higher Ed, urging policymakers to include small colleges in federal research policy discussions, highlighting the vital contributions of institutions like Conn to discovery, teaching and civic life.
You can view the full list of recent media coverage on Conn In The News.
Seven CASE Awards Celebrate Our Creativity
I am delighted to share that Conn has earned seven CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) Best of District 1 Awards this year—a remarkable achievement for our College. The team was recognized for photography, digital marketing, design and writing. Staff photographer Sean D. Elliot captured the perfect moment of the winning goal kick in the men’s soccer national semifinal, while our social media team—Danny Rockwell and Clare O’Brien, led by Christellle Lachapelle, director of digital marketing—was honored for the engaging CONNcise: A Minute with Connecticut College video series. Ben Parent, director of creative services, won for the Winter 2024 CC Magazine cover, featuring four alternate covers with early 1900s photographs of everyday Americans. Amy Martin, director of content, and writers Melissa Johnson and Tim Stevens ’03 earned four awards for writing alone. Please join me in congratulating everyone whose work contributed to this incredible recognition for Conn and our marketing and communications team.
Camel Pride
In other news on campus, we proudly hosted the 2025 NESCAC Cross Country Championships at Harkness Park, where the Camels delivered an exceptional performance. Four athletes earned All-NESCAC honors. The men’s team finished in 8th and Grace McDonough led the #13-ranked women’s squad, finishing 2nd overall as the team made history with a 3rd-place finish—the highest in program history.
Women’s Volleyball wrapped up its regular season securing the #7 seed in the NESCAC Championship with the quarterfinals this weekend. Men’s Soccer earned the #5 seed in the NESCAC Championship and traveled to take on #4 Williams, defeating the Ephs 2-1 to advance to the NESCAC semifinals this weekend.
It’s been a very active campus these past couple of weeks. Some student club highlights include Men’s Club Ice Hockey winning the annual battle against the U.S. Coast Guard Academy 9-2 and Women’s Club Ice Hockey playing their first game in program history. It has been wonderful to see and hear about all the singing, dancing and performing happening all across campus. This past Halloween week was certainly festive and very active with a wonderful trunk-or-treat event hosted by Student Engagement, Wig & Candle’s performance of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” events at Humphrey’s and costumes worn all across campus.
As we approach Thanksgiving, I hope you enjoy time with family and friends.
Thank you, as always, for the many ways you bring Conn’s mission to life every day and for your support and grace as we move the College forward together.
With gratitude,
Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D.
President