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Mission: Terras irradient “LET THEM GIVE LIGHT TO THE WORLD.” 1821 Amherst College looks, above all, for students of intellectual promise who have demonstrated qualities of mind and character that will enable them to take full advantage of our curriculum. We seek qualified applicants from different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds – students whose several perspectives might contribute significantly to a process of mutual education within and beyond the curriculum. We aim to select from among the many qualified applicants those possessing the intellectual talent, discipline and imagination that will allow them most fully to benefit from our curriculum and contribute to the life of the college and society. Grades, standardized test scores, essays, recommendations, independent work, the quality of the secondary school program and achievements outside the classroom are among the factors used to evaluate this promise, but no one of these measures is considered determinative.
Operating as usual
Amherst College experienced service outages this morning due to an overnight power surge. Services are coming back, but the root of the issue has not yet been identified.
Students, faculty, and staff may see instability in services today. IT is working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
It's Election Day, and at Amherst, we encourage every member of our community to vote.
What motivates our students to vote? ⬇️
Could 10,000 carnations at the Science Center save the world?
Professor of Biology Michael Hood recently received a National Institutes of Health grant to understand resistance to new diseases, by studying the wild carnations in the Italian Alps and his Amherst lab. http://ow.ly/ruzy50C977e
On October 24, 2020, students at Amherst College enjoyed food, music, and pumpkin carving at the annual Fall Festival.
Is mind-reading possible over the internet?
Alexander George, Rachel and Michael Deutch Professor of Philosophy at Amherst College, recently spoke to Daily Hampshire Gazette about his new live and virtual mind-reading show, "Strange Powers."
Starting a few years ago, Alexander George made a splash when he began hosting small shows at which he demonstrated his ability as a “mentalist”: a performer who can read people’s minds through careful observation of their body language, tone of voice...
President Biddy Martin has announced Amherst College's preliminary plans for spring 2021.
Read the full plan: http://ow.ly/CSIR50C5Zxf
In his book "Free Speech and Its Relation to Self-Government," Alexander Meiklejohn asserted the importance of voting. Meiklejohn was president of Amherst College from 1912 to 1924.
"We want to do our part to enable every student, regardless of where they come from, who they are or whether they are living on or off campus, to have the ability to vote." - Ben Gilsdorf '21
Read more about the members of AC Votes and how they have been working overtime this fall to make sure their classmates exercise their civic duty: https://bit.ly/3ovhsNl
It's Virtual Homecoming and Family Week!
Join us online this year as we celebrate through programs for students, alumni, and families, including class tent virtual meetups.
View the full schedule: https://bit.ly/2J88Tb7
"This last spring, for the first time, I taught a class called Native Futures, and I thought that it would make sense to teach a class where Native people themselves not only are part of the past and the present, but they're going to be part of the future."
Associate professor of American studies Kiara Vigil recently spoke to NPR about the importance of highlighting roles of Native Americans in U.S. history. https://n.pr/37nVeqp
A growing number of history and civics educators are trying to highlight the roles of Native Americans in U.S. history. For one professor in Massachusetts, that effort is personal.
#ElectionDay is in 11 days. What should you do now?
President Biddy Martin and Virginia Ryan '22 discuss the efforts to get out the vote with students at Amherst College, where and how to track the status of your ballot, and the importance of researching the candidates and questions on the ballot.
A new initiative at Amherst College, the Incubator Program, aims to provide students from underrepresented backgrounds with the tools to succeed in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Read more: https://bit.ly/2HiYcSe
How do we support Ruth Bader Ginsburg's legacy?
"Our job is to build the culture that fosters gender justice," writes Laurie Frankl, Amherst College Title IX Coordinator, in a letter addressed to her daughter Ruthie (via Daily Hampshire Gazette).
Dear Ruthie, Last night I joined a panel of women discussing Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life, work and what her death means to many of us. Towards the end, a student asked the good question of what she can do to support RBG’s legacy. A smart Smith...
From outdoor classes to music rehearsals and museum visits, here is a photographic glimpse into life on campus this semester. https://bit.ly/31qzlD5
"Thinking of hiring a tutor for your child? Get educated first."
With so many concerns around remote instruction, parents may want to understandably supplement their children's learning with tutoring. But there may be drawbacks, writes Professor of American Studies Pawan Dhingra for CNN Opinion.
Pawan Dhingra writes that in the face of extended hybrid or remote schooling, many parents are entertaining the idea of hiring a tutor to ensure their children do not fall behind in classes. But, parents need to consider if this is the right decision for their child.
In conversation with President Biddy Martin, Maya Foster '23 talks about the importance of down-ballot elections, AC Votes's work in supporting young voters from historically underrepresented groups, and how the coalition helps get out the vote with students.
Ben Gundersheimer '89, best known as children's musician and songwriter Mister G, is finding a new rhythm due to the pandemic.
In the Daily Hampshire Gazette, he shares more about his new album "Children of the World" which he produced with musicians around the globe almost entirely digitally.
Like any number of musicians across the country — around the world, really — Mister G has had to find a new rhythm due to the pandemic. The longtime children’s musician and songwriter, whose real name is Ben Gundersheimer, had a busy touring schedule...
Led by Biology Laboratory Coordinator Thea Kristensen, student researchers at Amherst College are reaching out to "citizen scientists" to help them count the bears, bobcats, foxes and other mammals of Western Massachusetts.
Amherst student researchers are reaching out to “citizen scientists” to help them count the bears, bobcats, foxes and other mammals of Western Massachusetts.
It's official: Happy Mammoth Day!
Classes are canceled today, Oct. 14, to give students a much-needed break before the weather turns cold. Organized activities on this first-ever Mammoth Day include hikes on the sanctuary trails, music and games on the Quad, and games and entertainment for remote students, all produced within the College's health and safety protocols.
"I feel like I have already lost a home, which is Syria. I would call Revere home, but it’s really difficult to build that attachment to a place I know I might lose as well." - Dania Hallak '24
In an interview with WBUR 90.9 FM, Amherst College's Dania Hallak '24 and UMass Amherst graduate Andrea Nyamkeye discuss how their experiences as immigrants and women of color inspired them to take action on climate change.
These young environmental activists got involved in the movement after seeing the effects of climate change -- and climate injustice -- firsthand.
In honor of #IndigenousPeoplesDay, we recognize that Amherst College stands on Nonotuck land.
Today and every day, we must celebrate and honor their history. Take an opportunity to learn more about the Nonotuck: https://bit.ly/3nEVmYd
In a conversation with President Biddy Martin, Ben Gilsdorf '21 talks about the importance of voting and how AC Votes, a coalition of students and student groups working to increase voter registration and turnout among Amherst students, can help.
UPDATE: Amherst College has moved to Level 2: "Heightened Awareness" on the Campus Operating Status scale in response to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health moving the Town of Amherst, MA from yellow status ("moderate risk") to red status ("higher risk") in its weekly COVID-19 Health Report.
Level 2 status primarily calls for increased vigilance on behalf of our community members. Learn more: https://bit.ly/36PgCV6
"Our community has pulled together in response to the challenges of this moment."
In a letter to the campus community, Amherst College President Biddy Martin provides updates on the fall 2020 semester: https://bit.ly/30Id7wa
Congratulations to Thomas Wilson Mitchell '87, who was named a 2020 MacArthur Foundation Fellow! 👏
A property law scholar, Thomas reforms longstanding legal doctrines that historically deprive Black and other disadvantaged American families of their property and real estate wealth. https://bit.ly/2SxEGDH
Women are the fastest growing segment of the incarcerated population in the U.S., and many are already mothers or will enter prison or jail pregnant. What happens at this intersection of mass incarceration and the controlling politics of reproduction, both shaped by racist policies? Anthropologist, obstetrician-gynecologist, and author of Jailcare: Finding the Safety Net for Women Behind Bars, Carolyn Sufrin '97 will talk about this today at 4:30 p.m. with her long-time Amherst mentor Deborah Gewertz, G. Henry Whitcomb 1874 Professor of Anthropology, about her path from Gewertz’s seminar room to jail clinic. Register now! https://www.amherst.edu/news/campus_community_events/virtual/amherst-conversationshttps://engage.amherst.edu/event/registrations/index/1060
This spring’s COVID Conversations series, featuring alumni experts and friends of the College, was so well received that a second lecture series, Amherst Conversations, launched in July and will continue into the fall. Watch live moderated conversations with audience questions submitted both in ad...
It's not hyperbole: Amherst's own Sydney Ireland is changing the world! The sophomore was one of the first two females EVER to be awarded the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout in the 110-year history of the Boy Scouts of America! Congrats, Sydney! #AmherstProud #Amherststudentschangetheworld
Both girls, based on the Lower East Side, say they were inspired by their brothers.
Amherst's Board of Trustees committed to permanently protect 96 acres of College-owned land on the nearby Mount Holyoke Range, the Kestrel Land Trust announced yesterday in a release about 583 total acres that have been forever conserved. The Board's decision to protect the land will helps preserve its scenic views of the Valley, conserve its forests as a natural climate change solution, continue the use of the land for outdoor education and research, and guarantee public access to its network of trails that are popular for mountain biking and hiking.
Kestrel Land Trust announced today the permanent conservation of 583 acres of land on the Mount Holyoke Range, with six landowners, as part of a second Landscape Partnership Project in partnership with the Towns of Hadley, South Hadley, Amherst, and…
A MassLive article last week described the evolution of the College’s Spanish program in recent years, with remarks from Professor Paul A. Schroeder Rodríguez and Professor Sara Brenneis, who chairs the department.
Linguistics reflect the diversity of the Spanish-speaking society
Interested in learning more about this year's first-year and transfer students? Here's look at the College's newest Mammoths.
An article in the Des Moines Register highlights the collaboration between executive producer Romen Borsellino ’12 and actor Kal Penn on a new political comedy TV series aimed at young voters. https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/entertainment/television/2020/09/21/des-moines-native-co-creates-political-show-kal-penn-approves-message/5853676002/
Romen Borsellino is the co-creator and executive producer of "Kal Penn Approves This Message," a political comedy series for young voters.
What do author Dan Brown '86 and Edward Melillo, associate professor of history and environmental studies, have in common? They are both being featured during the virtual National Book Festival this weekend! A video on demand presentation by Brown went live today, and Melillo will participate in a live Q&A at 11 a.m. tomorrow. Check them out! https://www.loc.gov/events/2020-national-book-festival/schedule/
All National Book Festival events on Sept. 25-27 will take place online, culminating in a program on PBS television on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 6 p.m. ET (check local listings).
Today, more than 80 college and university leaders have signed onto a statement co-authored by Amherst President Biddy Martin and President Michael S. Roth of Wesleyan University urging the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) to abandon its announced civil rights investigation into Princeton University.
https://www.amherst.edu/news/press-releases/node/780623
(September 24, 2020) —Today, more than 80 college and university leaders have signed onto a statement co-authored by Presidents Biddy Martin of Amherst College and Michael S. Roth of Wesleyan University urging the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) to abandon its announced civil rights investigati...
Andrew Nussbaum '85, the chair of Amherst's board of trustees, had a close working relationship with Ruth Bader Ginsburg as a clerk for her in the early 1990s. (He also clerked in the early 1990s for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.) He spoke about his late boss and mentor on WBUR 90.9 FM on Sunday.
Nussbaum joined WBUR's Morning Edition to talk about the late Justice Ginsburg's life and legacy, and her indomitable will to keep working towards her goals — no matter the obstacles in her way.
We're pretty #AmherstProud of how great the members of our campus community have been about following the widely accepted guidance regarding the transmission of COVID-19. But it doesn't hurt to remind everyone of what works, in a Mammoth kind of way... #protecttheherd #herdimmunity #WeAreAmherst
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Amherst College educates young people of exceptional potential from all backgrounds so that they may seek, value, and advance knowledge, engage the world around them, and lead principled lives of consequence. Amherst searches for exceptional students from across the country and around the world, including from places and populations that are historically underrepresented in higher education. Our financial aid policies are among the most generous in the nation. A successful Amherst student is someone who will embrace our open curriculum, engage our talented faculty and actively contribute to a student body that is diverse in both background and perspective. Amherst College is committed to learning through close colloquy and to expanding the realm of knowledge through scholarly research and artistic creation at the highest level. Its graduates link learning with leadership—in service to the College, to their communities, and to the world beyond.
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It's Virtual Homecoming and Family Week! Join us online this year as we celebrate through programs for students, alumni, and families, including class tent virtual meetups. View the full schedule: https://bit.ly/2J88Tb7
#ElectionDay is in 11 days. What should you do now? President Biddy Martin and Virginia Ryan '22 discuss the efforts to get out the vote with students at Amherst College, where and how to track the status of your ballot, and the importance of researching the candidates and questions on the ballot.
In conversation with President Biddy Martin, Maya Foster '23 talks about the importance of down-ballot elections, AC Votes's work in supporting young voters from historically underrepresented groups, and how the coalition helps get out the vote with students.
In a conversation with President Biddy Martin, Ben Gilsdorf '21 talks about the importance of voting and how AC Votes, a coalition of students and student groups working to increase voter registration and turnout among Amherst students, can help.
A full moon rose behind the Science Center as an artistic rendering of STEM research was projected on the D-Wing of the building recently. The first set of lights illustrated "isoelectric points and charges at varying PH’s for insulin and three different species of alpha-b," a project involving professor Patricia O’Hara, Yusrah Kaudeer ’21, Esi Obeng ’22. The second: "Ocean Twighlight Zone Project at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute," by Yusram Kaudeer ’21, Esi Obeng ’22, Kathryn Redmond ’23, Aditi Nayak ’23, Audrey Orlowsk '23 and Nathan Clayburn (postdoctoral associate). Video by Maria Stenzel, light show by Saul Slezus.
Over the past few weeks we've posted more than a few montages of congratulatory messages from Amherst faculty and staff. Some, though, didn't make it into those collections for one reason or another. Take philosophy professor Alex George's submission, which is, um, "sleightly" longer than most.
A common refrain among Amherst professors these days is that they miss their regular face-to-face interactions with students. But also missing them terribly are the staff! One group of academic department coordinators shared with us a long video they created to show support for the young people whose faces they used to see frequently. Here are three excerpts. #WeAreMammoths #AmherstTogether
A common refrain among Amherst professors these days is that they miss their regular face-to-face interactions with students. But also missing them terribly are the staff! One group of academic department coordinators shared with us a long video they created to show support for the young people whose faces they used to see frequently. Here are three excerpts. #WeAreMammoths #AmherstTogether
A common refrain among faculty these days is that they miss their regular face-to-face interactions with students. But also missing them terribly are the staff! One group of academic department coordinators shared with us a long video that they created to show support for the young people whose faces they would see frequently. Here are three excerpts. #WeAreMammoths #AmherstTogether
A common refrain among Amherst professors these days is that they miss their regular face-to-face interactions with students. But also missing them terribly are the staff! One group of academic department coordinators shared with us a long video they created to show support for the young people whose faces they used to see frequently. Here are three excerpts. #WeAreMammoths #AmherstTogether
We'll give Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Matt McGann the last word in a video for our "why choose Amherst?" series. We think his answer is pretty compelling... #WeAreMammoths #AmherstTogether #tusksup
Today's the day that enrollment decisions are due! If you are still on the fence about whether or not to join this extraordinary community, biology and environmental studies professor Ethan Clotfelter can tell you why you should. #WeAreMammoths #AmherstTogether
Why choose Amherst? "It's not a community, it's a family," says Omisha Purohit '23. #WeAreMammoths #AmherstTogether
If you're wondering just how big a mammoth was, Hayley Singleton, head of collections and operations at the College's Beneski Museum of Natural History, can tell you. In this clip, she shows off the skeleton that was the inspiration for Amherst's mascot, and explains how its current home makes Amherst a great place to study. #tusksup
Why choose Amherst? For history professor Ellen Boucher, the answer is simple.
Next up in our "why choose Amherst?" series: Dean of Financial Aid Gail Holt, with an assist from a furry member of her family.
With the deadline to enroll at Amherst--May 1!--nearly upon us, we asked some students, faculty and staff to film themselves explaining why admitted students should choose Amherst. Maida Ives, manager of farm education and operations at the College's own Book & Plow Farm, offers some food for thought.
As the members of our community continue to trickle away from campus, a few of us in the Office of Communications--furry and otherwise--paused to say adieu. (We're not normally this awkward--its social distancing, we swear!) Amherst colleagues: Feel free to share your own goodbyes in the comments! #tusksup
Olivia Gieger '21 stepped up for our last LitFest teaser, reading from Ben Rhodes' "The World As It Is," a memoir of the author's time serving in the Obama White House. Rhodes will speak from 1 to 2:30 on Sunday in Johnson Chapel.
The second day of LitFest 2020 is upon us! Listen to Jordan Brice '22 read a poem from Karen Skolfield's poetry book "Battle Dress." Skolfield will speak tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Frost Library's Center for Humanistic Inquiry (2nd floor).
Our next reader in our LitFest 2020 promo series? Common intern and English major Sofia Belimova ’22! Watch Sofia read the opening paragraph of “Sing, Unburied, Sing” by Jesmyn Ward. Ward will participate in a public LitFest discussion on Saturday afternoon in Johnson Chapel from 4 to 5:30 p.m.; the event is free and open to all.
Next up in our LitFest 2020 promo series: Sociology major Laura Carty ’20! Watch Laura read the opening paragraph of “The Other Americans” by Laila Lalami. Lalami will participate in a public LitFest 2020 discussion on Friday night in Johnson Chapel from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Izzy Meyers ’20 gamely read the opening paragraph of "Trust Exercise," by Susan Choi to help promote an event with the author this coming weekend. Choi will participate in a LitFest 2020 discussion on Friday night in Johnson Chapel from 7:30 to 9 p.m.; the event is free and open to the public.
Drawn from purchases and a gift of 172 contemporary artworks, the @meadartmuseum's current exhibition “Starting Something New: Recent Contemporary Acquisitions and Gifts” serves as a part two of Mead’s first contemporary art exhibition from last fall. Here's a sample of what's on display.
Huey Hewitt '19 talks about the disproportionate number of trans black people incarcerated in the United States, and the lack of support faced by that population both in and out of the criminal justice system in this contest-winning speech.
Carley Malloy ’22, a citizen of the Potawatomi Nation, Oklahoma, who grew up in Vermont, explains how to make a hooped beaded earring during the December 2019 INCA student group event.
As classes came to a close in December, the Indigenous and Native Citizens Association (INCA) hosted a beading night, where students came together to learn and practice the craft of beading over a dinner of traditional foods catered by Chef Sherry Pocknett, a member of the Aquinnah Wampanoag. Alexis Scalese '22 organized the event, inspired by the importance the act of beading has played in her life and her understanding of her Native identity.
In honor and recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we thought it only fitting to share the audio of a stirring speech the civil rights leader made at the New School for Social Research in 1964. Rebroadcast by the College's student-run radio station later that same year, the reel-to-reel recording now resides in Amherst's Archives and Special Collections. It is believed to be the only audio of the famous talk. https://www.amherst.edu/library/archives/holdings/mlk
A message from Amherst during this wonderful season of light.
One of the most popular—and tightly knit—groups on campus is DASAC (Dance and Step at Amherst College), which presented the “End of a Decade” showcase on Nov. 17. Hear Shikha Jha ’22 explain DASAC’s current style and check out photos of the event here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/amherstcollege/. Photos and video by Matai Curzon ’22.
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