Scenes from around campus across the Spring term.
Dear Columbia College Community,
Each year, as we say farewell to our graduating class, welcome alumni back to campus for Rreunion and look toward the promise of the coming academic year, I am reminded of the powerful rhythms of renewal that define our academic community. In these intervening summer months, before returning students arrive on campus alongside the incoming class, we have an opportunity for critical reflection — on both the year behind us and what lies ahead.
There is so much that merits our affirmation from this Spring:
From scholarly distinction to dedicated service and leadership, our students continue to exemplify the values and vibrancy of this community — as evidenced by the recipients of this year’s Leadership and Excellence Awards, Class Day prizes and valedictorian and salutatorian honors.
New student leaders and voices have continued to emerge as part of the Undergraduate Community Initiative, through new fellowship opportunities and by building spaces to create connections with peers.
In this 200th anniversary year of the Columbia College Alumni Association, we continue to see the profound impact our alumni have in the world — from our Lion’s Pride honorees, to alumni medalists Courtney Cesari CC’04, Eric H. Holder, Jr. CC’73, LAW’76 and Mary Kuo CC’92, who were among this year’s honorees at Commencement.
We are excited to welcome, on July 1, two new program chairs to the Core Curriculum: Nicholas Dames, the Brooke Chair in Literature Humanities, and Marcus Folch, the Carnoy Family Chair in Contemporary Civilization, – both of whom are leading scholars and longtime Core instructors.
And, at a time when our students face so many competing pressures, we are thrilled to welcome Kamala Kiem, our incoming dean of Undergraduate Student Life, who brings to Columbia a deep commitment to enriching undergraduate communities.
Every day, I am struck by the brilliance, creativity, and passion alive in this community of students, faculty, staff and alumni. In all of the myriad pursuits that occupy our community’s waking hours are vivid examples of how we can and will move beyond the difficulties of this present moment.
While this year of great strides included its share of setbacks, I hope that we can all avoid letting legitimate feelings of anger and frustration — or myopic media coverage of our community — diminish the tangible and important advances we have made, all of which ought to make us proud of our connection to Columbia.
As I said to our graduates in my remarks at Class Day, none of us gets to choose the terms of the time and place that make us, but each of us — and all of us together — is an active participant in a process of becoming. If the history of the College, its students, and alumni teaches us anything, it is that among this community are the leaders, thinkers, and principled actors who will help forge a brighter future — for Columbia and the world.
My best wishes to each of you for a rewarding and restorative summer.
With respect,
Josef Sorett
Dean of Columbia College
Vice President for Undergraduate Education