Lectures and Tours

Joshua de Leeuw, Associate Professor of Cognitive Science, will demonstrate the AI teaching engine he and his students have created in order to enhance teaching in his classroom.

Discover the next generation of changemakers! Hear from students about their creative projects, startups, and social ventures. From groundbreaking ideas to hands-on solutions, explore how Vassar students are turning passion into impact through the Vassar Innovation and Entrepreneurship (VIE) Program.

Conservation, sustainability, and an exploration of the natural world are all core values at Vassar. Join Jennifer Rubbo, Director of the Environmental Cooperative, and Kerri VanCamp, Director of the Preserve at Vassar, and learn about one of the College’s greatest gems. The talk will take place at the Vassar Barns and will be followed by an optional guided walking tour of the Preserve at 3:30 p.m. (weather permitting). Sensible shoes and long pants are strongly suggested.

Urvashi Vaid ’79 (1958–2022) was a trailblazing feminist and civil rights activist whose progressive vision for social change and prolific organizing skills profoundly shaped the LGBTQ+ rights movement and the social justice movement more broadly. In this session, her sisters, Jyotsna Vaid ’76 (who co-edited a recent collection of Urvashi’s writings) and Rachna Vaid ’75 will share their reflections on their sister’s life and impact, and will invite others to share their own thoughts about Urvashi.

Enjoy a leisurely walk, discover fascinating fun facts about trees, and learn about the increasing importance of campus trees for our efforts to be more sustainable and achieve carbon neutrality. Our itinerary will include visits to the reuning classes’ class trees. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather.

Join Robert Brigham, Professor of History on the Shirley Ecker Boskey Chair and Faculty Director of The Institute for the Liberal Arts and Marianne Begemann, Director of Strategic Planning and Academic Resources and Associate Professor of Chemistry, for a presentation about the College’s newest community resource and a special look into early Institute programming followed by a Q&A.

Paco Underhill ’75, environmental psychologist, market research consultant, and New York Times bestselling author.

Yvonne Elet, Professor of Art, and Kenneth Foster, Vassar’s new Director of Sustainability, will speak about the history of the Arboretum and campus landscape development along with the College’s future plans and sustainability efforts. Following the talk, join Yvonne and Ken for a continuation of the discussion as they tour the Arboretum.