Throughout the 2025–2026 academic year, the Vassar Institute for the Liberal Arts convened scholars, artists, journalists, archivists, students, and community leaders through interdisciplinary public programming centered on storytelling, preservation, media, education, and cultural memory.
Across signature and nonsignature programs, the Institute continued fostering dialogue that connected academic inquiry with public engagement while strengthening relationships between Vassar and broader regional communities.
Thank you for supporting and engaging the Institute for the Liberal Arts! The 2025–2026 Academic Year was the second year of programming and a year of programmatic growth. In this annual report, you will find information about the four Signature Programs that took place during the 2025–2026 Academic Year, and more.
Read more.
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Signature programs327
participants across Institute programming10+
other events20+
institutions involvedDive into this year’s programs, one conversation at a time. Select an event below to learn more.
This program on the power of narratives wrestled with timely questions about how stories could inform our views of ourselves and each other.
Students from colleges across the Northeast gathered at Vassar’s Institute for the Liberal Arts on November 15 to swap ideas on how to attract a wider spectrum of visitors to their museums.
Independent women filmmakers have played a major role in advocating for social justice in the United States, but more must be done to ensure their work is preserved.
Drawing on the expertise of preservationists, librarians, lawyers, journalists, and artists, this program examined the importance and value of newspaper photo archives for local communities as well as the challenges they face in preserving them.
In addition to the Signature Programs, the Vassar Institute for the Liberal Arts has partnered with local utility companies, local community banks, and local nonprofit organizations to host board meetings and other community gatherings.
The 2025–2026 academic year demonstrated the Vassar Institute for the Liberal Arts’ continued ability to convene timely, interdisciplinary conversations that connect scholarship with public life. Across all signature programs, attendees emphasized the value of inclusive dialogue, collaborative learning, and community-centered engagement.
From preserving visual histories and independent media legacies to examining storytelling, museums, and cultural memory, this year’s programming reflected the Institute’s commitment to fostering critical inquiry while building meaningful relationships across disciplines and communities.
Across signature and non-signature programs alike, the Institute strengthened connections between academic inquiry and community engagement while supporting interdisciplinary collaboration, creative practice, and civic dialogue.
As the Institute looks ahead, it remains committed to developing public-facing programming that encourages critical reflection, inclusive conversation, and meaningful engagement both within and beyond the Vassar community.
