2022—An Eventful Year!
The Covid-19 pandemic continued to disrupt life on the Vassar campus at the start of 2022, but all signs pointed to a better 2023, and life returned to something approaching normal as the year drew to a close. Indeed, Vassar had much to celebrate in 2022. Here’s a look back at some of the highlights.
Honors and Accolades
The Alumnae/i Association of Vassar College (AAVC) paid tribute to five outstanding alums. Greeted by rousing cheers from more than 1,500 fans in the Chapel, actress and former Vassar Trustee Meryl Streep ’71 accepted the 2021 AAVC Distinguished Achievement Award. Feminist legend Brenda Feigen ’66 won the Spirit of Vassar Award, and during Fall Convocation, Arushi Raina ’14 was presented with the AAVC Young Alumnae/I Achievement Award for her work as director of the nonprofit Praxis Spinal Cord Institute. During Reunion, Edward Pittman ’82 received the Outstanding Faculty/Staff Award and Deborah Macfarlan Enright ’82 received the Outstanding Service to Vassar Award.
Renowned particle physicist Sau Lan Wu ’63, whose led a team of scientists in confirming the discovery of the Higgs boson particle, a basic building block of the universe, had a minor planet named after her by the International Astronomical Union.
Ada Ferrer ’84 was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in History for her book Cuba: An American History, and Tonia Williams ’21 became Vassar’s third Rhodes Scholar in the College’s history.
Academics
President Elizabeth H. Bradley, who has appreciated the value of collaboration since her days in the healthcare field, forged a new academic partnership with the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Bradley is pictured during a visit to the University, where she met with Principal and Vice-Chancellor Peter Mathieson. Other collaborators have included institutions in Rwanda, India and China.
The College demonstrated its commitment to improving access to higher education by securing a grant from the ECMC Foundation to develop more robust partnerships with community colleges that take part in the Exploring Transfer program and to engage more four-year liberal arts colleges in developing such programs of their own.
Campus Initiatives
Vassar celebrated the legacy of the late, beloved architecture professor Jeh Vincent Johnson by naming the ALANA Cultural Center, which he designed, in his honor. His son, former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Charles Johnson (pictured) returned to campus, where he spent his childhood, to acknowledge the honor.
President Bradley announced that Engaged Pluralism, which has enabled members of the Vassar community to transform the College culture to include a greater sense of care and belonging, would become a permanent part of Vassar’s administrative structure.
Taking aim and the barriers that confront many on campus, the College unveiled its first comprehensive Accessibility Plan.
Under the auspices of the Vassar Institute for the Liberal Arts, the College launched “Conversations @ the Salt Line,” a podcast series featuring contemporary thought leaders, including several alums.
On a parcel of land just south of the campus, the College began construction of 40 units of new faculty housing.
Recognizing the value of quiet contemplation, the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and Contemplative Practices built a labyrinth on the grounds of its new home at Pratt House.
A years-long effort to bring a polling place to the campus ended in victory—one day before Election Day this fall. About 150 students and others cast their ballots in the Aula.
Philanthropy
In an event on campus this fall, Vassar launched the largest fundraising campaign in its history, a $500-million effort dubbed “Fearlessly Consequential: A Campaign for Our Collective Future.” Above, Board Chair Tony Friscia ’78, P’15 (left) and President Bradley (right) pose with campaign co-chairs after the announcement.
To help kick off the “Fearlessly Consequential” campaign, Trustee Leslie Chihuly ’83 announced a gift of more than $2 million that will include an estate gift, a major donation to the College’s Health and Wellness Fund, and a series of annual gifts to the Vassar Fund—topped off by a donation of several works created by her spouse, renowned artist Dale Chihuly.
Before the campaign began, award-winning film and television producer Jason Blum ’91 made a $10-million pledge to be used to supplement the College’s financial aid funds, helping to ensure that the College continues meeting 100 percent of the demonstrated need of those who matriculate.
Vassar alum Jane Baker Nord ’42 made a $3-million gift to the College to endow a new Chair in Media Studies.
Commencement: A Unique Year
Vassar hosted not one but two Commencement ceremonies on campus this year. On May 22, actor and comedian John Leguizamo drew plenty of laughter as he helped the Class of 2022 celebrate their achievements. A week later, most members of the Class of 2020 returned for the on-campus ceremony they were not able to have during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Athletics
The women’s rugby team capped the year off in style, winning its second consecutive national title by defeating the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, 78-24, in the College Rugby Association of America Division II championship game on December 4 in Matthews, NC.
The men’s basketball team celebrated its first-ever Liberty League championship with a 65-48 victory over Skidmore.
A Vassar student and two recent alums joined more than 10,000 other Jewish athletes from 60 countries in competition at the 2022 Maccabiah Games in Israel.