At Convocation, Vassar Looks to History—and the Connections That Bind Us
As Vassar celebrated its own history with a tradition dating back to its founding, Mita Choudhury, Professor of History on the Evalyn Clark Chair, urged those in attendance at the College’s 162nd Convocation to seek out the complex connections that define their own lives.
“For me, as an historian, I look to the sources, to the archives,” Choudhury told the more than 1,000 members of the Vassar community who gathered in the Chapel on September 2. But she quickly added that sources such as official documents rarely tell the whole story. “Yes, archives can be treasure chests of information,” Choudhury said, “but documents don’t just appear out of nowhere. Individuals wrote those documents and individuals organized them.” The result, she noted, is that some people get left out or are barely there.
Choudhury used stories about her two grandmothers, who lived in colonial India, to amplify her point. She said the trajectories of both women’s lives were defined by the culture in which they grew up, and little of that information is available in the archives.
Choudhury cited a traumatic time in her own life, when she was a teenager in Tehran during the Iranian Revolution in the late 1970s. A graphic novel about the revolution, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, helped her understand that part of her history more clearly than any documents.
Addressing the first-year students seated in the front rows of the Chapel, Choudhury said she was certain their time at Vassar would enable them to make meaningful connections. “I shamelessly invite you to take history classes with my wonderful colleagues, many of whom are invested in bringing out the voices that have been silenced,” she said. “Their courses can help us see ourselves in history, sometimes obviously and at other times indirectly.”
The recent death of a contemporary icon, singer-songwriter Dolly Parton, prompted Christine Howlett, Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Music on the George Sherman Dickinson Chair, to change the musical kickoff to Convocation from a classical piece to one of Parton’s songs, “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.”
“There is much we can learn from Dolly—not only from her artistry and her unwavering belief in herself, but from her generosity, optimism, and commitment to others,” Howlett said as she introduced soloist Sarah Dworman ’27 and a trio of choir members, Sylvia Glazier ’29, Estelle Candela ’28, and Grace Finke ’27, who led the choir in singing the song.
President Elizabeth Bradley noted that Convocation has been a part of Vassar’s history since students first arrived on campus in 1865. “This work of coming together as a learning community is not simple, particularly at a time of enormous global tragedy, unrest, and instability,” Bradley said. “Yet, as we are shown again and again, our futures are inextricably bound to each other. And liberal arts education—which liberates the mind and opens our eyes to a broader, more nuanced perspective—can help us create community around learning and can sustain our collective aspirations and our hope. Convocation reminds us of this underlying truth: We are in this together.”
Vassar Student Association Vice President Nicole Gao ’27 asked her fellow students to embrace another Vassar tradition: questioning the status quo.
“Our education pushes us to think critically and examine complex issues,” Gao said. “Therefore, as students, we should show up for what matters. I encourage you to discover what you care about. Join organizations, mobilize, connect with the surrounding community, and make your voice heard. Have those difficult conversations with administrators and engage with them openly on challenging topics.”
Dean of the College Carlos Alamo-Pastrana opened his remarks by congratulating the residents of Raymond House on winning the Chrome Throne as part of the Brewers Games held during Orientation. But he quickly shifted to discussing the importance of making space for others, forgiveness, self-accountability, and communal growth within an inclusive community.
Reverend Callista Isabelle, Associate Dean of the College for Religious and Spiritual Life and Contemplative Practices, closed the event with a reference to Choudhury’s talk. “May the living archives of our Vassar community inspire our learning together,” Reverend Isabelle said. “Welcome to this new year at Vassar College.”
Endowed Chairs Announced
Each year, during Convocation, the Dean of the Faculty announces the newest cohort of endowed chairs. As Dean Demetrius Eudell explained, “An endowed chair is created by a financial gift to the college to fund a faculty position in a specific field or at a stage of their career. … Being named to an endowed chair is a tremendous distinction, as it acknowledges the significance of the recipient’s scholarly or creative work as well as their contributions to Vassar, including invaluable campus leadership.”
Dean Eudell announced four recipients: Nancy Bisaha, Professor of History on the Eloise Ellery Chair; Lydia Murdoch, Professor of History on the Lucy Maynard Salmon Chair; and Christopher Raymond, Professor of Philosophy on the Matthew Vassar, Jr. Greek and Latin Chair, pictured. Yu Zhou (Professor of Geography), he noted, received the inaugural Ruth Gordon Hinerfeld, Class of 1951, Chair in Social Sciences. Hinerfeld was a sociology graduate who had a distinguished career in public service, including serving as an observer to the United Nations.