CLASS NOTES What an incredible time to be Bard alumni/ae! The George Soros endowment challenge and the accompanying campaign are mapping a path forward that puts the future of the College in its most secure position ever. I couldn’t be prouder. The community has worked hard for this moment and we have many people to thank for that— especially the trustees of the KC Serota ’04, photo by Karl Rabe College, alumni/ae, and faculty and staff donors. I hope you will consider joining us to help complete the endowment challenge and include Bard in your legacy. More information on this can be found in the article on page 2. Over the last 40 years, Bard’s reputation has grown and now exceeds that of many of its peer institutions. We only need to look at our efforts in the past year to know how true this is. From Annandale and around the world, Bard is making a major impact on individual lives, communities, and national education policy. The challenges of this global endeavor have become harder than ever: the campus of Bard partner Al-Quds University in East Jerusalem was attacked, the Bard– St. Petersburg University partnership was abruptly ended by the hostile Russian government, and efforts to bring Afghan students and scholars to Bard have been difficult, to say the least. Still, Bard continues to educate underserved populations and provide resources and aid for all Bard students.
This summer, I saw the Bard College Berlin campus, where Managing Director Florian Becker gave me a tour of the facilities. I was amazed at how much that campus accomplishes. It has a serious dedication to refugee education, important both for its programming and for showing other German institutions how a little flexibility can be life changing on so many levels. The campus manages to feel like Annandale while being distinctly Berlin as well. Two new residence buildings now grace the campus, but a lot of work remains to update existing facilities and build up the college grounds. I trust you’ve enjoyed reading in this issue about the new faculty, new programs, the TŌN recording, and all of the accomplishments of Bardians in film, among other highlights. We are out in the world in so many fields that our Bard College Alumni/ae Association supports a variety of affinity groups, and we plan on creating more. I encourage you to join one and take the opportunity to connect professionally or geographically with current students and other fellow Bardians. I hope that we’ll all be able to gather for a major celebration in person at Alumni/ae Reunion Weekend in 2022. It is long overdue. What a party that will be! Bardian and Proud, KC Serota ’04, President Bard College Alumni/ae Association PS. As you can see, my letter now opens the Class Notes section of the Bardian. Please consider sending in a class note and keep your friends up to date on paper. I always turn to Class Notes first. I look forward to reading YOURS.
What are the most valuable assets of a Bard education? Faculty Classes Students All of the above Faculty, classes, and students are where the Bard adventure begins. All of them benefit when you give to the Bard College Fund. Visit annandaleonline.org/bcf or scan this code with your phone’s camera to make your gift!
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