Spring 2022 Dickinson Magazine

8 PAGE

This spring offered an array of arts events, including the theatre department’s production of Little Shop of Horrors

Photo by A. Pierce Bounds ‘71.

HERE & THERE

our view 2 | kudos 4 | small-business spotlight 6 | bragging rights 7 | in the game 10

DISTINCTIVELY DICKINSON

10 Questions With Emily Marshall 18

Go beyond the numbers with the newly named director of quantitative initiatives.

PAST & PRESENT

our Dickinson 26 | obituaries 46

President John E. Jones III ’77, P’11

Vice President of Marketing & Communications Connie McNamara

Editor Lauren Davidson

Designer Amanda DeLorenzo College Photographer Dan Loh

Contributing Writers

MaryAlice Bitts-Jackson

Matt Getty

Tony Moore

Magazine Advisory Board

Alexander Becket ’08

Catherine McDonald Davenport ’87

Jim Gerencser ’93

Gregory Lockard ’03

David O’Connell

Carlo Robustelli

Megan Shelley Dapp ’05

Adrienne Su

Alisa Valudes Whyte ’93

From the Federal Bench to Old West 20 Dickinson’s 30th president is an alumnus, a parent and a fierce advocate for the liberal arts.

An Affirming Gift 22 Bill ’71 and Elke Durden see their support for Dickinson as an investment in the future.

© Dickinson College 2022. Dickinson Magazine (USPS Permit No. 19568, ISSN 2719134) is published four times a year, in January, April, July and October, by Dickinson College, P.O. Box 1773, Carlisle, Cumberland County, PA 17013-1773. Periodicals postage paid at Carlisle, PA, and additional mailing office. Address changes may be sent to Dickinson Magazine, Dickinson College, P.O. Box 1773, Carlisle, PA 17013-2896.

www.dickinson.edu/magazine | dsonmag@dickinson.edu | 717-245-1289

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SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED

Printed using wind energy and soy-based inks on Finch paper. All Finch papers are produced in Glens Falls, N.Y., using 66% on-site sustainable energy sources: emission-free hydroelectricity from the Hudson River and biomass co-generation from wood waste. Finch sustains natural American forests, supports independently certified fiber sourcing and reduces fossil fuel emissions. Due to ongoing supply-chain challenges in the paper industry, production of this issue was delayed by several weeks.

Dickinson College is an intellectual and social community that values justice, free inquiry, diversity and equal opportunity. It is a fundamental policy of the college to respect pluralism, civility and mutual understanding within its community. The college does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation or any other protected class.

DICKINSON MAGAZINE  Spring 2022 | Volume 99 | Number 4 ON

spring night

front

Head to the web for more.

View a related video.

A

in

of the Rector Science Complex. Photo by Meg Cravinho ’25.

An Ever-Evolving Institution

PRESIDENT JOHN E. JONES III ’77, P’11

Last year at this time, I was chief judge of a U.S. District Court, running a federal court during a pandemic. Today, I sit in Old West, having been selected as Dickinson’s 30th president. I sometimes look out my office window at this beautiful campus and wonder what our founders would think about my journey to the presidency. The last year has been a wild ride, but I am so grateful and honored to be part of this institution’s history.

Much has been written about these challenging times for higher education—particularly for liberal-arts institutions. Yet I see this as a time of both great opportunity and for Dickinson to continue to lead as we shape the future of liberal-arts education for the next 100 years.

As I’ve met with hundreds of students and their families in recent weeks, I’ve talked about Dickinson’s innovative approach to education. We’re proud of our 239year history, but we’re decidedly not a college stuck in the past. We remain committed to our liberal-arts core, and we are willing to build on that as an ever-evolving place that educates global leaders.

Our newest major, data analytics, is a prime example of our innovation. Understanding and interpreting data is an important skill in virtually every career path today. We are one of the only liberal-arts colleges in the country to have a data-analytics major, and our approach is distinctly Dickinson. It’s much more than simply skill-building; it takes an interdisciplinary approach, even requiring a course in the philosophy and ethics of data. (Read more on Page 18.)

Both data analytics and another initiative, FARM Lab, grew out of the Revolutionary Challenge, an innovation effort that included our entire Dickinson community— students, parents, staff, faculty and alumni. The Food, Agriculture & Resource Management (FARM) Lab involves building a state-of-the-art, sustainable facility for the College Farm’s wide array of interdisciplinary and innovative programming, which will enhance the farm’s

status as a living laboratory for students and faculty. Right now, we can only make full use of the farm in temperate months. The facility will expand opportunities for interdisciplinary, place-based research, classroom projects and community-building events.

We’ve also brought the farm to campus this spring, with the opening of Farm Works. This exciting new venture not only offers grab-and-go dining in the form of freshly made soups and salads, but it’s an incredible learning experience for the students involved and a way to make the farm more accessible to the campus and Carlisle communities. (Read more on Page 14.)

We do all of this from a position of financial strength. Standard & Poor’s recently reaffirmed our A+ bond rating, and gave us a stable outlook, notable at a time when most of higher education is in turmoil.

During my career, I have been a lawyer, served in a governor’s administration, was appointed by the president of the United States to a federal judgeship, became chief judge of my court—and now I’m a college president. I’ve often joked that I’m either the perfect example of the power of a liberal-arts education or a man who can’t keep a job! Of course, I believe it’s the former, and at a time when our graduates can expect to hold 12 different jobs in their lifetime, I think this speaks strongly to the power of the liberal arts. This is why we will continue to innovate, while remaining committed to an education that emphasizes the traditional arts and sciences.

Alumni and parents are a vital part of a vibrant Dickinson. I want to hear from you. I encourage you to reach out to me at presofc@dickinson.edu to share your thoughts, your ideas and your dreams for Dickinson. There are great things ahead for our community.

Joe O’Neill

President John E. Jones III ’77, P’11 , shared these thoughts in April following news that Standard & Poor’s upgraded the college’s bond rating. Read more from Jones, who was officially named Dickinson’s 30th president in February, on Page 20.

Campaign for Scholarships: Change a Life—Change the World

DICKINSON orward A Re vo lutionar y Fu tu re

“I have been lucky enough to find a small community on campus that has helped me grow, and I will forever be thankful to those who helped me when I struggled.”

Number of students currently supported by grants and scholarships:

1,800+

NEW SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS CREATED: 75

60% TO GOAL

$45 million, 60% toward funding our commitment to A SCHOLARSHIP FOR EVERY STUDENT WHO NEEDS ONE TOTAL SCHOLARSHIP DONORS: 3,539

To learn more about how you can get involved or for more news on the campaign, visit dson.co/change.

PAMELA ORTIZ ’22, a Posse scholar and computer science major who co-founded Dickinson’s Girls Who Code club and will be traveling to Japan after graduation to study Japanese through a Critical Language Scholarship.

“Dickinson is always innovating, finding new ways to prepare the leaders of tomorrow. It’s a place where a robust liberalarts education embraces revolutionary approaches to tackling tomorrow’s issues.”

The war in Ukraine dominated the headlines, and Dickinson faculty members were sought after for expert commentary by CBS Eye on the World and BBC News. Faculty research was highlighted on CNN and NPR, in Science Magazine, WIRED, The Atlantic, The New York Times and Times Higher Education, among others. And our admissions and financial-aid experts talked trends in Forbes and Money.

Dickinson.edu/inthenews

Featured Faculty

Visiting Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Archaeology Matthew Biwer discussed the history of coca leaves and how they relate to Coca-Cola in Inverse. His research into the ancient South American Wari civilization’s use of psychedeliclaced beer was featured by more than 30 worldwide outlets, including CNN, Nature, Science Magazine, Archaeology Magazine and LiveScience. His original study appeared in the journal Antiquity

Research on how boa constrictors breathe as they crush their prey by John Capano ’13, Professor of Biology Scott Boback and Professor of Biology Chuck Zwemer was featured in dozens of news outlets, including NPR, Ars Technica and WIRED. Capano was also mentioned in pieces in The New York Times and The Atlantic

“Scatter Terrain,” a diverse approach to landscapes both familiar and strange, curated by Professor of Studio Art Anthony Cervino and Shannon Egan, will be on view from March 25 through July 17 in Art Alley on Penn State’s University Park campus.

Visiting Assistant Professor in Archaeology Marie Nicole Pareja Cummings’ research on lions and Mesopotamian kings was cited in the anthropology magazine Sapiens.

Professor of Asian Law and Society and Walter E. Beach ’56 Chair in Political Science Neil J. Diamant published Useful Bullshit: Constitutions in Chinese Politics and Society (Cornell University Press).

Assistant Professor of Economics Xiaozhou Ding was quoted in the Times Higher Education report “Urban Graduates Benefit Most Among China’s ‘Floating’ Population.”

Professor of Mathematics and Data Analytics

Dick Forrester’s paper “Strengthening a Linear Reformulation of the 0-1 Cubic Knapsack Problem via Variable Reordering” appeared in the Journal of Combinatorial Optimization

Assistant Professor of Psychology Christine Guardino’s research on the link between new mothers’ perceptions of social status and their health was published by the American Psychological Association and featured in several news outlets, including Healio, Newswise, Medical Xpress and News Medical

Associate Professor of Art History Elizabeth Lee published The Medicine of Art: Disease and the Aesthetic Object in Gilded Age America ( Bloomsbury Academic, 2022), which shows how well-known works of American art were marked by disease and suggests art itself was a form of medicine for

viewers in the late 19th century. She spoke about the project for The Brooklyn Rail’s series “The New Social Environment.” She also published “Charles Lang Freer: Collecting the Disabled Body,” an invited essay for Routledge Companion to Art and Disability (ed. Timothy W. Hiles and Keri Watson, New York: Routledge University Press).

Professor of Religion and Sophia Ava Asbell Chair in Judaic Studies Andrea Lieber was quoted in a Forward article, “Are Virtual Minyans and Avatar Rabbis the Future of Judaism?”

In two stories in The Grand Forks Herald, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, The Jamestown Sun and the Dickinson (N.D.) Press, Assistant Professor of American Studies Darren Lone Fight discussed the Carlisle Indian Industrial School’s troubling legacy and efforts to repatriate the remains of Indigenous children to their tribes in North Dakota. College Archivist Jim Gerencser ’93 is also quoted.

Janine Ludwig , contributing faculty in German and academic director of the Dickinson-inGermany program, co-edited a 530-page collection exploring Eastern and Western social and cultural movements of the second half of the 20th century, 1968 – East – West – GermanGerman Cultural Stories , co-edited with Carsten Gansel (OKAPI Publisher, 2021). Ludwig also contributed an opinion piece in University World News about how COVID-19 has changed study abroad.

Visiting Professor of International Security Studies Jeff McCausland provided frequent commentary on the military situation in Ukraine to outlets including CBS Radio News, CBS Eye on the World/The John Batchelor Show, KDKA Radio News Pittsburgh and the Leadership Beyond Borders podcast. McCausland also appeared in an article in the Columbia Missourian and was interviewed about the Ukraine-Russia conflict for a story on Inside Edition, which is syndicated in more than 200 markets across the country.

On WPMT-TV FOX43, Associate Professor of Political Science Sarah Niebler discussed why some political candidates choose to skip debates and provided expert commentary on party endorsements in the primary elections.

Professor of History and W. Gibbs McKinney Chair in International Education Karl Qualls discussed the impact of the war in Ukraine with BBC News in an article that was republished around the world in dozens of languages. Qualls also appeared as a guest on the Newstalk Breakfast radio program in Dublin, Ireland. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star published an opinion piece by Qualls titled “Ukraine Buildup: Why It’s Time to Worry, but Not Panic, About Russia.” He was interviewed by the Society for the History of Children and Youth as the “Featured Book” for Stalin’s Niños: Educating Spanish Civil War Refugee Children in the Soviet Union, 19371951. The interview is available on the society’s YouTube channel, and the podcast version is available widely.

Assistant Professor of Francophone Studies & Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies and contributing faculty to the Middle Eastern studies program Mireille Rebeiz was selected as a scholar to serve on the advisory board for the Global Institute for Research Education & Scholarship in Amsterdam (Netherlands). GIRES is a multidisciplinary global institute that promotes academic work and research from around the world. Her op-ed “Djokovic Got Served” was published in PennLive.

Assistant Professor of Art History Wei Ren published “Vernacular Painting and Transitional Beijing: Chen Shizeng’s Beijing Fengsu Album, ca. 1915,” in Archives of Asian Art

The Washington Post published two op-eds by Associate Professor of Philosophy Crispin Sartwell, titled “Escaping the Present Amid Objects From the Past: The Restorative Joy of Antique Malls” and “Experts Disagree, and So Should You.”

In January, the Georgia Center for the Book named Poet-in-Residence and Professor of Creative Writing Adrienne Su ’s book Peach State (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2021) to its list of “Books All Georgians Should Read.” The book also was highlighted by ARTS ATL in a recent Q&A with Su.

The Sentinel highlighted professors McCausland and Qualls, along with Associate Professor of Political Science and International Studies Andy Wolff, in a story examining the possible next steps of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Administrator Accolades

The Williamsport Sun-Gazette ran an article mentioning Dickinson’s ALLARM Stream Team initiative.

Assistant Vice President for Enrollment and Director of Admissions Programs & Services Molly Boegel discussed the digital SAT’s impact on the college admissions process in a report from WHP-TV CBS21.

Vice President for Enrollment & Dean of Admissions Catherine McDonald Davenport ’87 was quoted in Forbes, offering college application tips for 2022.

An article in Lancaster Farming newspaper highlights a study on silvopasture practices by the Dickinson College Farm.

President John E. Jones III ’77, P’11, provided expert commentary on the court battle over Pennsylvania’s redistricting plans on WHTM-TV ABC27. Jones also appeared on This Week in Pennsylvania, speaking about the constitutionality of mail-in ballots. Jones’ op-ed “We Are All Americans and Democracy Is Our Shared Faith” was published by PennLive. WHTMTV, the Patriot-News, the Central Penn Business Journal and the Pottsville Republican-Herald all reported on Jones’ appointment as Dickinson’s 30th president.

Director of West Coast Recruitment Phil Moreno appeared as a live guest on KMAX-TV’s Good Morning Sacramento, discussing how changes to standardized testing are impacting the college admissions process.

Vice President & Dean of Student Life George Stroud discussed on-campus housing in U.S. News & World Report

Director of Financial Aid Leah Young was quoted in Money magazine’s article “3 Ways College Financial Aid Letters Can Confuse Families— and What to Do About It.” The article also appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, Nasdaq news and Flipboard

Kudos as of March 28.

Small-Business Spotlight

Dickinson launched its Small-Business Directory in 2020 as a way to celebrate, share and support alumni-owned enterprises. Businesses are submitted by alumni and organized by category, ranging from home goods and health to sustainability and charitable services. Here are a few from the professional services (marketing, legal assistance, real estate, insurance) category.

• Chieppor & Egner LLC (Alexander Egner ’13; Lancaster, Pa.) A general practice law firm covering criminal defense, family law and personal injury cases, all of which require a high level of advocacy. chiepporandegnerlaw.com

• Cohere (Chris Richards ’10; Baltimore) A creative agency focused on the intersection of food, place and impact. www.cohere.city

• Medical Conference Planners International (Alexandra Baranick ’10; Los Angeles) MCPI organizes, manages and nurtures successful medical conferences worldwide, from advisory board meetings for 20 people to conferences for 2,000. medconfs.com

• My Frugal Nature (Kerry Hunt ’81; Stamford, Conn.) Blog-style website focusing on sustainable finances and sustainable living. MyFrugalNature.com

• Park Square Executive Search (Bruce Rychlik ’89; Boston) Serving companies and institutions that are shaping the world through discovery, innovation and growth by placing board members, chief executive officers, C-suite executives and academic leaders. parksquare.com

A Record Year

Dickinson received a staggering 8,230 applications for the class of 2026, more than any in the college’s 239-year

history, eclipsing the previous high of 6,426 set in 2019 by the incoming class of 2023.

The numbers are clear evidence that demand for Dickinson’s brand of liberal-arts education is stronger than ever, and the surge in applications allowed the college to become more selective than ever. This year’s 35% acceptance rate is the lowest in the college’s history, placing Dickinson within striking distance of being one of the 100 most selective colleges in the United States.

Dickinson finished in the TOP 10 at the College Mock Trial nationals!

Erin Lowe ’23

has been named a 2022 Truman Scholar! Lowe is one of 58 Truman Scholars selected out of more than 700 applicants for demonstrating outstanding leadership potential, a commitment to a career in government or the nonprofit sector and academic excellence. Lowe is Dickinson’s first Truman Scholar.

Coach of the Year

Head Men’s Basketball Coach

ALAN SERETTI was named 2022 Centennial Conference (CC) Coach of the Year. Over his time in Carlisle, Seretti has amassed a 171-148 record, with two CC titles.

Bond Rating Upgraded

Dickinson’s Standard & Poor’s (S&P) bond rating has been upgraded to A+ with a stable outlook. S&P cited the appointment of John E. Jones III ’77, P’11, as the 30th president, enrollment growth and strong financial resources as reasons for the upgrade.

Six Dickinsonians Admitted to Oxford University’s Mansfield Program

Continuing Dickinson’s history of success, every applicant was accepted into the highly selective, yearlong Visiting Student Programme at Oxford University’s Mansfield College.

dson.co/oxford22mag

Spring Arts Event Roundup

There was an arts event for virtually any mood in spring 2022. Needed a laugh? The theatre department’s production of Little Shop of Horrors was heavy on the ridiculous, light on the sublime. Feeling contemplative? DTG’s Freshworks concert brought choreographic research to the stage. Feeling romantic? Itching to cut a rug? The orchestra led a trip to the Romantic era, and the Jazz Ensemble was in the pocket.

Dickinson art departments also provided food for thought—musicians pondered big questions with a concert on war, peace and justice; The Trout Gallery shared life lessons courtesy of West Point’s first Black varsity football athlete and presented exhibitions on race and gender; while the College Choir’s spring performance had environmental issues on tap.

Senior studio art and art history majors showcased new works and research and Dickinson hosted a senior thesis production of the play Proof. There were noonday and chamber music events and two solo exhibitions—one by Dickinson’s newest art & art history professor, Eleanor Conover, and the other by Baltimore artist-educator Michael Weiss ’89. You can see Weiss’ works during Alumni Weekend, when the artist will return to campus and give a guided tour of the exhibition.

Snippets of stories from around campus and beyond

Dickinson.edu/news

Day of Giving Goal Exceeded

Dickinsonians around the world came together on April 5 to shatter the Day of Giving goal of 3,000 gifts in 24 hours with more than 3,500 gifts, totaling $1.46 million. Those gifts support every aspect of the student experience, which prepares students to be tomorrow’s leaders through academic programming, athletics, study abroad and more. Numerous challenge donors led the charge and made more than $300,000 in challenge gifts to inspire other donors to join in this historic effort. And more than 850 Day of Giving donors designated their gifts toward scholarships, contributing to the Campaign for Scholarships: Change a Life—Change the World, which seeks to provide a scholarship for every student who needs one.

dickinson.edu/dayofgiving

Photos by Dan Loh

Students and Alumni Celebrate, Share, Learn and Connect

The third Women of Color Summit brought more than 150 students, faculty, staff and alumni together to celebrate, learn, share and connect as women of color and allies. The student-led summit was held virtually March 5-6 and included sessions on cultivating and asserting self-worth, body positivity and wellness. There was also a panel discussion on navigating college and the wider world as a woman of color featuring Judith Rudge ’05 , Joanne Adebayo ’21 , Eileen Galicia ’10 and Tabitha Jones ’08 . In addition, nearly 100 students, staff, faculty and alumni participated in an Allyship Workshop.

dson.co/woc22mag

Rising Red Devils

Dickinson highlighted Red Devils athletics this February through All Devils Rise, a monthlong celebration of our student-athletes and the McAndrews Fund for Athletics, which supports them. During the month, Dickinsonians celebrated National Girls and Women in Sports Day; student-athletes hosted a free coffee day to thank faculty, staff and students for their support; and alumni, parents and friends of the college made 179 new gifts to the McAndrews Fund totaling more than $60,000.

Take Back the Night

On April 20, the Dickinson community gathered for Take Back the Night (TBTN), which honors all who are impacted by sexual and relationship violence and is an opportunity to recommit to creating a culture in which sexual and interpersonal violence no longer exists. During the event, students read survivor love letters, and remarks were made by keynote speaker Llamilet Gutierrez ’09, the former executive director of the Amara Legal Center, which provides free legal representation to sextrafficking survivors in the D.C. metropolitan area. After the speakers, student members of the TBTN planning committee led a march from Allison Hall to Britton Plaza, where Rabbi Marley Weiner led a candlelight vigil. Advocates from the YWCA of Carlisle and Cumberland Counties and Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland and Perry Counties were present to provide support.

Basketball

On the court, the men’s basketball team went 11-13 after going 4-21 during the 2019-20 season. Centennial Conference (CC) Coach of the Year Alan Seretti led the Red Devils, and Ryan Robinson ’22 was named second-team all-conference. (Read more about Robinson at right.) The biggest game of the year was against 11th-ranked Swarthmore and saw Andrew Gostovich ’24 net a team-high 11 off the bench in the 52-48 win. The men’s campaign came to an end with a 73-67 loss to Ursinus College in the first round of the CC playoffs. The women’s basketball team was led by first-year head coach Aby Diop; sophomore Jennifer Kremp, who was named secondteam All-CC; and junior Kate Montgomery, who joined Kremp on the second team. The highlight of the season came from a 62-54 overtime win over Johns Hopkins, which stopped the Jays’ 15-game winning streak. Montgomery scored 15 points in that game. The women’s season ended with a 47-39 loss to Washington College in the first round of the CC tournament.

Squash

Nicolas Serna ’25 earned first-team All-Mid-Atlantic Squash Conference honors with a 13-5 record playing at the top flight. Also making a big contribution was Omar Ali ’25, who went 13-5 and earned second-team AllMid-Atlantic Squash Conference honors. The highlight of the season came on senior night, when the Red Devils shut out the Big Red of Denison University 9-0. Their season ended with a 5-4 loss to Bates on Day Three of the CSA national championships.

Amna Fayyaz ’24 was named first-team All-Mid-Atlantic Squash Conference and paced the side with a 15-5 record at the top spot. Courtney Trail ’22 went 10-3 to earn second-team allconference honors. The season wrapped up at the CSA women’s team championship with a 5-4 loss in the Walker Cup final to Hobart & William Smith.

Swimming

First-year coach Katie Wingert McArdle took the helm after serving the previous year as assistant coach. For the men, a proud moment was a 104-101 win on senior day against

Ursinus. Cameron McConagha ’22 put the icing on the cake as he took the top spot in the 100-yard breaststroke to secure the win. The Red Devils finished the season in sixth place on Day Four of the CC championship.

The women were led by junior Sarah Caron ’23, who received an All-CC honorable mention. The highlight of their season came at a home meet when the Red Devils defeated McDaniel 157-46. Olivia Abbott-Havers ’25, Caron, Kelly Hester ’22 and Hannah Strauss ’25 won the 200yard medley relay and were followed by Sophie Laclef ’24, Sarah McHenry ’25, Sarah Mulcahy ’25 and Margie Winter ’25 five seconds later. The Devils finished their season sixth in the CC championship.

This winter, six Red Devils teams returned to action after not competing since the 2019-20 season due to COVID-19. The Devils are laying the foundation for a bounce-back season in 2022-23.

Photos by Matthew O’Haren

Catalyst on the Court

Ryan Robinson ’22’s basketball career at Dickinson can be described as nontraditional and challenging—but also inspiring and memorable. He has scored more than 300 points this season, averaging 12 points per game. And he led the Red Devils to the Centennial Conference (CC) playoffs for the first time since 2017-18. Standing 6 feet, 2 inches, Robinson earned second team all-conference accolades this year— well-earned recognition under the duress of nearly two COVID seasons.

“It was very hard to stay motivated and focused on basketball during COVID and our time at home,” Robinson says. “As a team we had Zoom meetings to stay in contact and did weekly yoga as a fun way to get together and get better. Individually, it was important to remind myself why I wanted to play basketball in college in order to stay motivated and enjoy working toward my basketball goals. It changed everything. But not only did we outlast it, we came out better because of it.”

“Ryan was our catalyst on the court, finishing in the top 15 in the league in scoring, assists, steals, blocked shots and rebounds, and his effort and passion inspired our guys,” says head men’s basketball coach Alan Seretti, who was named CC Coach of the Year this season.

“I was so proud to see Coach Seretti get that recognition, because it was a tribute to everything he has put into this program for the last 12 years,” says Robinson. “It’s also very telling about our resilience, to be able to bounce back from a 4-21 season two years ago to hosting a home playoff game in the Kline this season. Coach Seretti is a huge reason why I’m going to graduate from Dickinson. I have the utmost respect for him because of his dedication and how much he cares for his players on and off the court.”

Robinson recalls his favorite memory from this season was when the Devils upset No. 11 Swarthmore at home, giving the Garnet their first regular-season loss in the conference since 2019. “Celebrating in the locker room was something I’ll never forget,” says Robinson.

Basketball has always been a part of his life. Robinson’s father was a coach since before he was born and his older siblings played the game growing up as well, including his sister, who played DII hoops.

After graduation, Robinson is considering either a grad year abroad to continue playing basketball and get his master’s or taking a business analyst role near Washington, D.C.

“I’m so thankful for the opportunity I had as a member of the basketball team at Dickinson,” he says. “All of the experiences and relationships that I have had over my four years have helped me grow as a person and will stay with me for the rest of my life.” — Ellie Werner ’22

Girls Who Code Club Is All About Community

Here’s something you probably wouldn’t guess: Back in 1995, 37% of computer scientists were women. Through 2022, that number is predicted to be just 22%.

The reasons for the downtrend are varied. But on a mission to reverse it is Girls Who Code, an advocacy group that’s been petitioning both local and federal legislatures to help get girls and women back into computer science. On the grassroots level, the organization works through its more than 1,500 clubs across the U.S., hosting educational events and providing an arena for women and girls with an interest in computer science to meet up.

And Dickinson has a chapter of its own, through the organization’s College Loop program.

GWC @ DICKINSON

“We founded this club because we wanted to create a safe space for women in STEM to gather outside of the classroom,” says Pamela Ortiz ’22 (computer science), who notes that the club is, before anything, a community where women learn together and support each other. “We want members to express themselves without feeling forced to interact or talk about the difficulties of being a woman in a male-dominated field.”

On Feb. 10, Dickinson hosted a fireside chat with Reshma Saujani, the founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, an event aiming to bring awareness both to the problems inherent in the gender disparity and ways more girls and women can get involved in computer science.

“Clubs like Girls Who Code are so important in closing the gender gap in computer science and related fields,” says Jill Forrester, Dickinson’s CIO and vice president of information services, who served as an early resource for Dickinson’s Girls Who Code club and moderated the Feb. 10 chat. “And the networks that develop at the college level can also provide academic support as well as highlight career opportunities that are available.”

CODERS (AND EVERYONE ELSE) WELCOME

Dickinson’s Girls Who Code club—run exclusively by students— features a lot of coding-specific activities, but a general interest in STEM fields is the only prerequisite for joining.

“This club is open to anyone interested in computer science, coding and technology, and anyone is welcome to join—including people who have never had experience with coding before,” says Katya Egorova ’22 (computer science), adding that through the club’s small, hourlong workshops on subjects like HTML, CSS and JavaScript, even members who’ve never written a single line of code can create a simple web page. “To me, the most unique and fascinating aspect about coding is that you can learn so little and already apply and build something fun or useful. And this is the foundation of our club.”

THE PATH THROUGH COMPUTER SCIENCE

The club is in good hands, as both Ortiz and Egorova are passionate about the broad applications of coding and are evangelical about how multifaceted the field really is.

“I love everything about coding! It can be challenging, analytical, creative, humanitarian and personal,” says Ortiz. “With code, your day-to-day artist can become a website developer, earth scientists can use GIS to analyze geographical data and developers can contribute technology that helps those in need.”

With that in mind, it’s not hard to see why both Ortiz and Egorova are looking ahead to careers in the field—and view Girls Who Code as a way to get more women to embrace that path as well.

“We want to show women that they belong in the tech world and that a computer science major is worth pursuing,” says Egorova. “And Dickinson’s computer science program has recently expanded the course offerings and now has more classes that offer exposure to technologies that are used in industry, which is very helpful for starting our careers.” —Tony Moore

Sons of East Tennessee: Civil War Veterans Divided and Reconciled

By Jack Brubaker ’66 McFarland

This book recounts the meeting of two families from opposing sides of the Civil War, placing their story in the context of America’s reconciliation narrative at the end of the 19th century. A native of Lancaster County, Brubaker writes a column on local history and culture for LNP, the daily newspaper in Lancaster. He is a retired investigative reporter and is a regular contributor to Pennsylvania Magazine. This is his seventh book.

Mercy Street

By Jennifer Haigh ’90 Ecco

The highly anticipated new novel by Haigh, an acclaimed New York Times bestselling author who was called “a gifted chronicler of the human condition” by Washington Post Book World, is a tense, riveting story about the disparate lives that intersect at a women’s clinic in Boston.

In Her Defense

Amy Impellizzeri ’92

Wyatt-MacKenzie

In Her Defense is the first book of a new legal drama series by reformed corporate litigator turned award-winning author Impellizzeri. Each book features an unlikely heroine taking on the corruption and backdoor politics in a New York City suburb small enough for everyone to know each other’s secrets ... but few do.

Managing Arts Organizations

By David Andrew Snider ’93 Rowman & Littlefield

Snider draws on 25 years of experience to share how arts managers, in the wake of COVID-19, can lead their organizations to survive and thrive. He provides a playbook for navigating arts management in this new era and seeks to inspire a new generation of arts managers.

Making Knowledge Management Clickable: Knowledge Management Systems Strategy, Design, and Implementation

By Zachary Wahl ’98 and Joseph Hilger Springer

Wahl and Hilger have documented the collective experience they’ve gained from helping countless customers with knowledge-management projects. As co-founders of Enterprise Knowledge, they are writing as practitioners directly to other practitioners with the intent to enable them to apply and benefit from their knowledge and experience.

Cover photo by Rachel Neville

Farm Works will be open exclusively for Alumni Weekend attendees on Friday, June 10, and Saturday, June 11, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stop in to shop and connect with members of the College Farm team.

Dickinson Launches Farm Works, a Student-run College Farm Store

The new Farm Works store brings the College Farm into downtown Carlisle.

Dickinson’s College Farm is six short miles from campus—a bikeable distance, but a distance all the same. Dickinsonians travel to the College Farm regularly to learn, teach, research and enjoy public workshops and events, and they enjoy College Farm-fresh fare in the Dining Hall and at the weekly farmers market a few blocks from campus. But there are still some who haven’t yet truly experienced the College Farm—or haven’t done so as often as they might.

Enter Dickinson College Farm Works, a new space on the edge of campus that brings a taste of the College Farm straight into the heart of Carlisle.

The idea for a farm store had been percolating since 2018, when it was first sent for approval by the college’s Space Planning Committee. “Timing is everything, and the timing wasn’t quite right at that time,” says College Farm Director Jenn Halpin

In the years since, the farm staff and students have continued to build on successes in making value-added products like seed savings, organic salad dressings and sauces, dryer balls, piping-hot, woodfired pizza and other sustainable goods, and

the idea resurfaced. The farm-store project was green-lit by President John E. Jones III ’77, P’11 , in January.

Farm Works opened on March 21 at 169 W. High Street, a few steps from Denny Hall, for a seven-week proof-of-concept trial. Farm Works offered grab-and-go salads and soups made from certified-organic College Farm ingredients. College Farm small-batch foodstuffs, like its popular, hyperlocal salsa, jerky, pickles and sauces, were also for sale, along with new merchandise and student-crafted, artisanal and sustainable goods. A bulk section offering items like trail mix and laundry detergent helped drive the zero-waste message home.

“The store makes the College Farm more easily accessible to students,” explains Abi Stearn ’22 , a College Farm student worker and one of the students involved with the project. “I am excited for more people to be able to experience the bounty that the farm has to offer.”

The farm team will spend the summer assessing store performance (with the help of customer experience surveys), testing new recipes, renovating for more kitchen space to enable on-site food prep, planning,

harvesting and identifying avenues for more student involvement at the store. Farm Works will reopen in August with even more on the menu and the shelves.

“We have been thrilled by the great reception from the campus community during the trial period,” says Halpin. “Students have been able to showcase their hard work transformed into jars of salsa, packets of seeds, as well as soups and salads. Connecting the work of the College Farm to the campus community through nourishing food has been an amazing experience for all those involved in every step of the process— literally, from seed to spoon.”

dson.co/farmworksmag

TOP LEFT: A custom wall mural was designed and painted by members of Dickinson’s marketing & communications team (Amanda DeLorenzo, Dan Bennett, Amanda Chilton and Kurt Smith) and furniture, display items and decor were sourced from local antique stores and lent by the Department of Theatre & Dance and the Dickinson College Bookstore.

BOTTOM LEFT: Connor Steffen ’24 (Spanish, environmental science) and Abi Stearn ’22 (anthropology), and College Farm Coordinator Audree Khalishah ’21 were integral to the launch and daily running of Farm Works, with guidance from Director of the College Farm Jenn Halpin.

Dan Loh

Photos by Dan Loh and Sean Simmers

Red & White Day 2022

Red & White Day, A TRADITION THAT STARTED IN 2014, IS A FULL-CAMPUS ATHLETICS EXTRAVAGANZA, FEATURING RED DEVILS GAMES ALL AFTERNOON, AN ALL-CAMPUS PICNIC, A TAILGATE EVENT, HALFTIME GIVEAWAYS AND MORE.

On the court, women’s tennis soundly defeated Muhlenberg, while at Dickinson Park softball split a doubleheader and baseball dropped both ends of a doubleheader with Haverford. At Biddle Field, men’s and women’s lacrosse came away with victories over Ursinus.

With its win, the No. 9-ranked men’s squad stayed undefeated, on the day the college celebrated the 70th anniversary of the program. The celebration included a reception and dinner with the current team, parents, alumni and coaches as well as an event for the David W. Webster ’88 Men’s Lacrosse Fund, which donors recently established to support the advancement of Dickinson’s men’s lacrosse program and honor Webster, the program’s head coach.

Red & White Day also coincided with day 2 of the Accepted Student Open House, so besides current Dickinson students, revelers included more than 1,000 admitted students and their parents.

The day had an incredible turnout—at the sports events at Biddle and Dickinson Park, the All-Campus Picnic, tailgate, games for current and admitted students and the epic tugof-war. Katie McArdle, head men’s and women’s swimming coach and aquatics director, gives a large share of the success of the day to students who helped coordinate.

“Above all, bravo to our student leaders on a wonderful job,” says McArdle. “You created something special today that will not only be a proud moment and memory for you and your student body but will also create incredible momentum for the future of Dickinson student life, the fan experience and athletics.”

Dickinson celebrates athletics, school spirit with campuswide festivities

Questions With Emily Marshall

1. You’re Dickinson’s first director of quantitative initiatives. What does this encompass?

2. As a professor of economics, what led you into data analytics?

By Tony Moore

Dickinson has recently started several new academic programs—including quantitative economics and data analytics—to continue our innovative and useful education while acknowledging the increased relevance of and demand for quantitative skills. We see the interdisciplinary connections consistent with our liberal-arts mission and paths for collaboration across a multitude of postgraduate experiences as an opportunity to become a leader in these fields. This position was created to continue building on the synergies and partnerships formed across campus in academic departments, administrative units and other offices related to quantitative methodologies and topics.

Data analytics is a pervasive field with tools and methodologies that span many disciplines—and economics is one of those. My dissertation was primarily in theoretical (mathematical) modeling, but I had strong training in econometrics, which examines empirical evidence using statistical methods to study economic relationships. In my first few years at Dickinson, so many students were interested in working with data, I transitioned my research agenda to incorporate empirical projects. So, it was a natural progression for me to be deeply involved in the data-science initiative and data-analytics major.

Go beyond the numbers with the associate professor of economics and data analytics, co-chair of the Department of Data Analytics and newly named director of quantitative initiatives

3. What makes data analytics such a vital major for Dickinson to offer?

The prevalence, quantity and availability of data are constantly increasing in both volume and complexity and are at the center of today’s greatest experiences and challenges. Academic disciplines, business models, public-health plans, ideas of social justice, community programs and governmental operations have evolved and transformed to seize the opportunities of data-driven environments. Data analytics will position our students to be critical consumers, users, explorers and communicators of data.

4. Your areas of key academic interest are the fields of monetary economics and macroeconomics. What grabs you about these?

Some people may hear “economics” and think “boring”—but, right now especially, macroeconomics affects aspects of everyone’s lives on a daily basis. In the last few years, the relevance and significance of macroeconomics has been at the forefront of the news cycle, encompassing business, financial and individual decision-making.

5. And where do you see them intersecting?

They overlap everywhere! Interest rates and the cost of borrowing, federal government debt and fiscal stimulus, housing-demand preference shifts, including deurbanization, low real-estate supply, pandemic-induced recessions, disrupted supply chains, historically low unemployment, labor shortages, determinants of oil prices, the macroeconomics of infectious diseases … I could go on!

6. You wrote an article discussing if economics is STEM? What was the verdict?

The answer is—it depends! Economics has many subdisciplines, many of which use rigorous quantitative and empirical methods that warrant classification as STEM. So a subset of economics degrees, identified as econometrics and quantitative economics, is considered STEM The number of institutions conferring econometrics and quantitative economics degrees has increased recently from 1% of all undergraduate economics degrees conferred in 2012 to 22% in 2019. Dickinson has both a quantitative (STEM) economics major and a traditional economics degree.

7. I see you were a visiting scholar at the International Monetary Fund. What did you learn there that might be a surprise to people not paying close attention to the organization’s workings?

The division of the IMF that I worked for was the Institute for Capacity Development. It might surprise some people that this branch of the IMF has responsibilities that include teaching and educating countries’ government institutions on economic concepts and policy issues. So, in a lot of ways, there are a lot of similarities with academia—just different audiences. The training provided by the ICD is a critical component of the IMF’s work to help countries’ economies grow.

8. What made you want to become an economics professor instead of, say, an economist at BlackRock?

I was always drawn to teaching, but during graduate school I pursued other ways to use my economics education. I did find my brief experiences working with government data and in the private sector rewarding, but in very different ways than teaching. My undergraduate education was at a liberal-arts institution, and ultimately I knew that is where I wanted to build my career. Teaching, and learning from, diverse, passionate and dedicated students is one of the most fulfilling professions I can imagine. I highly value the intellectual balance between teaching and research and appreciate being part of a thriving academic community.

9. Where do you see Dickinson’s data-analytics program in 10 years?

We hope to expand our course offerings and cocurricular experiences to reach all parts of the campus, community and beyond. There are so many opportunities for collaboration, and we want to take full advantage of these experiences and partnerships, including with our alumni working in the field.

10. You’re busier than ever with economics and data analytics, so what are you up to when you’re not busy with those things?

If you had asked me before March 17, I would have proudly said watching University of Kentucky basketball! In the fall, I transition to Philadelphia Eagles football (and, of course, Kentucky is my college team). I also enjoy hanging out with my dog, Paisley.

Teaching, and learning from, diverse, passionate and dedicated students is one of the most fulfilling professions I can imagine.

From the Federal Bench to Old West

John E. Jones III ’77, P’11, who retired from a lifetime appointment as chief judge of the U.S. Middle District of Pennsylvania in June 2021 to become interim president of Dickinson, has been named the 30th president in the college’s 239-year history. Dickinson’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to make the appointment during a special Feb. 28 meeting.

“As we began discussions about commencing a national search for the next Dickinson president, it was quite clear to me and the board that we already had the right person for the job—an alumnus, a parent and previous board chair, who cared enough about Dickinson to resign from a lifetime judicial appointment to serve his alma mater at a critical time,” says Douglas J. Pauls ’80, chair of the Board of Trustees. “I am thrilled with this decision and convinced that John will continue to work with faculty, staff and students to build Dickinson’s revolutionary future. He is the right person to lead Dickinson at the right time. And, most important, he loves this college.”

In the seven months since being named interim president, Jones has worked tirelessly to advance the college. He established Dickinson Forward , a multifaceted initiative to position Dickinson to excel in the challenging times ahead. He also launched the Campaign for Scholarships: Change a Life—Change the World , the most ambitious financial-aid fundraising effort in the college’s history, which will fund Dickinson’s commitment to meeting the full demonstrated need of every admitted student. Under Jones’ leadership, donors have already contributed gifts totaling more than 60% of the campaign goal. Additionally, with more than $30 million in giving thus far, this is already Dickinson’s best fundraising year in a decade.

“I’m honored to be leading Dickinson and view this role as the opportunity of a lifetime,” says Jones. “I’m passionate about our liberal-arts education and excited to work alongside our faculty, staff, students, parents and alumni as we take our beloved college to the next level.”

Jones was highly visible on campus this spring, offering open hours monthly alongside Student Senate President Shea

Player ’22 , attending many student and campus events, including the opening day of Farm Works (read more on Page 14), welcoming families to open-house events and celebrating with alumni and parents during Red & White Day and Day of Giving. He also hit the road, traveling to Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., for admitted-student receptions and to London, Bologna, New York City and San Francisco for alumni events.

In April, Dickinson’s Standard & Poor’s (S&P) A+ bond rating was upgraded to A+ with a stable outlook. The S&P decision cited the appointment of Jones as the 30th president, enrollment growth and strong financial resources, including the Resource Realignment Task Force formed by Jones last August, as reasons behind the upgrade.

“Dickinson is stronger than ever and moving forward together,” says Jones. “And as we continue to move forward, it’s good to know that outside authorities like S&P are seeing what many of us in this community already know—Dickinson is financially strong, and we’re well positioned as a leader in liberalarts education.”

Dickinson’s 30th president is an alumnus, a parent and a fierce advocate for the liberal arts

10 Quick Facts About President Jones

1 Served as U.S. district judge of the Middle District Court of Pennsylvania, a position to which he was appointed by President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate in 2002. Jones went on to become chief judge in 2020.

2 Presided over high-profile cases, including the landmark Kitzmiller v. Dover School District, holding that it was unconstitutional to teach intelligent design within a publicschool science curriculum, and Whitewood v. Wolf, striking down as unconstitutional Pennsylvania’s ban on same-sex marriage.

3 Served in Gov. Tom Ridge’s administration for seven years and considers Ridge to be one of the most meaningful mentors in his life.

4 Named by Time magazine as one of its Time 100 most influential people in the world in 2006.

5 Joined Dickinson’s board of trustees in 2008 and served as chair from 2017-21.

Brian Kamoie ’93

9 Consistent with his political science degree, he loves to read presidential biographies and history. He also consumes at least four newspapers (online) daily.

10 Stays active with his Peloton bike and enjoys power-walking around Carlisle, especially at Dickinson

and the adjacent trails.

6 Received an honorary doctorate in law and public policy from Dickinson and was named one of the 25 most influential graduates in the college’s history.

7 Born and raised in Schuylkill County, Pa., and is a graduate of Mercersburg Academy, Dickinson College and Penn State Dickinson Law.

8 Proudly presented both son John ’11 and niece Lexi Tobash ’17 with their diplomas at their Dickinson commencement ceremonies. Along with wife Beth, he also has a daughter, Meghan, and three grandchildren.

Park

Mark Lewis

Photos by Dan Loh and Joe O’Neill unless noted.

Bill ’71 and Elke Durden

By MaryAlice Bitts-Jackson

Long before he was the college’s 27th president, Bill Durden ’71 was a Dickinson undergrad, eager to explore the world. The first in his family to attend college, he majored in German and philosophy and studied abroad in Germany.

“What was impressed upon me was that global education is essential; it is absolutely integral to the Dickinson education, and it is about much more than simply visiting new places,” Bill says. “It’s not enough to simply see the other place. You need to change as a result of these experiences, and you then need to begin to apply what you’ve learned to your own life. It can be as mundane as changing what you eat for breakfast, or what time you eat it. And it can be as profound as altering your worldview.”

Bill and wife Elke, a fellow scholar and former Dickinson professor, have sought just those sorts of cultural lightbulbs ever since. They also help young people to enjoy similar change-making experiences through Dickinson. Or, to borrow a Durden-era catchphrase, to go forth and “engage the world,” locally, nationally and internationally.

Living What They Learn

After serving as a Fulbright scholar at the University of Basel, Switzerland, immediately after his Dickinson graduation, Bill enrolled in an M.A./Ph.D. program at Johns Hopkins University. There, he met Elke, a Ph.D. student equally passionate about community and global engagement and about cultivating global sensibility and curiosity across generations.

“I think a global mindset is in our DNA,” says Elke, who emigrated from Germany to the U.S. with her family in 1954. “Because of our experiences, it’s just how we see the world.”

see their support for global education at Dickinson as an investment in the college, its students and the world those students will one day help lead.

Engaging the World

Fast-forward to 1999: Elke taught German at St. Paul’s School for Boys, was a member of the College Board for Advanced Placement in German and taught in Dickinson’s German department. Bill was an education administrator, professor and former senior education consultant to the U.S. Department of State. When Bill was tapped to serve as Dickinson’s president, the Durdens weighed the opportunity carefully. Having seen the power of global education in their own lives and in the lives of Elke’s students—and with a vision for the work ahead—he accepted the role in 1999.

During Bill’s presidency, Elke continued to teach, and the Durdens connected with Dickinsonians from all over the world and welcomed more international teaching assistants, scholars and dignitaries to campus.

Dickinson’s global-ed programs and international-student population grew exponentially as the college’s national reputation and its standing as a top college for study abroad was strengthened, and as Dickinson launched admissions efforts in new corners of the world. Dickinson offered increased options for hands-on learning abroad through global Mosaics and study-abroad internships, volunteerism and research.

‘An Affirmation’

After supporting Dickinson for many years, the Durdens became Old West Society members in 2008, when they included Dickinson in their estate plans. They annually support faculty seminars and fund a writers series at the Durden Bremen Center. Upon Bill’s retirement in 2013, the William G. and Elke F. Durden International Initiatives Fund was established in their honor.

In March 2021, the Durdens announced their legacy support of scholarships and Dickinson’s global programs. Half of their legacy gift supports the Durden International Initiatives Fund, allowing future generations of Dickinsonians to deepen their academic and cultural experiences abroad, and half provides for the Durden Scholarship, established in memory of Bill’s parents, William and Ruth.

Eight Dickinsonians have been awarded Durden Scholarships so far. They represent a spectrum of majors and minors: American studies, Arabic, biochemistry & molecular biology, economics, English, French & francophone studies, Latin American, Latinx & Caribbean studies, Spanish and policy management among them. Those who’ve graduated now work in impactful careers in policy and government,

medical research, education, immigration law and marketing.

The Durdens continue to travel and give back to the community of Baltimore, where they returned after his Dickinson presidency. Elke is a trustee of the Walters Art Museum and Bill is a trustee of Baltimore SquashWise, which supports middle- and high-school students academically and through the game of squash. A SquashWise student recently enrolled at Dickinson.

The couple look forward to Dickinson’s continued successes and the central role of global education in that work. “We think of the gift as an affirmation,” Elke explains. “Our 14 years together at Dickinson during Bill’s presidency really enriched our lives, and Dickinson remains an integral part of our lives.”

The Durden Scholarship amplifies that enriching experience in the lives of recipients such as Keziah Groth-Tuft ’17, and in the world that benefits from their work.

“Scholarships allow prospective Dickinsonians to choose a school based on fit, without being limited by their ability to pay,” Groth-Tuft says. “I believe choosing Dickinson is one of the best choices I will make in my life, and the opportunity was possible thanks to donors like the Durdens.”

spaces we lcve

Morgan Field fills with students on sunny spring days.

Photo by Dan Loh.

&

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

DALLAS, TEXAS

PARQUE NACIONAL CERRO VERDE, EL SALVADOR

BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS

So Much To Give

With three kids under the age of 5, I often find myself swaying to the beat of a toddler song without listening to the words. But the lyrics to a song (appropriately titled “I’ve Got So Much to Give” by the Laurie Berkner Band) recently caught my attention:

This is the life I was born to live And I’ve got so much to give

How and what we give differs for each us and indeed differs at various phases of our lives. In prior columns, I’ve written about ways in which members of your Alumni Council give to Dickinson via their time, energy, knowledge, career opportunities and connections. As we near the end of Dickinson’s fiscal year (June 30), I’d like to spotlight ways in which Alumni Council members share their financial resources.

All 38 Alumni Council members are in the Mermaid Society, which means we give every year to Dickinson. But we contribute in different ways based on our capacity and what’s meaningful. For example:

• Together, the 38 current members of the Alumni Council have given nearly $1.4 million over the years.

• Six members have decided to leave a lasting legacy as members of the Old West Society, providing future support to the college through their estate and/ or life income plans.

• Six members have established scholarships.

• As a group, our average first-ever gift to Dickinson was $25. As our relationships with the college have grown and expanded, so too has our philanthropy. Many of us are signed up for recurring gifts or have found ways to match our philanthropy through our employers.

• Current council members represent 722 years of giving to Dickinson. Five members of the Alumni Council have been giving to the college for over 40 years!

These are just some examples of how to give. Each of us should find a way to engage that’s meaningful to us, while remembering that:

• Participation matters. It’s a factor in college rankings and can be interpreted as a sign of how alumni feel about their alma mater. Dickinson’s participation rate is not where we want it to be and is not reflective of the degree to which our alums say they feel committed to the college. Our participation reached a low of 21% in FY18. We have steadily climbed back, gaining one percentage point each year. We ended 2021 at 23%. Schools such as Gettysburg (25%), Bates (43%) and Colby (41%) do much better. I’m a competitive person and want to see us up our game! Each percentage point is equivalent to 234 donors to Dickinson—a very achievable improvement.

• All gifts matter. In FY21, the college received 979 of gifts <$25 which added up to $17,019 for the Dickinson Fund. Mermaid Society members contributed more than $14 million in FY21. Their giving made up 93% of all giving to Dickinson. It is incredible to see what can happen when gifts of all sizes come together to make a tremendous impact on Dickinson.

My first gift after graduating from Dickinson was $30; it was what I felt comfortable donating while in graduate school and paying off student loans. The month after my husband and I finished paying off our loans, we donated the equivalent of a monthly student-loan payment to Dickinson as a way of saying thank you. And we have continued increasing our giving each year as our own careers have advanced.

I hope these anecdotes and data inspire you—whether to increase your gift, make a recurring gift or make a financial gift if you haven’t recently (or ever).

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out: bernadette.m.stout+dickinson@gmail.com.

BERNADETTE MCFADDEN STOUT ’07 Alumni Council President

Common Places

By Jessica Baverman Ozar ’09

Puzzle it out!

Jessica Baverman Ozar ’09 (history, women’s & gender studies) lived in Israel and worked in nonprofits before switching careers to be a full-time parent a few years ago. Now living in Charlotte, N.C., with her partner and kids, she picked up crossword construction as a creative outlet during the pandemic. This is her second puzzle crafted exclusively for Dickinson Magazine readers!

Pictured, from left: Sofia Perrone (German, anthropology; Fairfax, Va.), Tony Trandafir ’24 (law & policy; Commerce, Calif.), Ellie Werner ’22 (art & art history; Hellertown, Pa.), Kishan Mangru ’25 (biology; Yonkers, N.Y.) and Ben Goodrum ’24 (art & art history; Asheville, N.C.), sporting a sampling of some of the bookstore’s

Global education is essential; it is absolutely integral to the Dickinson education, and it is about much more than simply visiting new places. It’s not enough to simply see the other place. You need to change as a result of these experiences.

BILL DURDEN ’71 , who, along with wife Elke, established the Durden International Initiatives Fund and the Durden Scholarship, allowing future generations of Dickinsonians to deepen their academic and cultural experiences abroad. Read more on Page 22.

Connecting the work of the College Farm to the campus community through nourishing food has been an amazing experience for all those involved in every step of the process— literally, from seed to spoon.

JENN HALPIN , director of the College Farm, on the launch of Dickinson College Farm Works, a new student-run store that brings the farm to campus. Read more on Page 14.

For me it’s always been about the relationships that are built with trust and respect and love. And that’s why I’ve stayed for 21 years.

Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach DAVE WEBSTER ’88 , speaking during the men’s lacrosse 70thanniversary celebration on Red & White Day in April, which also marked the launch of the David W. Webster ’88 Men’s Lacrosse Fund. Learn more on Page 16, and watch a video at dson.co/websterfund.

Teaching, and learning from, diverse, passionate and dedicated students is one of the most fulfilling professions I can imagine.

EMILY

MARSHALL , associate professor of economics and data analytics, co-chair of the Department of Data Analytics and newly named director of quantitative initiatives. Read more on Page 18.