Wherever you are, there’s an opportunity to reconnect with Sarah Lawrence. Explore upcoming alumni events—from campus celebrations and athletics gatherings to regional meetups, cultural outings, and seasonal festivities. Each listing includes a link to full details and registration. We look forward to seeing you.
Virtual Faculty on the Road: Colin Abernethy, Chemistry
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
7:00 – 8:00 pm EDT
Alchemy in Fourteenth Century England: Insights from Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales with Colin Abernethy, Chemistry Faculty
“The work of the Alchemist is the great secret of the world, the mystery of mysteries” Geoffrey Chaucer, The Cannon’s Yeoman’s Tale
The ancient art of alchemy is a mixture of philosophy, mythology and experimental science. Driven by their desire to understand and master the material world (and to gain wealth and long life), the alchemists laid the foundations of the modern science of chemistry.
Unfortunately, understanding the knowledge and beliefs of the alchemists is difficult as they used a cryptic combination of myth and allegory to describe their work. However, contemporary literature can give us valuable insights into the alchemists, their work, and how they were viewed by wider society.
Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343 – 1400) was the most important English poet and author of the medieval period; his The Canterbury Tales is still regarded as one of the greatest literary achievements. One of The Canterbury Tales, The Cannon’s Yeoman’s Tale, is a satirical story of a fraudulent alchemist and his assistant.
In this seminar we will examine The Cannon’s Yeoman’s Tale to discover the extent of Chaucer’s own alchemical knowledge, and how alchemy was regarded in late fourteenth century England.
Funding for this event is provided by The Edith Ingalls Vignos '45 Faculty on the Road Program.
A Zoom link with be provided via email 24 hours before the event.
Seydou Keïta: A Tactile Lens Tour with Catherine McKinley '89
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
7:00 – 8:00 pm EDT
Join us for a tour of Seydou Keïta: A Tactile Lens at the Brooklyn Museum with guest curator Catherine McKinley ’89. During this tour you will encounter an artist who changed the face of portrait photography. Seydou Keïta: A Tactile Lens is the most expansive North American exhibition of the legendary Malian photographer’s work to date. More than 280 works include iconic prints, never-before-seen portraits, textiles, and Keïta’s personal artifacts, all brought to life with unique insights from his family. This exhibition brings us to Bamako from the late 1940s to early 1960s, an era of profound political and social transformation. Witness the power of photography through these richly layered images, which reveal not only Malians’ emotional landscapes but also the textures of life in a rapidly changing country.
Catherine McKinley ’89 is a curator and critically acclaimed writer. Her books include Indigo, Book of Sarahs, and The African Lookbook: A Visual History of 100 Years of African Women.
2026 Faculty Selects Screening
Monday, May 4, 2026
6:00 – 9:00 pm EDT
Filmmaking & Moving Image Arts faculty Robin Starbuck, Jazmin López, Misael Sanchez, Rona Mark, Heather Winters, Scott Duce, K. Lorrel Manning, and Daniel Schmidt have selected films created by students during the academic year that we welcome you to view on the big screen at Bronxville Picture House. Connect with fellow members of the Sarah Lawrence community and support emerging filmmakers.
Preceding the screening, the Filmmaking & Moving Image Arts faculty and the Office of Alumni Relations will host a reception at Pete's Park Place Tavern in Bronxville. The student filmmakers will be in attendance.
Reunion 2026
Thursday, June 4, 2026
3:00 – 12:00 pm EDT
In this special centennial year, join us on campus for Reunion 2026 from Thursday, June 4, through Sunday, June 7 for a fantastic weekend that celebrating 100 years of the extraordinary education and lasting friendships that characterize the Sarah Lawrence experience.