Immigration and Sarah Lawrence College:
A Letter from President Judd
Earlier this week, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the Administration is lowering the cap on refugee admissions to the United States to 30,000 individuals per year, the lowest number since the U.S. Refugee Admission Program was established in 1980, when the cap was 231,000. Against this backdrop, I wanted to share news of several initiatives underway at Sarah Lawrence related to issues of immigration and immigration policy.
Trustee Shanlon Wu MFA ’84 Co-Authors Opinion Piece in The Washington Post on Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh
Trustee Shanlon Wu MFA ’84 Discusses Business and the First Amendment on Federal News Radio
Politics Faculty Member Sam Abrams Weighs in on Minority Women Candidates in The Daily Mail
Rachel Feldman ’76 Pens Letter to the Editor of The New York Times on Diversity in Hollywood
President Judd Announces Appointment of Patricia Goldman as Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs at Sarah Lawrence College
President Cristle Collins Judd is pleased to announce that Patricia "Patty" Goldman will be joining Sarah Lawrence as Vice President for Advancement and External Relations on September 12, 2018.
Memoirs by Abby Norman '13 and Porochista Khakpour '00 Featured in Detroit Jewish News Article by Leslie Rott MA '15
A Welcome to the New Academic Year from President Judd
Trustee Shanlon Wu MFA ’84 Weighs in on the Paul Manafort Trial in Opinion Pieces for CNN
Sarah Lawrence College Remembers Alumna and Trustee Suzanne Salter Arkin ’60
Sarah Lawrence College mourns the loss of alumna, trustee, and longtime friend and supporter Suzanne Salter Arkin, who passed away on Saturday, August 11.
Westfair features Sarah Lawrence in "Westchester schools named to best U.S. colleges list"
The Princeton Review Recognizes Sarah Lawrence for Best Classroom Experience
Sarah Lawrence College is pleased to announce that it has been named #1 for having the “Best Classroom Experience” among the 384 colleges listed in The Princeton Review’s just released The 384 Best Colleges.
Frieze Remembers Visual Arts Faculty Member Kanishka Raja: “Always Wanting to Break with Geography”
History Faculty Member Komozi Woodard Discusses Newly Uncovered Malcom X Writings in The New York Times
The New York Times on Susan Meiselas ’70: “Back to Nicaragua for a Pioneering Photographer of Rebellion”
Sarah Lawrence College Remembers Rose Anne Thom, Dance Faculty Emerita
The Sarah Lawrence community mourns the loss of beloved longtime faculty member Rose Anne Thom.
Sarah Lawrence College Remembers Faculty Member Kanishka Raja
The Sarah Lawrence community mourns the loss of faculty member Kanishka Raja.
Kamaron McNair ’18 in The Daily Beast: “Black, White, and Belonging: My Brush With Curlfest”
The New York Times on Susan Unterberg ’77: “She Gave Millions to Artists Without Credit. Until Now.”
Literature Faculty Member Nicolaus Mills in The Daily Beast: “Empathy Is the Kryptonite We Need to Vanquish Trump”
Men’s Basketball Captains Malin Segal ’18 and Gabriel Eng ’19 Named to NABC Honors Court
Fios 1 News Highlights Sarah Lawrence’s Summer Science Program for High School Students
Director of Admission Jennifer Gayles Discusses College Essay Topics in US News & World Report
President Emerita Karen R. Lawrence Named President of The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
A Message from President Judd Regarding Potential Congressional Actions
Among my responsibilities as the president of Sarah Lawrence College is that of monitoring federal and state policy debates and resulting regulatory and legislative actions that could have substantial consequences for the College. At moments when ongoing policy conversations could potentially impact our educational community, its members, and our mission, I believe it is incumbent upon me to alert our community, to encourage you to become as informed as possible about relevant policy discussions, and to provide information that will allow you to communicate as you deem appropriate with elected officials.
The New York Times Names New Play Everyone’s Fine With Virginia Woolf by Kate Scelsa ’02 an “NYT Critics’ Pick”
New York Times White House Correspondent Maggie Haberman ’96 Speaks at Sarah Lawrence College
New York Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman ’96 gave a packed house a glimpse of what it’s like to be a journalist covering the Trump administration at an event at Sarah Lawrence College on June 9.
Moises Serrano ’18 Accepts 2018 Television Academy Honor for Forbidden: Undocumented and Queer in Rural America
Cinema Sarah Lawrence Combines Liberal Arts with Hands-On Filmmaking
Aspiring filmmakers can look forward to a new, one-of-a-kind program now being offered by Sarah Lawrence College. Cinema Sarah Lawrence, a 15-week, semester away program, provides a rare opportunity for young filmmakers from any accredited college or university to collaborate with 25 film professionals in the making of an ambitious feature film, which will be released nationally. The program is led by Jay Craven, award-winning independent filmmaker and Sarah Lawrence faculty member, and Fred Strype, chair of Sarah Lawrence’s robust Filmmaking & Moving Image Arts program. Cinema Sarah Lawrence is set to launch in the spring 2019 semester.
Josh Rice MFA ’14 Creates New York State Puppet Festival Featuring Graduate Theatre Program Director Dan Hurlin
Three Beloved Sarah Lawrence Faculty Members Retire
It is our honor and privilege to celebrate three faculty members who retired at the end of this academic year: Kris Philipps, Eddye Pierce-Young, and Judith Serafini-Sauli. For their immeasurable contributions to the College, we are profoundly grateful.
Writing Faculty Member Mary Morris Discusses Latest Novel, Gateway to the Moon, in Daily North Shore
Psychology Faculty Member Adam Brown Publishes Mental Health Research Paper in The Lancet
Sarah Lawrence College to Hold Fifth Annual Publish & Promote Your Book Conference June 23
The Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College’s fifth annual Publish & Promote Your Book Conference will take place on Saturday, June 23, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the College’s campus. Prominent New York City literary agents, major publishing house editors, and social media and public relations experts will be speaking at this comprehensive symposium designed for serious writers who want to get their work published.
Sarah Lawrence College to Hold Summer Literary Series June 17-22
Sarah Lawrence College invites the community to attend a series of free events as part of the College’s Summer Literary Series from Sunday, June 17 through Friday, June 22.
Sarah Lawrence College Holds Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement Ceremonies
Sarah Lawrence College graduates were reminded that success is never achieved without the support of others, and were encouraged to pay forward the support they’ve received in stirring addresses at the College’s undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremonies.
90th Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony in the News
President of Ford Foundation Darren Walker to Deliver Undergraduate Commencement Address
Darren Walker, President of Ford Foundation, the renowned international social justice philanthropy organization, will give the address at Sarah Lawrence College’s 90th Undergraduate Commencement on Friday, May 18.
Kyes Stevens MA ’99, MFA ’00, Founder of the Alabama Prison Arts + Education Project, to Deliver Graduate Commencement Address
Kyes Stevens, a leader in criminal justice reform through education, will deliver the keynote address at Sarah Lawrence College’s graduate commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 17.
Human Genetics Faculty Member Laura Hercher Discusses Current Issues in the Field of Genetics
Child Development Institute Director Tricia Hanley on “The Role of Pretend Play in STEM/STEAM Learning”
Sarah Lawrence College Repurposes Trees for The Barbara Walters Campus Center
In preparation for the construction of The Barbara Walters Campus Center, a number of existing trees needed to be removed from the project site. The decision to remove these trees was not taken lightly. Throughout all the discussions around tree removal and preservation, a key priority was the repurposing of as much wood as possible, ideally for the furniture needs of the new campus center. This desire led the College to partner with NYCitySlab.
Politics Faculty Member Sam Abrams in The American Interest: “Professors Support Free Speech”
Sarah Lawrence College Joins More Than 70 Colleges and Universities in Supporting the Legal Challenge to the Ending of DACA
Sarah Lawrence College and more than 70 other member institutions of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration have signed onto an amicus brief filed yesterday supporting plaintiffs who are challenging President Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (“DACA”) program.
New York Times Video Journalist Samantha Stark ’05 Discusses the History of Affirmative Consent on Colleges Campuses
Human Genetics Faculty Member Laura Hercher on Estonia’s State-Sponsored Genetic Testing Efforts in PBS’ NOVA Next
Improvement by Writing Faculty Member Joan Silber ’67 Wins PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction: The Washington Post
Literature Faculty Member Nicolaus Mills in Dissent: “The March for Our Lives is Not Going Away”
Jon Grinspan ’06 in The New York Times: “Can Teenagers Save America? They’ve Done It Before”
Sarah Lawrence Offers Summer Intensives for High School Students
Whether it’s filmmaking, creative writing, social justice, or building assistive technology devices for children with disabilities, Sarah Lawrence College is offering a wide range of summer programs that will allow high school students to explore their interests and prepare for college.
Empire Director Sanaa Hamri ’96 Inks Overall Deal With 20th Century Fox Television: The Hollywood Reporter
ABC News Documents the Experiences of Laura Checkoway '00 as a First-Time Oscar Nominee
Human Genetics Faculty Member Laura Hercher MS '01 Weighs in on 23andMe's New Breast Cancer Test in The Atlantic
A Mid-Semester Update from President Judd
Jordan Peele ’01 Makes History on Oscar Night, Becoming First African-American to Win Best Original Screenplay
Wag Magazine Highlights The Barbara Walters Campus Center as Part of Westchester-Area “Building Boom”
Rosa Lane MFA ’82 Wins Georgia Poetry Prize
Sanaa Hamri '96 and Jordan Peele '01 Featured in Washington Post Article on Diversity in Hollywood
Sarah Lawrence College Holds 20th Annual Women’s History Conference
Sarah Lawrence College, home to the nation’s first graduate program in women’s history, will host its 20th Annual Women’s History Conference on March 2-3 featuring a DACA recipient as its keynote speaker.
Writing Institute Instructor Veera Hiranandani’s Novel The Night Diary Reviewed in The New York Times
Politics Faculty Member Sam Abrams: “Government and Localism: What Americans Think” (PDF)
Jared Marcel Pollen MFA ’15 in Political Animal Magazine: “Trump & the Politics of Conscience”
Sarah Lawrence College Welcomes New Director of Child Development Institute
Sarah Lawrence College has announced the appointment of a new director of its Child Development Institute (CDI).
Literature Faculty Member Nicolaus Mills Finds Lessons in Century-Old Novel for Current Immigration Debate
Politics Faculty Member Sam Abrams in InsideSources: “Multi-Generational Households May Cure Political Apathy”
Maggie Haberman ’96 on “Her Hardest Interview and Predictions for 2018” in The New York Times
Jordan Peele ’01, Creator of Get Out, Wins 2018 Writers Guild of America Award for Original Screenplay
Sarah Lawrence College Poetry Festival Announces Spring 2018 Lineup
The Sarah Lawrence College Poetry Festival has announced its 2018 lineup, which will include former New York Poet Laureate Marie Howe, National Book Critics Circle Award winner D.A. Powell, and Chen Chen, the author of “When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of Further Possibilities,” which was longlisted for the National Book Award.
Human Genetics Faculty Member Laura Hercher MS ’01 Comments on DNA Testing for Newborns in Newsweek
The New York Times Interviews Hadar Ahuvia ’09 on Latest Dance Piece, “Everything you have is yours?”
Dennis Richmond MSEd ’19 in The Journal News: “Young African Americans must maintain ties to black history”
Megan Quattlebaum ’02 Named Director of the Council of State Governments Justice Center
Arthur Edelman ’50, Who Attended Sarah Lawrence through the GI Bill, Remembered in Interior Design Magazine
Jordan Peele ’01 in Vanity Fair: “I was very much using the liberal arts education to its best”
SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris ’83 at the SAG Awards: '“Women are stepping into their power.”
Get Out by Jordan Peele ’01 Nominated for Four Oscars, Including Best Picture and Director: Variety
Tommy Pico ’06 and Writing Faculty Member Monica Youn Named Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award Finalists
The New Yorker on Late Writing Faculty Member William Melvin Kelley: “The Lost Giant of American Literature”
Sarah Lawrence College Mourns the Passing of Psychology Faculty Member Marvin Frankel
Marvin Frankel, longtime member of the psychology faculty at Sarah Lawrence College, passed away suddenly this week.
Sarah Lawrence College Breaks Ground on The Barbara Walters Campus Center
Sarah Lawrence College broke ground on the construction of a $35 million Campus Center, named in honor of esteemed alumna Barbara Walters who donated the lead gift of $15 million for the construction of the donor-funded building. The Center will include the Barbara Walters Gallery for exhibitions of fine art and the Barbara Walters Archives and Reading Room.
The Journal News: Sarah Lawrence College to Break Ground on The Barbara Walters Campus Center on Thursday, January 18
Dance Faculty Member Aaron Mattocks ’02 Named Joyce Theater's Director of Programming: The New York Times
Writing Faculty Member Marie Howe Appointed Chancellor to the Academy of American Poets
Health & Wellness Center Psychologist Anica Mulzac, PsyD Discusses Race Positive Project on KZUM
Writing Faculty Member Vijay Seshadri Named Walt Whitman Birthplace Association 2018 Poet-in-Residence
Human Genetics Faculty Member Laura Hercher’s Mendelspod Named a Top Podcast For Health Entrepreneurs
Literature Faculty Member Nicolaus Mills in Dissent: “Colin Kaepernick: Athlete of the Year”
President Cristle Collins Judd Joins Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration
Sarah Lawrence College is proud to announce that President Cristle Collins Judd has joined the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.
Sarah Lawrence College Mourns the Passing of Dean of Studies Emerita Marilyn Ogus Katz ’54
The Sarah Lawrence community mourns the passing of Marilyn Ogus Katz ’54, who passed away on December 14.
Audio Fiction Sarah Awards Partner with Audible, Inc.; Contest Winner Gets Development Deal
Sarah Lawrence College’s audio fiction awards program, The Sarah Awards, is partnering with Audible, the largest seller and producer of downloadable audiobooks and other spoken word entertainment, adding a new dimension to the “Very, Very, Short, Short Stories Contest” this year, calling it the Brave + Bold Audio Fiction Contest. The winner of the contest will receive a $15,000 development deal with Audible Originals to create an audio fiction pilot. The deadline for submissions is Monday, January 15, 2018.
Libby Casey ’98: “How Washington Post journalists broke the story of allegations against Roy Moore”
Matthew Cole ’00 Discusses White House Investigation on MSNBC; Research by Maggie Haberman ’96 Featured
President Judd Addresses Bronxville Rotary Club
A Message about Tax Reform from President Judd
On November 13, I wrote to share concerns with you about draft tax reform measures in the House and Senate that had implications for Sarah Lawrence and for higher education more broadly.
Human Genetics Faculty Member Laura Hercher in Genome: “Welcoming in a New Era of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing”
Vanity Fair Highlights Jordan Peele ’01 for “making a splash in Hollywood’s mostly male, mostly white directing pool”
Health Advocacy Program Graduate Melissa B. Haber MA ’17 Offers Advice in Career Change Panel
Human Genetics Faculty Member Laura Hercher in Genome: “When Genetics’ Race Problem Rears Its Ugly Head”
Proposed Tax Reform and Sarah Lawrence: A Message from President Judd
As you may be aware, Congress is presently formulating federal tax reform plans. The proposed legislation, as currently envisioned, calls for changes to the tax code that would create substantial challenges for colleges and universities and the students we serve. This letter summarizes some of the implications of the proposed plans and invites you to join the national debate about tax reform as it relates to Sarah Lawrence College.
Politics Faculty Member Sam Abrams in RealClearPolitics: “Despite Its Problems, Don't Count the GOP Out”
Davis Richardson ’15 on Journalistic Freedom and Accessibility in Brown Political Review
Investigative Journalist Spencer Woodman ’09 Key Contributor to Paradise Papers Reporting in The New York Times
Laura Curran ’89 Elected Nassau County Executive
Community Update from President Cristle Collins Judd
From time to time, I will provide updates to our entire community around important events in the life of the College. As you know, we are engaged across this inaugural year in a rich series of conversations and events on the theme of “Democracy and Education.” I am writing on this Election Day to encourage you to exercise your right to vote and to invite you to join the conversation as we launch #SLCDemocracyEducation.
Jordan Peele ’01 Discusses Sarah Lawrence in The Hollywood Reporter’s “Awards Chatter” Podcast
Meredith Monk ’64 Receives Prestigious Gish Prize
Jeff Fager, Executive Producer of 60 Minutes, to Speak at Sarah Lawrence College
Jeff Fager, Executive Producer of the television news magazine 60 Minutes, will speak at Sarah Lawrence College on Tuesday, November 14, following the release of his book, Fifty Years of 60 Minutes: The Inside Story of Television’s Most Influential News Broadcast, released this month. Fager’s talk, which will be open to questions from the audience, and likely to include a discussion of “fake” news and first amendment issues, will be held in the Donnelley Theatre in the Heimbold Visual Arts Center at 5:15 p.m. This event is part of the inaugural year series exploring democracy and education.
New Films by Sarah Lawrence College Students Featured at YoFiFest, the Yonkers Film Festival
The Yonkers Film Festival (YoFiFest) is presenting a Sarah Lawrence College Showcase on November 6, 2017 at 6 p.m. at the YOFI DMAC Theater, 66 Main Street in downtown Yonkers, screening new films, Giselle by Severine Reisp and Halina by Xueni Yang. Tickets may be purchased here.
Director Rachel Feldman ’76 in The Hollywood Reporter: “How to Fix Hollywood's Toxic Gender Exclusion Problem”
PostWest 2a: Ornament and Translation Exhibition October 31 – December 10
Barbara Walters Gallery at Sarah Lawrence College is pleased to present PostWest 2a: Ornament and Translation, a solo exhibition of works by visual and studio arts faculty member Kanishka Raja. The exhibition will be on view from October 31 – December 10 at the gallery’s location in the Heimbold Visual Arts Center. An opening reception will be held Tuesday, October 31, from 5 - 6:30 p.m.
Variety: “Get Out [Written and Directed by Jordan Peele ’01] Leads Nominations for 2017 Gotham Awards”
Eric Glover ’09 Receives Grand Prize from WeScreenplay TV Pilot Competition for Panthers
Pam Tanowitz MFA ’98 Praised for “New Work for Goldberg Variations” in The New York Times
Classics Faculty Member Emily Katz Anhalt: “Ancient Greek wisdom for today’s leadership crisis”
Sarah Lawrence College Mourns the Passing of Jean Wentworth, Music Faculty Member Emerita
The Sarah Lawrence community mourns the passing of music faculty emerita member Jean Wentworth, who passed away on October 10 at her home.
Samantha Stark ’05 Wins News & Documentary Emmy with New York Times Team for The Forger
The Inauguration of President Cristle Collins Judd: View a Full Recap of the Day’s Events
CURB Director Ryan Palmer on the Importance of Climate Change Education for Children in The Journal News
Psychology Faculty Member Adam Brown Develops Traumatic Stress Assessment of Refugees
Psychology faculty member Adam Brown has been awarded a second Fulbright fellowship to continue work on assessing the impact of traumatic stress on migrants in Switzerland, many of whom are refugees, and developing preliminary interventions for treatment. He will share the results of the first phase of his work with other professionals at an international symposium on refugees in Bern in November. The title of his talk is: “Refugee Mental Health in Emergency Medicine.”
Cristle Collins Judd to be Inaugurated as 11th President of Sarah Lawrence College
On Friday, October 6, Sarah Lawrence College, one of the nation’s most innovative liberal arts colleges, will install Cristle Collins Judd, PhD, as its 11th president. Dr. Judd joins Sarah Lawrence from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, where she guided the foundation’s program for Higher Education and Scholarship in the Humanities. She has worked with college and university presidents and provosts from around the country to address the most pressing issues facing higher education, including diversity and inclusiveness, the value of the liberal arts, the role of the arts and humanities in civil society, and the cost of higher education.
Trustee William Goetzmann and Daughter Zoe Goetzmann ’16 on Family Tie Business in Moneyish
Writing Faculty Member Mary LaChapelle Receives O. Henry Prize for Floating Garden
Writing faculty member Mary LaChapelle’s story, Floating Garden, originally published in Salamander magazine, has been chosen as a winner of the O. Henry Prize, and is included in the O. Henry Prize Stories for 2017.
Prize for Creative Science Projects Endowed at Sarah Lawrence College; W. Ian Lipkin ’74, Noted Physician-Scientist, Honored
Laurel Appell Lipkin ’79, the sister of internationally recognized physician-scientist W. Ian Lipkin ’74, has established an endowed fund to create a prize in her brother’s honor at the siblings’ alma mater, Sarah Lawrence College. The prize will encourage the development of creative science projects at the liberal arts college.
2017 National Book Awards Longlists Include Writing Faculty Members Carol Zoref and Marie Howe
The National Book Foundation announced its long lists for the 2017 awards last week, and two of the nominees are writing faculty members at Sarah Lawrence College: Carol Zoref for her novel, Barren Island, and Marie Howe, selected for her poetry collection, Magdalene.
Human Genetics Faculty Member Laura Hercher on Genetic Testing Company’s Marketing Approach
Publishers Weekly on Writing Faculty Member D. Nurkse’s Love in the Last Days: After Tristan and Iseult
A Message from President Judd about Hurricane Irma
As you know, over the past week, the College closely monitored the events associated with Hurricane Irma and we have reached out to SLC students of whom we were aware with families living in affected areas. Thanks to the foresight of the Study Abroad and Exchange Program Office, we were able to evacuate the 16 students in the SLC Havana program last Thursday along with the director and associate director of the program. The students are here now in Yonkers continuing their work together, with support from staff in Operations and Facilities, our faculty, and the Dean of College staff. We are working to determine when they may be able to return to Havana.
Dan Appel ’88 and Peter Gould ’82 Win Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series
The Chronicle of Higher Education Cites Letter from President Judd on the College’s Stance on DACA
Sarah Lawrence College Responds to Potential Impact of Hurricane Irma on Study Abroad Students and Staff in Cuba
As Hurricane Irma, a powerful Category 5 storm, advances through the Caribbean and approaches Cuba, Sarah Lawrence College has taken precautions to ensure the safety of the students and staff in its study abroad program centered in Havana.
A Message from President Judd About the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Policy
I write to you today to affirm unequivocally Sarah Lawrence College’s support for undocumented students who are pursuing higher education through the protections created by the policy known as DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).
Clarion Senior Editor Lynne Polvino ’94 Proud to Publish “Imagine” Picture Book with Forward by Alumna Yoko Ono
Art History Faculty Member Jerrilynn Dodds Awarded Slade Professorship at Oxford
Art history faculty member Jerrilynn Dodds, Harlequin Adair Dammann Chair in Islamic Studies, has been awarded the Slade Professorship of Fine Arts at the University of Oxford for the 2020-2021 academic year.
A Message from President Cristle Collins Judd about Hurricane Harvey and the Flooding in Texas
We have by now all seen heart-rending images of those in the path of Hurricane Harvey who have been forced from their homes, are struggling to find shelter and safety, and are living under a continuing threat of rising flood waters. Echoes of the devastation from Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy sadly come to mind.
Defense Lawyer Michael Bachrach ’96 Discusses Benghazi Trial on NPR’s All Things Considered
Theatre Faculty Member Stuart Spencer in Conversation with Musical Podcast Pioneer Ellen Winter ’14
US Embassy in Switzerland and Liechtenstein Features Fulbright Specialist/Psychology Faculty Member Adam Brown
Martha Stewart Living—“Urban Farmer Annie Novak (’05) Might Just be the Coolest Grower We Know”
Classics Faculty Member Emily Katz Anhalt on Ancient Greek Democracy and “The Limits of Tolerance”
“36 Questions” Musical Podcast Composer Ellen Winter ’14 Featured in The New York Times
Open House for Sarah Lawrence’s Writing Institute Features Reading by Teachers August 24
Writers of all levels are invited to attend the Sarah Lawrence College Writing Institute’s Fall Open House on Thursday, August 24 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. in the Wrexham Living Room on campus. Participants will have the opportunity to listen to readings by authors teaching in The Writing Institute, meet students and faculty, ask questions, become familiar with teachers’ genres and writing styles, and build or strengthen relationships with a vibrant community of writers.
A Message from President Cristle Collins Judd
The Princeton Review Recognizes Sarah Lawrence College for Best Faculty
Sarah Lawrence College is pleased to announce that it has been named by The Princeton Review as first among colleges listed in The 382 Best Colleges for “Professors Get High Marks.” The top ranking in this category recognizes the high regard the College’s students hold for their professors.
Classics Faculty Member Emily Katz Anhalt: “Greek myths still teach about resisting violent impulses”
Yonkers Middle School Students Dive into Science and Research with Help from Sarah Lawrence College
Students from middle schools in Yonkers, participating in a summer STEM enrichment program, convened at Sarah Lawrence College last Tuesday to “Ask a Scientist” their burning questions about careers in the sciences, curiosities of everyday life, or their observations of important scientific matters in the world around them and beyond.
YPIE Summer Bridge Program at Sarah Lawrence College Prepares Students for College
This week Sarah Lawrence College is hosting and supporting Yonkers Partners in Education’s innovative summer bridge program for college-bound students from New York State’s fourth largest city, many of whom would not be planning for this life-changing chapter in their lives without the preparation afforded them by YPIE, a nonprofit public education fund.
Recent Sarah Lawrence Graduates’ Work Featured in New York Times Profile of Downtown Yonkers
History Faculty Member Komozi Woodard Recalls 1967 Newark Riots in US News & World Report
Nima Etemadi ’04 and Lily Fischer ’04 Discuss Their Philadelphia Bakery, Support for LGBTQIA Community
Human Genetics Faculty Member Laura Hercher in Genome: “The Ghettoization of Genetic Disease”
Politics Faculty Member Sam Abrams on the Lack of Ideological Diversity on Liberal Arts College Campuses
Daniel Wallock ’17 in USA Today: “College student, heart surgery survivor, marketing consultant”
Three Beloved Sarah Lawrence Faculty Members Retire
At Sarah Lawrence, our passionate faculty members, the fabric of the College, live this ethos. Since the College’s establishment in 1926, our dynamic professors have shaped the Sarah Lawrence experience with their exceptional dedication and curiosity. For this, our gratitude knows no bounds.
The Writing Institute Featured on WVOX
Psychology Faculty Member Adam Brown Awarded Fulbright to Work with Refugees
Psychology faculty member Adam Brown has been awarded a Fulbright fellowship to assess the impact of traumatic stress on migrants in Switzerland, many of whom are refugees, compared to the general Swiss population.
New Book by Classics Faculty Member Emily Katz Anhalt Finds Ancient Myths Helpful in Today’s Turbulent Age
“Enraged: Why Violent Times Need Ancient Greek Myths” offers crucial lessons from ancient Greece on how to develop and maintain a civil society and reduce violence.
Maggie Kneip MFA ’81 in The New York Times: “Losing a Father and Husband to AIDS, and Finding Him Again”
Politics Faculty Member Elke Zuern on the Movement to Replace German Monuments in Namibia in Dissent
Human Genetics Faculty Member Laura Hercher on New Cancer Screening Technology in MIT Technology Review
Daniel Wallock ’17 Named One of “17 Online Marketing Influencers to Keep Your Eyes On in 2017:” Forbes
Stirring Speeches by Forces of Creativity Highlight Commencements at Sarah Lawrence
Sarah Lawrence College conferred over 400 degrees in the commencement exercises of the historic college in southern Westchester County, just north of New York City. One hundred fifty master’s degrees were bestowed on Thursday, May 18, and 355 Bachelor of Arts degrees on Friday, May 19.
“Walking Home” by Writing Faculty Member Marie Howe Featured in The New York Times Magazine
Laurel Jenkins ’01 in Dance Magazine’s “How to Actually Make Your Movement Look Effortless”
Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics Receives Full ACGC Accreditation
The Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC) has awarded the Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics full reaccreditation for eight years, the maximum time allowed for programs undergoing reaccreditation. The accrediting body’s decision comes after a yearlong self study followed by a site visit in February from members of the ACGC.
Literature Faculty Member Nicolaus Mills: “The One Graduation Speech Millennials Need To Hear”
Writing Faculty Member Kevin Pilkington Awarded the IPPY National Bronze Medal in Poetry for 2017
Sarah Lawrence writing faculty member and poet Kevin Pilkington was awarded the 2017 IPPY Award’s (Independent Publisher Book Awards) National Bronze Medal in Poetry for his collection Where You Want to Be: New and Selected Poems published by Black Lawrence Press.
Pulitzer Prize Winning Poet and Writing Faculty Member Vijay Seshadri Discusses His Work in The Journal News
Writing Faculty Member Matthea Harvey Awarded Guggenheim Fellowship in the Creative Arts for 2017
Sarah Lawrence College writing faculty member and poet Matthea Harvey has been awarded a fellowship from the prestigious John Simon Guggenheim Foundation in the category of creative arts for 2017.
Jacob Crawford ’00, Founder of WeCopwatch, in Fusion
Michaela Brady '17, Interning at Psychology Today, Publishes Blog Post on Wealth, Poverty, and Brain Development
Sarah Lawrence College’s 14th Annual Poetry Festival Set for April 21-23
The 14th Annual Sarah Lawrence College Poetry Festival, the largest free, student-run poetry festival in New York State, takes place April 21-23 on the College’s Bronxville-area campus. The festival, open to the public, will include readings by acclaimed poets and Sarah Lawrence undergraduate and graduate poetry students; craft talks; generative sessions; a book fair; and a special event of readings and recordings of poems by incarcerated individuals at the Westchester County Correctional Facility, presented by students who have worked with them in the College’s Right-to-Write program.
Literature Faculty Member Nicolaus Mills: “When Larry Doby broke the American League color barrier in Cleveland”
The Journal News Features The Writing Institute as Place to “Write a Great American Novel”
Sarah Lawrence Biologist wins NSF Grant to Study Plant Diversity
Sarah Lawrence College biology professor Michelle Hersh has been awarded a research grant from the National Science Foundation in collaboration with Bard College biologist Cathy Collins, to study whether landscape fragmentation—the breaking up of habitats into smaller pieces—has a positive or negative impact on plant diversity. Their research has important implications for the conservation of natural ecosystems and biological diversity.
Chicago Tribune Columnist Commends Rahm Emanuel '81 for Sharing his Love of Dance with Students
Psychology Students Participate in Regional Research Conference
Three Sarah Lawrence psychology students will present talks about their original research conducted in the Memory and Cognition Lab run by faculty member Adam Brown, at the 6th annual Westchester Undergraduate Research Conference, sponsored by Manhattanville and Mercy Colleges at Manhattanville in Purchase, NY on Friday, April 7.
Politics Faculty Member Sam Abrams featured in a New York Times Article on Conservative Students at Liberal Colleges
Jamal Joseph, Oscar-Nominated Writer, Director, and Social Justice Advocate Named Graduate Commencement Speaker
Sarah Lawrence College is pleased to announce that Jamal Joseph, Oscar-nominated writer and director, will address the graduates of the College’s nine master’s degree programs at the 2017 Graduate Commencement. The graduate programs ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 18, 2017, at 2:30 p.m.
Musical Based on Writing Institute Instructor Jennifer Robbin’s Work to Premiere Off-Broadway
Trustee Carol Christ Named Chancellor of UC Berkeley
Redbook Names A Small Revolution by Jimin Han MFA '98 One of “20 Books By Women You Must Read This Spring”
The Sarah Awards, Lauding the Best of Audio Fiction, Announced
The judges of the second annual Sarah Lawrence International Audio Fiction Awards have cast their ballots for the winners of this year’s competition, one of the only awards program for original fiction made for listening. The six pieces chosen as finalists highlight the variety of radio dramas made this year, from psychological thrillers to musicals, to pieces that blend fact and fiction. An awards ceremony will be held March 28 at WNYC New York Public Radio’s Greene Space in Manhattan from where it will stream live. Welcome to Night Vale will perform and its founders, Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor, will serve as Masters of Ceremony for the evening.
Master of Arts in Health Advocacy Offers Unique, Low-Residency Program with Distance Learning Opportunities in a Growing Field
At a time when uncertainly over the Affordable Care Act has put a spotlight on healthcare, Sarah Lawrence College this week announced that it is offering a new low-residency master’s degree program in Health Advocacy.
Sarah Lawrence College Writing Institute Offers Italy Writing Exploration
What could be more inspiring than Italy’s Amalfi Coast in the summer? Sarah Lawrence College’s Writing Institute is offering writers the opportunity to stretch their creative muscles with an exploration into writing and painting in Italy.
Politics Faculty Member Sam Abrams on the Ideological Leanings of Professors in The Chronicle of Higher Education
George Saunders Reflects on the Life and Work of Longtime Writing Faculty Member Grace Paley in The New Yorker
Graduate Program in Human Genetics Issues Statement on Travel Ban to US
The Sarah Lawrence College Graduate Program in Human Genetics has issued the following statement on the travel ban to the US:
Saw Mill River Summit Brings Attention to River's Needs, Potential
Organizations focused on the health of the Saw Mill River and its importance to the 11 communities in its watershed Thursday called for a new countywide watershed planning effort, following a summit that brought together local leaders and environmental groups.
Vera Wang ’71 to Receive France’s Légion d’Honneur
Leah Wellbaum ’11, Will Gorin ’11, and Kyle Bann ’10 Discuss Band “Slothrust” in The Boston Globe
Enslaved Africans’ Rain Garden Exhibit at Sarah Lawrence College through May
Sarah Lawrence College presents “Artists Talk,” a program in conjunction with an exhibit of artist Vinnie Bagwell’s Enslaved Africans Rain Garden project, Thursday, March 2 at 6 p.m. in Reisinger auditorium. Bagwell and spoken word artist Ty Gray-EL will speak about the project that honors the enslaved Africans who resided at the historic Philipse Manor Hall in downtown Yonkers, six of whom were the first to be manumitted by law in the United States, 79 years before the Emancipation Proclamation.
Inside Higher Ed Features Politics Faculty Member Sam Abrams’ Study of Ideological Leanings of Professors
Phillis Levin '76 and Robyn Schiff '95: Two of Five Finalists for Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Poetry
Black Women in White America: A Conference at Sarah Lawrence College March 3 and 4; Noted Historian Nell Painter to Deliver Keynote Address
The Sarah Lawrence College Graduate Program in Women’s History presents: “Black Women in White America, Revisited” Friday and Saturday March 3 - 4. The conference is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the conference website.
Jordan Peele '01, First Black Writer/Director to Debut with $100 Million-Earning Movie, Get Out
Sarah Lawrence College Launches Certificate Course in Book Publishing
Expanding on its hugely popular summer book publishing conference, Sarah Lawrence College will be teaming up with experts at top publishing houses to offer a six-week certificate program in publishing.
Writing Faculty Member Carol Zoref's Novel Barren Island Released
As immigrants are under assault, a new, award-winning book by a Sarah Lawrence College writing instructor celebrates the melting pot that is the backbone of New York.
Sarah Lawrence College Mourns the Loss of Longtime Writing Faculty Member Tom Lux
Sarah Lawrence College mourns the death of poet and long-time writing faculty member Tom Lux.
J.J. Abrams ’88 to Deliver Undergraduate Commencement Keynote Address
J.J. Abrams ’88 will be the keynote speaker at the College’s 89th Commencement on Friday, May 19, 2017.
Sarah Lawrence College Remembers Faculty Members Fanchon Scheier and William Melvin Kelley
The Sarah Lawrence community mourns the passing of two beloved faculty members, Fanchon Scheier (theatre) and William Melvin Kelley (writing).
Politics Faculty Member Sam Abrams on the Frequency of Executive Orders throughout History
Dance Faculty Member Kathy Westwater MFA '01 Wins Lumberyard's 2017 Solange MacArthur Award
Sarah Lawrence College Responds to Recent Executive Orders
On January 30, in a message to the Sarah Lawrence community, President Karen R. Lawrence addressed recent executive orders by President Donald Trump.
Lauren Naturale ’06, Writer Behind Merriam-Webster’s Twitter, on its Place in America’s New Political Climate
Art History Faculty Member Maika Pollack Reviews Marilyn Minter’s Brooklyn Museum Exhibit
Politics Faculty Member Sam Abrams on the Senate’s Power to Challenge the President’s Cabinet Nominees
Multiple Sarah Lawrence Alumni and Faculty Members Featured in NPR’s Guide to 2016’s Great Reads
Politics Faculty Member Sam Abrams on the Possibility of Hillary Clinton Running for Mayor of New York City
Writing Faculty Member Leigh Newman Featured on The New York Times’ Modern Love Podcast
Michael McCabe ’20 Pens Question to President-Elect Trump’s EPA Administrator Nominee in The New York Times
Literature Faculty Member Nicolaus Mills on “The Fight Over a Controversial Painting Headed for Trump’s Inaugural”
The Journal News Highlights the Center for the Urban River’s Positive Impact on Young Students
Hidden Figures, Produced by Donna Gigliotti ’76, Nominated for Two Screen Actors Guild Awards
Success Magazine Profiles J.J. Abrams ‘88
Literature Faculty Member Nicolaus Mills on the New Sanctuary Movement for Observer.com
Daniel Wallock ’17 on Snapchat for Forbes
Variety: J.J. Abrams ’88 Awarded American Cinema Editors’ Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award
A Q&A with Moises Serrano ’18 on His Documentary, Forbidden: Undocumented and Queer in Rural America
Meredith Monk ’64 Interviewed in Tricycle
Sarah Lawrence College and Bedford Hills Correctional Facility Education Partnership Featured in The New York Times
Art of Teaching Graduate Program Receives $103,000 Grant to Train Teachers Who Understand the Challenges At-Risk Children Face
The best way to train teachers to understand the challenges that face inner-city children placed at risk, is to have teachers who come from those communities.
That’s the thinking behind Sarah Lawrence College’s Art of Teaching graduate program, which has just received a five-year grant from New York State’s Teacher Opportunity Corps to help expand its work in Yonkers Public Schools. The grant was announced by the State Education Department on Monday.
“What Trump Can Learn About Cuba From Hemingway’s Widow”—Literature Faculty Member Nicolaus Mills
Blackacre by Writing Faculty Member Monica Youn Longlisted for the 2017 PEN Open Book Award
OSilas Residence Hall Renovation Celebrated
Poor Your Soul by Mira Ptacin MFA ’09 Named One of 2016’s Best Nonfiction Books—Kirkus Reviews
President Karen R. Lawrence to Step Down in 2017
Karen R. Lawrence will step down as 10th president of Sarah Lawrence College, following a decade of service, in July, 2017. Having taken office in August 2007, Lawrence successfully led the College through the recession, national concerns over higher education affordability and accessibility, changes in enrolling students’ demographics, and attacks on the relevance of the liberal arts in a shifting economy.
“When FDR Turned Off the National Christmas Tree”—Literature Faculty Member Nicolaus Mills
Politics Faculty Member Sam Abrams on the Role of Family Members in the President’s Inner Circle
A Post-Election Statement from Sarah Lawrence College
The previous ten days have elicited or renewed many feelings, conversations, and concerns regarding our physical and emotional well-being. Instances of bias and harassment around the nation, concerns about support for international students, and the impact of the election upon the educational future of "undocumented" students have been top of mind for many people.
President Karen Lawrence Signs Open Letter to President-Elect Donald Trump
Sarah Lawrence College president Karen Lawrence joined more than 100 fellow presidents from colleges and universities around the nation in signing an open letter to President-Elect Donald Trump.
The Washington Post Names Writing Faculty Member Monica Youn’s Blackacre One of 2016’s Best Poetry Collections
Literature Faculty Member Nicolaus Mills on Protests Surrounding President-Elect Donald Trump
Politics Faculty Member Sam Abrams on Whether 2016 is a Political Turning Point for America in The New York Times
Graduate Program in Women’s History Director Mary Dillard on the Impact of a Female President
Adrienne Dawes ’04 in Essence: “My education at Sarah Lawrence College was a great investment in myself.”
Politics Faculty Member Sam Abrams on the Politicization of Research and Teaching in UK and US Higher Education
Literature Faculty Member Nicolaus Mills on “Bob Dylan and his uneasy Nobel predecessors” for CNN
Politics Faculty Member Sam Abrams Analyzes the Jewish Vote for the Upcoming Election in The Jerusalem Post
Dance Faculty Member Jodi Melnick’s Work Featured in NYC
Dance artist, choreographer, and Sarah Lawrence College faculty member Jodi Melnick, whose work stems from “the continual act of creating through a movement-based practice,” is being featured at two new venues in New York City in the upcoming weeks.
Amanda Foreman ’91 Chairs 2016 Man Booker Prize Judging Panel, Comments in The New York Times and The Guardian
Politics Faculty Member Sam Abrams on Ivanka Trump
Award-Winning Poet Christian Wiman to Read at Sarah Lawrence College November 15
Award-winning poet and memoirist, essayist, editor, critic and translator Christian Wiman will read from his most recent collection, Hammer is the Prayer: Selected Poems on November 15 at 7 p.m. in Slonim House at Sarah Lawrence College.
Cornelia Fort ’39, One of the First Women to Fly a Military Aircraft, Featured in Smithsonian Magazine
The Mar Vista by Yehuda Hyman MFA ’14 (Dance) Named “The Best Immigrant Saga” by The Village Voice
The Sarah Awards Launch Essay Series to Advance Genre of Audio Fiction
The Sarah Lawrence College International Audio Fiction Awards, aka The Sarah Awards, is pleased to announce that it is launching a series of essays about the craft of making radio dramas in the 21st century on its website, thesarahawards.com. "With the boom in podcasting, we are currently experiencing a resurgence of radio drama, a genre that had its heyday in the mid-20th century" says Ann Heppermann, Sarah Lawrence College writing faculty member and The Sarah Awards founder. "However, as this art form has re-emerged, little has been written about creating contemporary radio drama. With these essays, we hope to provide a resource for people making these works as well as add to the discussion of what it means to make radio drama today."
Sarah Lawrence College and Partners Awarded $60,000 from EPA's Urban Waters Program
Citizen-scientists in Westchester and Rockland County, and the Bronx, got a boost today from the Environmental Protection Agency by way of a $60,000 Urban Waters Small Grant. The nationally-competitive grant, led by Sarah Lawrence College’s Center for the Urban River at Beczak (CURB), was just one of two awarded in EPA Region 2, which covers New York, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico.
Literature Faculty Member Nicolaus Mills on New Wall Street Journal College Ranking List
Sarah Lawrence College Theatre Outreach Program Gives Local Senior Citizens an Outlet for Creativity
The New York Times Features Pam Tanowitz MFA ’98
Literature Faculty Member Nicolaus Mills on Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, and Miss Piggy for Observer.com
"Flat Screen, Split Screen, Smoke Screen" Exhibition, October 11 through December 11
The Barbara Walters Gallery at Sarah Lawrence College is pleased to announce a group exhibition, “Flat Screen, Split Screen, Smoke Screen.” Curated by Vera Iliatova and Jackie Gendel, this exhibition features works by Derrick Adams, Gary Burnley, Judith Eisler, Dana Frankfort, Jen Mazza, Tom McGrath, and Dona Nelson.
Dean of the College Kanwal Singh Discusses Key Skills for Academics in Science Magazine
The New York Times and The Financial Times Review Remains by Dance Program Director John Jasperse ‘85
Ann Patchett ’85 Discusses Latest Novel, Commonwealth, on WNYC’s The Leonard Lopate Show
Early Childhood Center at Sarah Lawrence College Featured on WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show
Dance Spirit Highlights John Jasperse '85 as New Director of Sarah Lawrence College Dance Program
The New Yorker Profiles Poet Tommy Pico ‘06
Inside Philanthropy Highlights Historic Two Million Dollar Gift to Enhance Science Study
OSilas, Newly Renovated Residence Hall, Opens
Thirty-four lucky students moved into a recently renovated residence hall, formerly called Gilbert, now OSilas, named for trustee and alumna Olivia “Vicki” Ford and her husband, Si (Silas) of Bronxville. The couple donated a leadership gift to the College’s Campaign for Sarah Lawrence to fund a ‘top-to-bottom’ renewal of one of the original College buildings in which Vicki lived during her years as an undergraduate.
Sarah Lawrence Ranks #1 for Best Classroom Experience: The Princeton Review
According to a survey of the Best 381 Colleges: 2017 Edition, published by The Princeton Review, the “Best Classroom Experience” can be found at Sarah Lawrence College. Sarah Lawrence was also rated #1 for “LGBTQ-Friendly” and scored in the top 20 for eight additional ranking categories compiled by the popular college guide, including “Best College Theater” (#2) and "Professors Get High Marks" (#9).
Two Million Dollar Gift Will Transform Science Study at Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College announces a two million dollar gift from alumna Suzanne Salter Arkin of Manhattan, to create a fund in support of students studying the sciences.
“Light Energy” Exhibit through September 23; Opening Reception September 8
“Light Energy,” an exhibit of sculptures by NYC-based artist Jill Viney, in which light is an essential component, opens at Sarah Lawrence College at the Barbara Walters Gallery in the Heimbold Visual Arts Center (915 Kimball Avenue) on August 27 and runs through September 23 with an opening reception on September 8 from 5:30 – 7 p.m.
Alumna Barbara Walters’ $15 Million Gift to Sarah Lawrence Recognized by The Chronicle of Higher Education
Distinguished Alumna Barbara Walters Donates $15 Million to Fund The Barbara Walters Campus Center
Sarah Lawrence College announced today that prominent alumna Barbara Walters, noted broadcast journalist and author, together with her charitable trust have made a gift of $15 million to establish The Barbara Walters Campus Center on the historic College’s 44-acre campus just north of New York City in Westchester County.