From the President's Desk: August 2026

This is one of my favorite times of the year. There is a special energy on campus as summer gives way to the final preparations for the start of the semester. Early arrivals – resident advisors, gryphon guides, student orientation leaders, and HUB managers – are in the midst of an intensive week of training and team building; virtual interviews, donning, and registration for classes are underway; final details are being added to syllabi; and throughout the campus finishing touches on summer projects are wrapping up. In other words, there’s a palpable sense of eager anticipation as we prepare to welcome new and returning students to campus in just a few days!

There is much to look forward to this year as we celebrate the centennial of  Sarah Lawrence’s founding, including our annual Presidential Event Series. This year’s series invites the college community and guests to reflect on the ideas, institutions, and questions shaping our world – and our future. Against the backdrop of the College’s 100th anniversary and America’s 250th, I am excited to bring leading thinkers and voices to Sarah Lawrence for timely conversations that draw on the past, examine the present, and consider what comes next. We kick off the series on Tuesday, September 8, at 7 p.m. with constitutional law scholar and bestselling author Melissa Murray. Professor Murray previously visited SLC in 2022 as part of the History Matters series to discuss the Supreme Court’s ruling on Roe v. Wade. She returns for a conversation and Q&A about her new and extremely timely book, The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader. The event will take place on campus and will also be livestreamed, so I hope those nearby will join us in person, while alumni, families, and friends farther afield join us virtually.

That same evening, a new exhibition opens at the Gallery at Heimbold Visual Arts Center: Does This Taste Funny?, a two-venue group show presented in collaboration with Lehman College Art Gallery on view from September 8 - December 13. Curated by Melissa Brown and Visual and Studio Arts faculty member John O’Connor, the exhibition brings together work by more than 40 artists to explore humor in contemporary art. The opening reception runs from 5 - 8 p.m., so I invite you to make an evening of it: come for the art, grab a bite at the Barb, and stay for the conversation with Melissa Murray!

The next evening, Wednesday, September 9, we will celebrate the official opening of our new Experiential Learning Center with an open house. The “XLC”  brings together the resources and programs that help students connect their Sarah Lawrence education seamlessly with experiences beyond the classroom, including Career Services, Community Partnerships, SLC EmbeddEd, Global Education, and pre-professional advising. After a sneak preview for graduating seniors last spring, we can’t wait to see this new space and the integrated programming it will facilitate in action. It’s a busy first week of classes that promises an exciting start to the academic year!