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From the President's Desk: October 2026
Dear Members of the Sarah Lawrence Community,
This past weekend, we welcomed nearly 500 parents, family members, and friends to campus for Family & Friends Weekend. There’s always a special energy as our community comes together to celebrate our students, share in their experiences, and enjoy the creativity and curiosity that make Sarah Lawrence such a special place. And what better time to do it than a spectacularly beautiful fall weekend on campus.
Family & Friends Weekend always offers a glimpse of the many ways our students learn, create, and connect. This year, families enjoyed everything from student performances and science demonstrations to campus tours, an art exhibit, conversations with faculty, a block party, and one of those favorite Sarah Lawrence traditions, a screening of 10 Things I Hate About You, starring Larisa Oleynik ’04. Everywhere I looked, I saw students sharing their Sarah Lawrence with the people who know them best, and families getting to know the community their students now call home.
Our centennial added a special dimension to the weekend, as we celebrated both the Sarah Lawrence of today and the people and places that brought us here. Art history faculty emeritus Joseph Forte offered a preview of his forthcoming book, Tracing Transformation: Sarah Lawrence College at 100, which tells the story of the College through the evolution of campus – from the Lawrence family’s home to the spaces where generations of students have lived, learned, and created. And the campus tours were a special Centennial edition, joined by the spirits of Sarah Lawrence, as student actors brought some of the people connected to that history to life. Pictured above are Ren Mirenda ’28 (Dudley Lawrence), Maria Byers ’28 (Sarah Lawrence), Devon Fuchs ’27 (President Harold Taylor), Morgan Goldsberry ’28 (President Constance Warren), Lily Goldsmith ’29 (Melissa Richter, founder of the Human Genetics graduate program), Joel Castillo ’28 (William Van Duzer Lawrence), and Sophia Dekermenjian ’28 (President Esther Raushenbush).
Those performances were just one example of the remarkable and varied talents our students shared throughout the weekend. On Friday, Spotlight at the Remy Theatre featured student actors, dancers, musicians, and writers sharing their work, followed by improv and a capella in the Canon Theatre. Down the hill at the Science Center student scientists led lab tours and demonstrated experiments. On Saturday, a block party with food trucks spanned the outdoor space between the Barbara Walters Campus Center and Westlands, with student musicians jamming on the terrace of the HUB.
Of course, no Sarah Lawrence gathering would be complete without an intriguing question or two. To that end, anthropology faculty member Robert Desjarlais led a “Faculty on Tap” session titled, “Haunting and Spectrality,” a thought-provoking exploration of ghosts, specters, and the surprising ways technology and memory blur the boundaries between past and present and reality and imagination. Faculty on Tap is a relatively new way our Alumni Relations team brings the seminar experience out of the classroom and straight to alumni around the country.
When a student arrives at Sarah Lawrence, their family becomes part of this community, too. It was a pleasure to spend time with parents and family members throughout the weekend; I was delighted to raise a glass to them and to the many ways they contribute to the life of the College. Here’s to you, and here’s to Sadie Lou!
Yours,
Cristle Collins Judd
President
president@sarahlawrence.edu
Instagram: @slcprez
Announcements
The Weekend in Photos
Relive the moments and memories that made this year’s Family & Friends Weekend so special. View the photo gallery on our website, including photos submitted by parents and families!
#GoGryphons
Fall sports are hitting their stride at Sarah Lawrence! Women’s Soccer has clinched a playoff berth, with the Skyline Conference Tournament set to begin on Sunday. Women’s Volleyball continues to excel, ranking third in Region III among NCAA DIII programs and remaining undefeated in conference play. The Cross Country team will compete at the NCAA Regionals on November 14, equestrian riders Leena Mathiasen and Summer Stammely have qualified for IHSA Regionals, and the swim team opened its season with victories on both the men’s and women’s sides! Looking ahead, the basketball teams are gearing up for their season openers in November. I hope to see many of you at Homecoming and the Hall of Fame Induction at the Campbell Sports Center on Saturday, November 14!
Happy Anniversary!
Another milestone this year: Sarah Lawrence’s MFA Writing program turns 50! For five decades, distinguished writers and dedicated mentors have helped generations of students find and develop their voices, creating a community whose stories and creative work reach far beyond our campus. Current and former students and faculty from the program are invited to celebrate on November 21 with readings, stories, and a poetry slam. Learn more and register
Join Us for a Conversation About Midlife
The Sarah Lawrence community extends well beyond our residential students, and so do the opportunities to learn and connect here. On Thursday, November 19, I will join Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Anna Quindlen for a conversation about the joys, challenges, and possibilities of midlife and beyond. Presented by our Signature Learning Community, the event is free and open to the public, with options to attend on campus or online. Join us!
There’s still time to celebrate Socktober in Sarah Lawrence style. Make a gift of $25 and receive a pair of centennial socks. Show your SLC pride from your head to your toes! Learn more
