1794 Society News for April 2023

April 2023

Stay connected.

Dedication of New Barry Mills Hall Offers Opportunity to Honor Fourteenth President, Barry Mills

Hundreds of people—including many friends and family of Barry Mills '72, H'15—gathered in the new events space in Mills Hall on April 20 to celebrate the opening of Bowdoin's newest academic building.

Kenneth I. Chenault (right) presents Dr. Herman S. Dreer with the Afro-American Society's first Outstanding Alumnus Award at Bowdoin College in 1973.

Chenault Gift Establishes New Herman S. Dreer Leadership Fellowship

Kenneth I. Chenault ’73, H’96 and his wife, Kathryn C. Chenault, have made a $2 million gift to Bowdoin College, the bulk of which will be used to establish an endowed fellowship that will bring exemplary leaders to campus to engage with the Bowdoin community. The Chenaults have named the fellowship in honor of Herman S. Dreer, Class of 1910, who was the second Black man to graduate from Bowdoin, eighty-four years after John Brown Russwurm, Class of 1826.

Evan Gershkovich '14 One of Time's "100 Most Influential People"

Including Evan Gershkovich in the list’s leaders category, the magazine writes, “The fewer journalists there are like Gershkovich in Russia, the more freedom Putin gets to rule by lies.”

See a compilation of media coverage with updates on the situation and learn how you can show your support by sharing messages, photos, and stories about Gershkovich.

Bowdoin in the House—The White House, That Is. And Twice in One Day.

Two alumni who have attracted a lot of attention recently for leadership in their respective fields, Matthew Bernstein '13 (left) and Justin J. Pearson '17, both found themselves in the White House on the same day.

The annual reception with President Clayton Rose and Julianne Rose.

Save the Date: 1794 Society Reception

4:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m., June 3, 2023

President Clayton Rose and Julianne Rose cordially invite 1794 Society members who will be on campus during Reunion Weekend to a special reception. Invitation to follow.

ES at Fifty: Environmental Studies Symposium Imagines the Future

To commemorate fifty years of environmental studies at Bowdoin, the department invited to campus more than a dozen accomplished alumni (including keynote speaker Teona Williams '12, pictured) to discuss the environmental field today and to connect with and inspire students.

Parable of the Sower Powerfully Tells Story of Climate Change, Displacement, Faith, and Survival

Toshi Reagon brought her Joseph McKeen Visiting Fellowship to a stunning conclusion with a presentation April 14 of Octavia E. Butler's Parable of the Sower at Merrill Auditorium in Portland.

The Big Migration: Excitement as New Arctic Museum Takes Shape

With the heavy lifting now complete, Bowdoin’s new Arctic Museum starts to take shape. As it prepares to open its doors next month, museum staff are excited by what the John and Lile Gibbons Center for Arctic Studies has to offer.

New Class Announced for Athletic Hall of Honor

The Bowdoin College Department of Athletics has announced its 2023 inductees for the Athletic Hall of Honor. The group of six distinguished honorees will be recognized at a ceremony on Saturday, December 2, 2023, prior to the Bowdoin-Colby men’s ice hockey game.

Spring Postseason Underway

A number of Polar Bear teams are actively engaged in postseason play as the academic year comes to a conclusion. The men’s tennis team came up just short in the NESCAC final on Sunday against Middlebury but will be the top seed at an NCAA regional hosted at Williams College this weekend.

The outdoor track and field team boasted a pair of NESCAC champions at last weekend’s conference championships, while the baseball team used a dramatic extra-innings walk-off home run to clinch a trip to the NESCAC playoffs.

Several other teams close out their regular season action this week, with championship competition continuing throughout the month of May. To keep up with the Polar Bears, visit GoUBears.com for the latest scores, schedules, and information.

Go U Bears Athletic Fund Challenge

May 10–11

Join us for Bowdoin’s first Go U Bears Athletic Fund Challenge to support the Polar Bear Athletic Fund and your favorite varsity and club teams. The game is on! Click here to join leaderboard.

The US and the Holocaust: Some Uncomfortable Truths and Lessons

Historian Peter Hayes ’68 tackles a difficult subject for Americans as he delivers the inaugural address of a new Holocaust education lecture series.

Last Call for Submitting

Class News for Bowdoin Magazine's Spring/Summer Issue

Have you picked up a new hobby? Just read a great book? Spent fun time with a Bowdoin friend? Had a Go U Bears moment while traveling or even in your own neighborhood? Please keep giving us the milestones—weddings, babies, new jobs, moves—but think of Class News for these things too. We love them, and so do your classmates!

Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell ’54, H’83 Marks Good Friday Agreement Milestone in Northern Ireland (The Irish Times)

Fred Hill '62: Tennessee and Russia Highlight How Dissent Is Silenced (Bangor Daily News )

Andrew Rudalevige on the Historical and Political Implications of Former President Trump's Indictment (CBS News)

Dan Stone: Your Political Rivals Aren't as Bad as You Think—Here's How Misunderstandings Amplify Hostility (The Conversation)

Doris Santoro to Be Commencement Speaker, Receive Honorary Degree at UMaine–Farmington (Bangor Daily News )

Review: Museum of Art's In Light of Rome (Boston Globe )

Barbara Held: Assessing Our Polarized Convictions about Trump's Record—and Why It Matters (Times Record/Portland Press Herald )

Sportscaster Dale Arnold ’79, P'07 Hangs Up His Microphone (Boston Globe)

Ned Toll '83 Earns Bragging Rights after Sunday Puzzle Win (NPR Weekend Edition)

Enrich Your Walk or Drive with the Bowdoin Presents Podcast

Season two of Bowdoin Presents transports listeners back to the classroom by sharing the work and research of Bowdoin faculty and others in Bowdoin’s academic community. Listen in as award-winning independent radio journalist, podcast producer, and editor Lisa Bartfai engages in conversation with those who teach, inspire, and share knowledge on our campus. Find Bowdoin Presents on: Amazon Music, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Simplecast, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Commencement Events for Alumni

May 27, 2023

Celebrate Bowdoin's 218th Commencement and walk in the processional march around the Quad as part of the alumni parade led by Michael Owens ’73 and Don Hoenig ’73. Young alumni are invited to a post-Commencement gathering at Sea Dog Brewing Co.

Learn more and register for the Sea Dog gathering.

June 1–4, 2023

We hope you’ll make plans to join us for Reunion Weekend as it promises to be a celebration full of joy, entertainment, connections, and, of course, Bowdoin dining.

Learn more and register.

Alumni Survey

All alumni are invited to participate in an upcoming attitudinal survey. A direct survey link was shared via email on April 27. Your feedback is incredibly valuable, as it will help us understand how we can best enhance our programs and services for all alumni in the years ahead.

If you did not receive a link and would to participate, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at [email protected].

1794 Society News is published monthly by the Office of Communications and Public Affairs.

Please send your comments and suggestions to [email protected].

UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS