1794 Society News for May 2023

May 2023

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Reunion Weekend 2023: 1794 Society Reception Slideshow

Despite a rainy afternoon, the mood was joyful inside the 1794 Society reception tent. Held on the lawn of the Parker Cleaveland House on the Saturday of Reunion Weekend, the gathering was a chance for those who continue to make a difference for the College and the Bowdoin community to be celebrated, including with words of gratitude from President Clayton Rose. View a slideshow of images from the event.

Reunion Weekend 2023 in Pictures

Reunion Weekend, held June 1–4, drew more than 1,700 alumni and guests to campus to reconnect, relax, and relive College memories. Polar Bears from the “the threes and eights” celebrated their shared milestones around meals and at fun gatherings including Pints and Pinot, compelling talks by faculty and fellow alumni, engaging performances, class photos, a lobster bake, and more. View a slideshow of images by Michele Stapleton and Fred Field.

Alumni Groups Reconnect at Reunion

Three of the College's alumni groups—Bowdoin Alumni RepresentASIAN, the Bowdoin College Black Alumni Association, and the Association of Bowdoin Latinx Alumni—gathered for planning meetings on June 3 and then met up for a larger multicultural reception.

Four Decades on, the Photons Continue to Rock

What do you call a psychiatrist, a retired actuary, a radio producer, a book editor, and an educational development officer, all of them Bowdoin classmates from the early ’80s? When they’re on stage they’re called the Photons, and they’re still rocking after four decades and have become a perennial favorite during Reunion Weekend.

Jamella Gow, Allison Guess, Michele Reid-Vazquez, Bianca Williams

Bowdoin Announces Four Appointments to New Chairs Honoring

Distinguished Black Graduates

Bowdoin has appointed a cohort of four accomplished scholars to new endowed faculty professorships honoring distinguished Black graduates of the College. These new positions, which are fully funded by donors, will focus on the interdisciplinary study of race, racism, and racial justice and across themes of environmental justice and belonging, citizenship, and freedom.

Board of Trustees chair Scott Perper '78 with John Gibbons '64 and Lile Gibbons at the Gibbons Center dedication.

Dedication of Gibbons Center Opens New Era for Arctic Studies

The new John and Lile Gibbons Center for Arctic Studies positions Bowdoin as a world-class destination for Arctic research and education, an increasingly vital role as climate change and geopolitics shape the trajectory of the region and globe. Many alumni, faculty, staff, students, and others converged on the landscaped terrace outside the new building on May 11, 2023, to celebrate the center's opening and to thank its benefactors, John A. Gibbons Jr. ’64 and Lile Gibbons P'88, P'91, P'96, P'03.

Nadia Celis, Gustavo Faverón Patriau, Page Herrlinger, Belinda Kong, Henry Laurence

Five Faculty Members Promoted to Full Professorships

Five faculty members have been promoted from the rank of associate to full professor based on their excellence in teaching, distinction in scholarly or artistic engagement, and service to the College.

Bowdoin Celebrates 218th Commencement

Bowdoin's 218th Commencement was the last one for President Clayton Rose, who reflected on his journey and also used the occasion to talk about what it means to be a Bowdoin graduate, with references to Evan Gershkovich '14 and Justin J. Pearson '17.

Baccalaureate Officially Concludes Academic Year

Presiding over Baccalaureate, the ceremony officially concluding the academic year, President Rose commended the Class of 2023 for its resilience in the face of the pandemic's many impacts. "Think about all that you’ve overcome and all that you’ve become as a result," Rose said. "It is amazing."

Honorary Degree Recipients Share Stories and Wisdom

This year's honorary degree recipients, in various settings, graciously shared stories and reflections with members of the Bowdoin community.

The Thorndike Oak Toast Tradition

The Thorndike Oak Toast is a longstanding Bowdoin tradition honoring George Thorndike, Class of 1806, commemorating the senior class transitioning from students to alumni. Read about this year’s toast and view a slideshow of images.

Tributes and Laughter as Colleagues Say Goodbye to President Clayton Rose

Faculty and academic staff gathered for a reception to bid farewell to President Clayton Rose, who steps down at the end of June after eight years as Bowdoin's fifteenth president.

Conclusion to Spring Sports Season Brings Broken Records, Multiple Postseason Honors

The Bowdoin sailing team had a historic spring, as the women’s team posted a fifth-place finish at the Intercollegiate Sailing Association National Championship, the best-ever finish for the program at nationals. The Polar Bears then recorded a tenth-place finish at the Open Fleet Race Championship the following week, capping an exciting, season-ending performance at ICSAs for the Polar Bears.

The men’s tennis team returned to national prominence, earning a trip to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals following a thrilling regional win at Williams. The Polar Bears lost a hard-fought quarterfinal match to Middlebury the following week, capping a fantastic season that saw them end the year ranked fourth in Division III.

Highlighted by an outstanding performance by Kianne Benjamin ‘24, the Polar Bear track and field team collected numerous All-American honors at the NCAA championship. Additionally, the men’s lacrosse team had three players earn USILA All-American status, while Angelina Mayers ’23 became the first softball All-American in Bowdoin history.

The Department of Athletics celebrated the 2022–2023 year with its annual year-end awards night on Thursday, May 11, at Pickard Theater. You can watch a recording of the event and see a list of award recipients here.

Bowdoin's rowing teams pulled off an extraordinary weekend of racing at the 84th Annual Dad Vail Regatta May 12–13 by winning gold, silver, and bronze medals and ended its season on a historic note at the ACRA National Championships in Oak Ridge, Tenn., with national championships.

It’s a Win: Go U Bears Athletic Fund Challenge Knocks It out of the Park

The inaugural Go U Bears Athletic Fund Challenge, held May 10–11, 2023, inspired 2,324 people to step up to the plate, reminding us how much Bowdoin Athletics can bring everyone together. Gifts in support of student-athletes and coaches came from players and fans of all types—alumni, parents, families, faculty, staff, students, and friends.

Trustees Elect Two New Members, Reelect Five, and Recognize Dedicated Service

The Bowdoin College Board of Trustees elected two new members, reelected five, and recognized the valued contributions by retiring members of the faculty, staff, and board of trustees during meetings held on campus May 11–13, 2023.

Bae Named Director of the Bowdoin College Library

Peter Bae has been named director of the Bowdoin College Library, following a national search to find an experienced and strategic library leader to oversee what is at once the intellectual heart of the Bowdoin campus and a major research resource in the state of Maine.

Reed Johnson (left) and Daisy Sindelar in Searles Hall.

Dangerous, Difficult, and Now Nearly Impossible: Independent Journalism in Russia

Reporting from Russia was difficult enough before the recent arrest and detention of Evan Gershkovich ’14, says veteran correspondent and editor Daisy Sindelar. Now it’s harder than ever.

Pearl Harbor Victim and Bowdoin Alumnus to Be Laid to Rest in Maine

More than eighty years after Stanley Willis Allen ’39 perished at Pearl Harbor, his remains, previously unidentified until advances in forensic technology solved the mystery, are to be buried in Maine with full military honors this summer.

Maine Calling host Jennifer Rooks with professors Crystal Hall, Eric Chown, Fernando Nascimento

"A Long Way from Killer Robots" and Other Insights: Bowdoin Professors (above) on Artificial Intelligence (Maine Public Radio)

Ken Chenault ’73, H’96: America’s Strength Is Learning through History—Not Rewriting It (Washington Post )

Spotlight on Sustainable Bowdoin 2042 Action Plan (Maine Public Radio)

Eric Gaze Debunks Dunning-Kruger Effect (Fortune/Scientific American )

Tess Chakkalakal Discusses Enduring Appeal of Nathaniel Hawthorne (Maine Public Radio)

Daniel Stone on New Book Undue Hate : Why Do We Loathe Each Other So Much? (Salon)

Tori Bacall '26: Redemption Centers as "Unseen Heroes" behind Maine's Recycling Achievements (Bangor Daily News)

Highlighting Bowdoin's Integrative Wellness Options (Inside Higher Ed)

BCBAA Mentorship Pilot

The Bowdoin College Black Alumni Association (BCBAA) piloted a student mentorship program in spring 2023 with twenty-two pairs of students and alumni, more than doubling anticipated participation. Alumni ranged from the classes of 1968 to 2018 and served first-years through seniors.

The Semester's Over but You Can Keep Learning 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.

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

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