• A photo portrait of Banu Subramaniam, Luella LaMer Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies

    A More Expansive Botany

    Summer 2024

    Window on Wellesley

    Do plants “belong” in a particular place? Why are some considered “native” and others “invasive”? Why do they have Latin names? Are they really “male” and “female”? These are some of the wide-ranging questions at the heart of the new book Botany of Empire: Plant Worlds and the Scientific Legacies of Colonialism by Banu Subramaniam, the Luella LaMer Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies.

  • 2024 Wellesley Athletics Rookie of the Year Audrey Wang ’27

    College Road

    Summer 2024

    Window on Wellesley

    The Blue golf team ranked as high as eighth in the NCAA Division III national rankings during a record-setting spring. Bolstered by a talented class of first-years, including 2024 Wellesley Athletics Rookie of the Year Audrey Wang ’27 (above), the Blue earned team victories at the Jekyll Island Invitational, the two Vassar Invitationals, the Ann S. Batchelder Invitational at Nehoiden Golf Club, and the Jack Leaman Invitational. The Blue ended the year in a tie for second at the Liberty League Championships, narrowly missing this year’s NCAA championship.

  • A photo of a graduate's mortar board decorated with roses

    Commencement 2024

    Summer 2024

    Window on Wellesley

    The 571 members of the red class of 2024, most of whom arrived on campus as first-years during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, graduated on May 17. Student speaker Haley Lee-Burke ’24 delivered an address in the form of a letter to the College, inspired by the class’s first-year orientation theme, “Love, Wellesley.” “Thank you for giving me a space to learn, cry, and laugh my heart out,” Lee-Burke said.

  • A photo portrait of Andrew Shennan, provost and Lia Gelin Poorvu ’56 Dean of the College, who recently retired

    The View from Green Hall

    Summer 2024

    Window on Wellesley

    In June, Andrew Shennan moved out of an office he had been occupying since 1999. During send-off events in the spring, colleagues remarked on Shennan’s brilliance, kindness, optimism, ability to see arguments from many angles, level-headedness, devotion to the College, and his continuing commitment to neckties in a business-casual era.

  • A photo of Emma Feldman ’24, this year’s Hooprolling champion, being carried toward Lake Waban.

    Hoop, Hoop, Hooray!

    Summer 2024

    Window on Wellesley

    Emma Feldman ’24 (being carried, left) is this year’s Hooprolling champion. A neuroscience major and art history minor, after graduation she headed to Brigham and Women’s Hospital to do clinical research.

  • A Fight for Democracy, a Historic Summit

    Summer 2024

    From the President

    This spring, Wellesley College took a stand in support of democracy and of renewing the civic purpose of higher education.

  • A photo portrait of Natalie Mendenhall '17

    In the News

    Summer 2024

    Class Notes: Profile

    Natalie Mendenhall ’17, an audio producer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, participated in the Wellesley in Washington program and credits that experience with preparing her to become the news producer she is today. “I feel really blessed to be working in journalism at this changing time … people will always need the news.”

  • A photo portrait of Stephanie Kacoyanis '05

    Cutting-Edge Contralto

    Summer 2024

    Class Notes: Profile

    Stephanie Kacoyanis ’05, with her commanding contralto voice, dramatic acting style, and striking bearing, has won Boston Globe accolades for “scorching the stage” in her operatic portrayals. Reviewers describe her powerful tone as “dark,” “majestic,”...

  • A photo portrait of Ariana Hellerman '03

    Solidarity on the Q35 Bus

    Summer 2024

    Class Notes: Profile

    In November 2023, New York City officials erected a tent city at Floyd Bennett Field, an out-of-use airport facility in Brooklyn. Some 2,000 asylum seekers, all families with children, were settled there to face the winter ahead. “This is my backyard,” says Ariana Hellerman ’03. She decided to help.