Organized in association with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (London) and the Oak Spring Garden Foundation (Va.), Rory McEwen: A New Perspective on Nature surveys the impact of Scottish painter Rory McEwen (1932–1982). McEwen’s work is presented alongside botanical art from the eighteenth through twenty-first centuries. On view through Dec. 15, 2025, at the Davis Museum, the exhibition includes programming to bring together students, staff, faculty, and the general public for discussions about the intertwining histories of art and science. Free and open to the public Tuesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit thedavis.org for more information.

A New Leader for Campus Renewal

Michelle Maheu has been promoted to assistant vice president of facilities management and planning, replacing Dave Chakraborty, who retired in the summer. The first woman in this role at the College, Maheu oversees maintenance and construction projects for the entire campus. She previously served as the College’s director for planning, design, and construction. A licensed architect, she joined the Wellesley staff in 2009 as a project manager. Her team is currently managing ongoing significant renovations in the residence halls. Other projects include: updates to the the central utility plant and campus electrical and water distribution; renovation of the Keohane Sports Center pool; construction of a new all-electric building to house Health Services and Counseling Services; refreshing Simpson Cottage before the relocation of the Wellesley Centers for Women there; and extensive, ongoing reconstruction of Clapp Library.

Are You Experienced?

Wellesley’s Academic Council has approved a new experiential learning requirement. The class of ’28 will be the first cohort that must complete two units of experiential learning in order to graduate. These units may be earned through participation in internships, research, study abroad, student employment, service or civic engagement, and much more. Experiential learning is already ubiquitous at Wellesley—99% of the class of 2023 completed experiential learning prior to graduation—but it became a requirement due to the changing legal landscape around Curricular Practical Training guidelines, which allow international students to complete internships in the United States, and some employers’ reluctance to hire unpaid interns who didn’t receive college “credit.” The requirement also highlights for prospective students that Wellesley is deeply committed to applied learning that prepares students for meaningful careers and lives.

Our Own Olympian

Wellesley swimmer Lara Dashti ’26 represented her home nation, Kuwait, at the Olympic Games in Paris this summer. Dashti is the first student-athlete in Wellesley athletics history to compete at the Olympics while still an active member of the Blue. She swam in the 100m breaststroke event, with a personal best time of 1:15:67.