Dear Wellesley College Alumnae:

This reunion marked President H. Kim Bottomly’s final “State of the College” address to alumnae. Listening to her describe all that is happening on campus and among our exceptional students and faculty, I could not help but think of the remarkable journey on which President Bottomly has led Wellesley.

Kim arrived at Wellesley just before the financial crisis of 2008–09. Her unflappable leadership and capacity to make very difficult decisions got Wellesley through those tough years and put the College back on stable financial footing. More importantly, however, Kim never let the vision of Wellesley darken during that time. In fact, she expanded Wellesley’s reach and opportunities, establishing the Albright Institute and partnering with other international educational institutions, collaborating with Babson and Olin colleges, being the first liberal-arts college to offer courses through EdX, creating the President’s Commission on Ethnicity, Race, and Equity in order to address inequities on campus, envisioning the College to Career initiative, which will have a profound impact on both students and alumnae, restoring so much of our gorgeous campus, and last, but not least, securing Wellesley’s future by embarking on a $500 million capital campaign.

Thank you, Kim, for your leadership and vision, which have strengthened Wellesley and firmly established her as a transformative institution, expanding the College’s voice in the world.

Photo by Richard Howard