Posted on March 4, 2016 by Mount Holyoke College
Thank you again to everyone who participated in our third annual FebruMary celebration this past month. In 29 days, we learned about some of the incredible student organizations in our Celebrating Community posts, shared information about the wide variety of Black History Month programming on campus, tested our knowledge about some of the more obscure student orgs in Mount Holyoke’s history, shared photos of Mary celebrating with alumnae all around the world, and toasted to our fearless founder on here 219th birthday. We also joined together to support the tremendous work happening on… Read More
Posted on February 27, 2016 by Mount Holyoke College
Kimberly Hébert graduated with honors from Mount Holyoke in 1994, majoring in psychology with a minor in theatre. For Kimberly, the MHC experience was truly transformational—a time when she claimed her voice and walked into the world on her own. What’s the greatest lesson you learned while at MHC? The greatest lesson MHC taught me was that even the individual voice can impact the masses. What’s your favorite spot on campus? The Betty Shabazz Cultural Center. We called it “The House,” and it was a soft place to land on campus for me. Was… Read More
Posted on February 24, 2016 by palme22c
Founded in the early 1990s, Mount Holyoke’s Student Art Board aims to make art more visible on campus by curating exhibitions displaying work by fellow students and members of the Five College area. They also act as a liaison between students and the Department of Art at the school, providing space for expression and interaction with art and other artists outside the classroom. Their gallery space, located on the second floor of Blanchard Campus Center, is reserved for curated art shows showcasing the talents of student creators. This rotating display of artwork… Read More
Posted on February 22, 2016 by Mount Holyoke College
Kat Calvin graduated cum laude from Mount Holyoke in 2005 with a degree in theatre and minor in religion. Kat has been recognized for numerous achievements and leadership, including being named one of Business Insider’s Top 30 Women Under 30 in Tech and one of BET’s Blacks on the Brink of Greatness. What’s the greatest lesson you learned while at MHC? To always speak up no matter the consequences. My motto is from a Scissor Sisters song: “No one’s ever gonna listen if you haven’t made a sound.” I learned that I could survive… Read More
Posted on February 18, 2016 by Mount Holyoke College
As a student at Mount Holyoke, Markeisha Miner ’99 majored in African/African American studies with a concentration on history and politics, but she gained far more than an excellent education here. She knew that the minute she first walked on campus, her life was forever changed. What’s the greatest lesson you learned while at MHC? At Mount Holyoke, I knew I could be whoever I wanted to be and do whatever I wanted and dreamed of doing. Over the years, whenever I need to come back to my center, I think about… Read More
Posted on February 17, 2016 by Mount Holyoke College
Black History Month events continue throughout the month of February at Mount Holyoke. If you’re on campus tomorrow, February 18th, check out the Black History Month Staff and Faculty Showcase in the Blanchard Great Room at 7:30 pm. This event celebrates Black History Month by featuring staff, faculty, and students as they showcase their talents. The event is open to the whole campus community and is co-sponsored by Multicultural Community and College Life’s Inclusive Initiative Fund, Student Programs, and Human Resources. To learn more about this event contact Jonathan “JB” Nelson: jbnelson@mtholyoke.edu See more Black History… Read More
Posted on February 17, 2016 by palme22c
Project: Theatre is a student-run organization dedicated to theater of all kinds, showing everything from Shakespeare to student-written plays. They aim to empower student creativity and collaboration through theatrical endeavors. The company typically produces and performs three full productions each semester, accompanied by several individual, smaller events, such as the 24-Hour Play Festival. Shows are proposed by and entirely executed by students—from start to finish, the students produce, direct, manage, design, act, sing, dance, and oversee all aspects. Most members of Project: Theatre serve both as actors and backstage during their time… Read More
Posted on February 11, 2016 by Mount Holyoke College
Naima McQueen ’11 majored in psychology and African American studies at Mount Holyoke. Naima fondly remembers her years at Mount Holyoke—not only the amazing education which prepared her for success but also the incredible community. What’s the greatest lesson you learned while at MHC? Your peers and your professors truly invest in you, and in turn, you learn what investment looks like and how to then invest in others. Your Mount Holyoke College network will continue to be a powerhouse in your life as you move forward. What’s your favorite spot on campus? Rene… Read More
Posted on February 4, 2016 by palme22c
The Mount Holyoke College Glee Club is for those who love all music! This musical community aims to develop musicianship through the study of classical, contemporary, and folk-derived repertoires, as well as through collaborations with the Mount Holyoke Orchestra and visiting choruses. The group strives to serve communities, both locally and abroad, by hosting concerts, touring, participating in outreach programs, and upholding time-honored traditions. Gloria Johnson-Powell ’58 is known for many things, including her participation in the Civil Rights movement and for her distinction as one of the first African-American women to… Read More
Posted on February 2, 2016 by palme22c
The first Students’ League of Mount Holyoke College was founded in 1898, during the tenure of President Elizabeth Mead, as a response to assertions that the student body of Mount Holyoke would more readily follow the rules, should they have a hand in making them. Thus, the first foray of this college into student government was begun. Over the next few decades, the power of the Students’ League grew along with the student body, and they began negotiating for the important things—a later curfew, and an allowance for lights to stay on… Read More
Posted on February 1, 2016 by palme22c
The Association of Pan African Unity (APAU), an organization for persons of African descent, plans and implements activities and programs designed to increase awareness of Africa’s unique and diverse cultural heritage within the community. These social activities bring women of color together, providing students with resources, support, and fellowship they can carry throughout their time at Mount Holyoke and into the world after graduation. The APAU also serves as a safe space for students of the African Diaspora and all who share, believe, and support the philosophies, traditions, and values of the… Read More
Posted on February 1, 2016 by Mount Holyoke College
February is Black History Month, where we celebrate the black leaders that defined our past, and shape our future. As Professor of Politics Preston H. Smith II states, “It is important for all of us to have a moment to reflect on the contributions of African Americans to American culture and society.” Keep checking back this month as we honor important black alumnae who have made a difference in our community and the world. If you have a recommendation for other black alumnae we should mention, please let us know, and we would… Read More
Posted on December 14, 2015 by Mount Holyoke College
“Sand and stone are Earth’s memory. Each of us, too, is a landscape inscribed by memory. My skin, eyes, and hair recall the blood of three continents as paths of ancestors—free and enslaved Africans, colonists from Europe, and peoples indigenous to this land—converge in me. As an educator and Earth historian, I’ve tracked the continent’s deep past, yet my own familial origins lie largely eroded and lost. To live in this country is to be marked by residues of its still unfolding history, residues of silence and displacement across generations. Trace offers my… Read More
Posted on November 30, 2015 by Mount Holyoke College
On November 24, President Obama awarded Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman elected to Congress and former Mount Holyoke professor, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Chisholm represented her native New York from 1969 to 1983, becoming a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. In 1972, Chisholm ran for the Democratic nomination, making history as the first African American from a major party to run for president. As congresswoman, Chisholm staffed her office entirely with women and remained a lifelong advocate for minority education and employment. See the original Facebook… Read More
Posted on February 27, 2015 by Mount Holyoke College
This past month has been an incredible opportunity to learn more about our founder, the Mount Holyoke community, and the experiences that helped bring us to where we are today. Along with celebrating FebruMary, our campus has been alive with important programming supporting Black History Month. Co-sponsored by the Association of Pan-African Unity (APAU) and Africana Studies, the “Unknown Living Legends” programming has featured a photo exhibit, lectures, readings, a film screening, and more. Our colleagues in Archives and Special Collections (ASC) have also been very busy this month helping us learn about Mount… Read More
$10 Million for MHC 