President of the College

Dennis Parker (Class of 1977 and Trustee), and Lee Rowland (Class of 2002), both attorneys at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in New York, will discuss how they became public interest attorneys. They will also describe their day-to-day work at the ACLU in particular their efforts to advance the Racial Justice Program (Dennis) and the Speech, Privacy & Technology Project (Lee). Finally, they will share their views on the current debates in higher education over safe spaces, trigger warnings, racial justice, and free speech.

The Ethical Dimensions of Reading Classical Literature Moderator: Timothy Billings, Professor of English and American Literatures Panelists: Wendy Doniger, Mircea Eliade Professor in the History of Religions, University of Chicago; James Romm, Bard College; Karen Stolley, Emory University; Luke Bretherton, Duke University

Scientific Exploration and the Boundaries of Life Moderator: Eilat Glikman, Assistant Professor of Physics Panelists: John Grotzinger, Chief Scientist and Head of Strategic Planning Mars Rover Mission and the Fletcher Johns Professor of Geology at the California Institute of Technology; Mohamed Noor, Duke University; Pat Marsteller, Emory University

Race, Gender, and Inequality Moderator: Tara Affolter, Assistant Professor in Education Studies Panelists: David Simon, writer and producer of “The Wire;” Gyanendra Pandey, Emory University; Ruby Lal, Emory University; William Darity, Duke University

Join us for a brief information session on the Ron and Jessica Liebowitz Fund for Innovation (FFI), which presents an exciting opportunity for any member of the Middlebury community to apply for funding to pursue their own new projects, ideas, and ventures. Contact: Galen Anderson at gmanders@miis.edu or Michael Dola at mdola@middlebury.edu. Refreshments and snacks will be served.

Applying to the Fund for Innovation this spring? Drop in to workshop your application with Presidential Fellows in Innovation Galen Anderson and Michael Dola, who will be available to talk about your project and provide feedback on your draft proposal. They will be available from 4:00-6:00pm, feel free to stop by as your schedule allows. Contact: Galen Anderson at gmanders@miis.edu or Michael Dola at mdola@middlebury.edu

Applying to the Fund for Innovation’s winter round? Drop in to workshop your application with Presidential Fellows in Innovation Naila Jahan ‘15 and Michael Dola ‘15, who will be going over app basics as well as strengths and weaknesses, and will be available to provide feedback on your draft proposal. They will be available from 4-6pm, feel free to stop by as your schedule allows. Contact: Naila Jahan at njahan@middlebury.edu or Michael Dola at mdola@middlebury.edu

Jacqueline Royster, dean of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts at the Georgia Institute of Technology and professor of English in the School of Literature, Media, and Communications, will speak about how evolution, rather than revolution, may be the most strategic route for the liberal arts during these extremely fluid times. Royster focuses her research primarily on the rhetorical history of women of African descent. She is a widely published author of articles and books about literacy studies, women’s studies, and cultural studies.

Courtesy of the President’s Office – FREE 9-hole Captain and Crew (4-person scramble) Check-in: starting at 3:45 p.m.* Shotgun start: 4:30 p.m. Dinner: in Kirk following golf Open to all faculty, staff,¬ and retirees. Please contact Valerie Costello (vcostell@middlebury.edu), Phil Cyr (pcyr@middlebury.edu), or MariAnn Osborne (mosborne@middlebury.edu), to register your team.