Commencement
I enjoyed participating in the College’s 89th annual commencement ceremonies this year, joining Scripps families and friends, students, faculty, trustees, and staff in celebrating the accomplishments of our 244 graduates. The program included inspiring remarks from our commencement speaker,president of USAFacts Poppy MacDonald ’97. I wish all of our graduates a rich and rewarding future, and I’m eager to welcome them back to campus as alumnae in the coming years.
Admission Update
The College received 3,022 applications for admission this year, and 285 first-year students are currently enrolled, which is on target for the class size goal. Congratulations to our enrollment and financial aid teams for successfully recruiting an exceptional class. I look forward to meeting the Class of 2023 this fall!
Faculty Recognition
The following faculty recently received endowed chair appointments: Professor of Art Ken Gonzales-Day to theFletcher Jones Chair in Art, Professor of History Julia Liss to theMary W. Johnson and J. Stanley Johnson Professorship in the Humanities, and Professor of Psychology Sheila Walker to the inaugural appointment of the Laura Vausbinder Hockett Endowed Professorship.
Also, the Board approved a promotion for Assistant Professor of Chemistry Babak Sanii to associate professor with tenure at the May meeting.
It is a pleasure to recognize these accomplished faculty members for their distinguished teaching, scholarship, and service.
Campus News
Scripps Centennial Plan
In early 2019, we shared the College’s new strategic plan, theScripps Centennial Plan, and I’m pleased to report that several initiatives are actively underway or are soon to be launched this fall. For the latest updates, I encourage you to visit the plan online.
W.M. Keck Science Department
We continue to work on strengthening the W.M. Keck Science Department. The College is grateful for the McDonnell Family Foundation’s matching gift, which, combined with the $1 million gift announced earlier this year from Trustee Jennifer McDonnell P’18 and her husband, Jeff McDonnell P’18, results in a gift totaling $2 million. The gift is directed toward the expansion and renovation of the Keck building.
Capstone Day
More than 80 graduating seniors from nearly 40 academic disciplines were chosen by faculty to present their scholarship to the Scripps community during this year’s Capstone Day. I was thrilled to attend some of this year’s impressive presentations in support of our accomplished scholars.
Rose Garden Dedication
On May 16, the College dedicated a new rose garden in the South Balch Courtyard to honor the life and contributions of alumna and Life Trustee Gabrielle Jungels-Winkler ’72, including her generosity toward students and faculty and her sustained support of the arts and humanities at Scripps. I encourage you to visit this beautiful and tranquil space, which I’m sure will soon become a favorite campus spot for many.
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) Athletics
Our CMS athletes have enjoyed another successful spring: track and field won nine All-West Region honors from the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, and Jacque Desmond ’19 won the NCAA Division III Championship in pole vault; Catherine Allen ’20 captured the 2019 NCAA Women’s Doubles National Championship in tennis with Caroline Cox (CMC ’21); and women’s lacrosse won its SCIAC Tournament for the third year in a row.
I always enjoy meeting with Scripps community members during the College’s annual events like Family Weekend and Reunion Weekend, or through the fascinating Behind the Scenes regional events that took place in cities around the country. If you are able to visit us on campus, please plan to attend one of our many events for families, alumnae, and friends of the College.
Enjoy the summer months! And to our returning students and faculty, I look forward to seeing you refreshed and rejuvenated in the fall.