Schedule of Events
This schedule is updated frequently between now and throughout the weekend.
Use the buttons to skip down.
Thursday, May 19, 2022
Usdan University Center Hours of Operation
Usdan University Center is the primary gathering spot for everyone, creating a hub in the heart of campus during Reunion & Commencement Weekend. All are welcome to stop by and enjoy a comfortable, convenient place to peruse the RC schedule, connect with classmates and/or family members, meet new friends… or simply hang out.
45 Wyllys Avenue (Show in Map)
Cardinal Tech Hours
Stop by Cardinal Tech Wesleyan Campus Store in Usdan University Center for officially licensed Wesleyan shirts, sweaters, hats and mugs, umbrellas and more! We also have charging cables, portable batteries, and all the technology you’ll need for the weekend.
Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
Groovy Wesleyan
Groovy Wesleyan: An exhibit celebrating the classes of the early 1970s
Were you here to see the Grateful Dead in concert? Did you participate in the national student strike? How about being one of the first women on campus? The late 1960s and early 1970s were a time of constant change here at Wesleyan. Come get the skinny and see photos, documents, and items from the university archives on display highlighting some of the events and changes that took place here on campus.
Olin Library, 1st floor east hallway, open during regular library hours (Show in Map)
Senior Thesis Art Exhibition
Zilkha Gallery showcases the work of the Class of 2022's thesis students in the Department of Art and Art History's Art Studio Program. Each student is invited to select a single work from their Senior Thesis Exhibition for this curated year-end showcase of drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, mixed media, and architecture.
Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery (Show in Map)
Strong Bodies for the Revolution: Pursuing Health and Power in the People’s Republic of China
How did the government of the People’s Republic of China mobilize its people to implement public health campaigns and improve the health of hundreds of millions of people? The College of East Asian Studies presents an exhibition featuring a collection of propaganda posters donated by the family of Ruth and Victor Sidel. During their travels to China, the Sidels acquired more than 55 posters, most of which illustrated the underlying principles that governed Chinese public health policy during tumultuous years of revolution. This exhibition, curated by faculty and students, showcases common themes in the posters that contribute to a larger narrative on modern health practices in China. Co-sponsored by the Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life; the Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program; the Fries Center for Global Studies; the Department of Government; the History Department; the Science in Society Program and Black Box Labs; and the Wesleyan University Library.
College of East Asian Studies Gallery (Show in Map)
Campus Tour Presented by the Office of Admission
Stewart M. Reid House, Office of Admission (Show in Map)
Registration
Everyone—alumni, parents, students, and families—please check in for nametags, meal tickets, a welcome packet, campus maps, and more. Reunion alumni: limited reunion class dinner tickets may be available for purchase at registration during the weekend. Tickets are not available at the dinner site.
Lobby, Exley Science Center, 265 Church Street (Show in Map)
50th Reunion Class of 1972 Lounge
Refreshments available.
Smith Reading Room, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
Campus Tour for the Class of 1972
Stewart M. Reid House, Office of Admission (Show in Map)
50th Reunion Kickoff Reception and Dinner for the Class of 1972
NOTE: $40 per person, please be sure to register in advance to purchase this meal ticket. Online registration is available through Thursday, May 5.
Inn at Middletown, 70 Main Street (Show in Map)
Friday, May 20, 2022
Usdan University Center Hours of Operation
Usdan University Center is the primary gathering spot for everyone, creating a hub in the heart of campus during Reunion & Commencement Weekend. All are welcome to stop by and enjoy a comfortable, convenient place to peruse the RC schedule, connect with classmates and/or family members, meet new friends… or simply hang out.
45 Wyllys Avenue (Show in Map)
Usdan Cafe Hours
Food and beverages available for purchase on site.
Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
Registration
Everyone—alumni, parents, students, and families—please check in for nametags, meal tickets, a welcome packet, campus maps, and more. Reunion alumni: limited reunion class dinner tickets may be available for purchase at registration during the weekend. Tickets are not available at the dinner site.
Lobby, Exley Science Center, 265 Church Street (Show in Map)
Cardinal Tech Hours
Stop by Cardinal Tech Wesleyan Campus Store in Usdan University Center for officially licensed Wesleyan shirts, sweaters, hats and mugs, umbrellas and more! We also have charging cables, portable batteries, and all the technology you’ll need for the weekend.
Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
Class of 2022 - 16mm and Digital Senior Thesis Films
See the schedule here.
Goldsmith Family Cinema, Jeanine Basinger Center for Film Studies(Show in Map)
Pi Cafe Hours
Snacks and beverages available for purchase.
Exley Science Center (Show in Map)
Groovy Wesleyan
Groovy Wesleyan: An exhibit celebrating the classes of the early 1970s
Were you here to see the Grateful Dead in concert? Did you participate in the national student strike? How about being one of the first women on campus? The late 1960s and early 1970s were a time of constant change here at Wesleyan. Come get the skinny and see photos, documents, and items from the university archives on display highlighting some of the events and changes that took place here on campus.
Olin Library, 1st floor east hallway, open during regular library hours (Show in Map)
50th Reunion Speed Relating
An opportunity for classmates to become reacquainted. Refreshments will be available at 8:30 AM.
Kerr Lecture Hall (Room 107) Shanklin Lab (Show in Map)
Wesleyan R J Julia Bookstore
Visit the Wesleyan RJ Julia bookstore on Main Street.
413 Main Street (Show in Map)
Rick Nicita Gallery Exhibition
Jeanine: Five Decades in the Classroom
Jeanine Basinger Center for Film Studies (Show in Map)
Senior Class Diploma Pick-Up
Members of the Class of 2022 may pick up their diplomas in the Registrar’s Office, North College. Graduates should be prepared to show a photo ID.
Registrar’s Office, North College (Show in Map)
WESU Open House for Returning and Current DJs
WESU staff members new and old! Come to your beloved college radio station to visit, chat with current board members, and look at WESU merch!
WESU Middletown Station, 2nd Floor, 45 Broad Street (Show in Map)
Welcome Picnic Lunch
Join friends, classmates, and family members for a picnic lunch when you arrive on campus for the weekend.
TICKETS: SOLD OUT
This lunch requires advance purchase/registration. If you are unable to purchase tickets in advance, lunch tickets may be available for purchase at Registration in the Exley Science Center. Ticket sales are not available at the lunch location-- please plan accordingly.
All reunion classes, graduates, and parents and families of graduating seniors will be charged the following for lunch: $25 per person
Russell House Lawn (Show in Map)
Senior Thesis Art Exhibition
Zilkha Gallery showcases the work of the Class of 2022's thesis students in the Department of Art and Art History's Art Studio Program. Each student is invited to select a single work from their Senior Thesis Exhibition for this curated year-end showcase of drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, mixed media, and architecture.
Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery (Show in Map)
Strong Bodies for the Revolution: Pursuing Health and Power in the People’s Republic of China
How did the government of the People’s Republic of China mobilize its people to implement public health campaigns and improve the health of hundreds of millions of people? The College of East Asian Studies presents an exhibition featuring a collection of propaganda posters donated by the family of Ruth and Victor Sidel. During their travels to China, the Sidels acquired more than 55 posters, most of which illustrated the underlying principles that governed Chinese public health policy during tumultuous years of revolution. This exhibition, curated by faculty and students, showcases common themes in the posters that contribute to a larger narrative on modern health practices in China. Co-sponsored by the Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life; the Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program; the Fries Center for Global Studies; the Department of Government; the History Department; the Science in Society Program and Black Box Labs; and the Wesleyan University Library.
College of East Asian Studies Gallery (Show in Map)
Campus Tour Presented by the Office of Admission
Stewart M. Reid House, Office of Admission (Show in Map)
WESEMINAR Learning with the Center for Prison Education
Join us for a conversation with the Center for Prison Education - an academic program in which Wesleyan faculty teach credited courses at two CT correctional facilities. Our students work toward an Associate degree from local partner Middlesex Community College, and subsequently a Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies (BLS) from Wesleyan. You will hear from members of the first cohort of Center for Prison Education BLS graduates, who received their degrees from Wesleyan, and who will share their reflections on college in prison, the liberal arts, and being Wesleyan alumni.
Presenters: BLS Alumni and Student Panelists Joshua Hinman, Clyde Meikle, Andre Pierce & Jason Torello
Moderator: Daniel McGloin, Academic Development and Planning Manager, Center for Prison Education
Room 116, Judd Hall (Show in Map)
Gordon Career Center Open House
All are welcome to stop by the Gordon Career Center! Come to see the beautiful space during its 10th anniversary year and speak with GCC staff. The Gordon Career Center works with students to plan their summer and post Wesleyan pursuits and alumni as they navigate their careers. We provide skilled advising and access to alumni, parent, and employer partners from around the world as well as resume and cover letter review and workshops.
Gordon Career Center, Boger Hall (Formerly the Squash Court Building) (Show in Map)
Special Collections and Archives Open House
Drop in at the University’s Special Collections and Archives to remember your student days—yearbooks, The Argus, Hermes, face books, and many other historical Wesleyan materials are all here. Chat with SC&A staff about the riches of the University’s rare book collection and how it supports Wesleyan’s educational mission.
Special Collections and Archives and Davison Rare Book Room, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
50th Reunion Class of 1972 Lounge
Refreshments will be available
Smith Reading Room, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
WESEMINAR Downey House Poets Revisited
Back in 1971, three members of the class of 1972 were among those chosen for the Connecticut Student Poets tour: Kit Royce ‘72, Geoff Rips ’72 and Michael Carlson ‘72 (the alternate). Kit died in 2009, leaving behind letters to family and friends which were published as Wherever I Am, I'm Fine. Geoff has written two novels and a collection of poems, The Calculus of Falling Bodies. In the 1980s, Mike published three small books in England and Ireland: Winter Lovers, Zombie Footwork and By the Sound, along with five chapbooks. He got distracted by freelance journalism before recently gathering new and old material for publication. Geoff and Mike will read from their work during this WESEMINAR.
Russell House (Show in Map)
WESEMINAR Local History, Global Issues: Race, Industry, and Violence in the Connecticut River Valley
Middletown and the Connecticut River Valley have been central to every chapter of American history. The Triangle Trade with the West Indies and Africa, built on the backs of the enslaved, fueled 18th-century Connecticut’s wealth and growth. In the 19th century, Middletown’s global maritime trade gave way to manufacturing, as the Connecticut River Valley became an industrial powerhouse. Violence, meanwhile, shot through this entire history-sometimes literally. The first official pistol maker to the U.S. government opened his factory in Middletown in 1799.
Come learn about Wesleyan’s new “Carceral Connecticut Project: The History of Race, Capitalism, and Violence in the Connecticut River Valley” (CCP). Funded by a three-year, $1 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation's Humanities for All Times Initiative, the project will investigate Connecticut’s racial, industrial, and political history from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Panelists: Project investigators Demetrius Eudell, dean of the Social Sciences and professor of history (PI/coordinator); Jennifer Tucker, associate professor of history; and Jesse Nasta, assistant professor of the practice in African American studies and director of the Middlesex County Historical Society. Sonali Chakravarti, professor of government, is the fourth investigator on the project, and award-winning interdisciplinary artist and filmmaker, John Hulsey, will produce a documentary film that re-narrates the region’s past through its industrial sites.
Room 112, Boger Hall (Show in Map)
WESEMINAR Funders and Founders
What do angel investors, VCs, and philanthropists look for when deciding how to deploy capital? How does a founder, CEO, or Executive Director attract investors and stay afloat in the early days? Alumni will share their stories from the field, lessons learned, and words of wisdom in a series of lightning talks. Time permitting, we will open the floor for funders and founders from the audience to share their stories.
Hosted by WeSpark! (a group that aims to ignite innovation and entrepreneurship in the Wesleyan community) and Wesleyan's Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship
Moderator: Makaela Kingsley '98, director of the Patricelli Center
Speakers: Jessie Angell Carlson '02 (founder, Cabbige), Peter Frank '12 (founder, Forem), Sue Guiney '77 (founder, Writing Through), Marisa MacClary '94 (founder, Artifact Health, Inc.), Sadasia McCutchen '17 (funder, CapitalG), Jeremy Mindich '87 (funder, Propel Capital), Scott Moore '91 (founder, Colaboratory), Min Santandrea '97 (founder, SantM), Angie Schiavoni '02 (founder, Montessori Public Works), Susan Hunt Stevens '92 (founder, WeSpire)
Olson Commons, Gordon Career Center, Boger Hall (Formerly the Squash Court Building) (Show in Map)
Wesleyan Rugby Club Barbecue
All Women’s and Men’s team members, alumni, parents and friends welcome.
136 High Street (Show in Map)
College of Education Studies Round Table Discussion
Please come and join members of the new College of Education Studies to imagine the future of the College. Please arrive at 4 PM to participate in this event. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Dana Brink at dbrink01@wesleyan.edu.
164 Mount Vernon Street (Show in Map)
Champagne Reception for Graduating Seniors and Their Families
Join graduating seniors and their families and friends, as well as other members of the Wesleyan community, for champagne and light hors d’ oeuvres at this casual reception.
Andrus Field (tent), 55 Wyllys Avenue (Show in Map)
Alpha Delta Phi Reception and Banquet
For members of Alpha Delta Phi and their families. Dinner begins at 6 p.m.
Alpha Delta Phi, 185 High Street (Show in Map)
President’s Reception Honoring Leadership Donors and Volunteers
Please join President Michael S. Roth '78 and the Wesleyan Board of Trustees at a reception celebrating members of the Wesleyan Leadership Societies. Wesleyan Leadership Societies—the Wesleyan Circle, the 1831 Society, the Olin Associates—recognize the extraordinary commitment and support of Wesleyan leadership donors and volunteers. By invitation only.
President’s House Lawn (Show in Map)
Notably Sharp 10 Year Reunion Gathering
Room 114, Boger Hall (Formerly the Squash Court Building) (Show in Map)
Red, Black, and Green! All-College Dinner
Join friends, classmates, and family members for an informal, eco-friendly buffet dinner in the Marketplace at the Usdan University Center.
TICKETS: SOLD OUT. This event requires advance purchase/registration.
Marketplace, Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
College of Education Studies Open House and Reception
Stay after the Round Table, or come when you can, to warm up the new home of Education Studies at Wesleyan! We would love to meet you, say hello, and toast the successful launch of the College.
164 Mount Vernon Street (Show in Map)
Shabbat Services
Please join Wesleyan’s Jewish chaplain, Rabbi David Leipziger Teva, and the Wesleyan Jewish community for Shabbat services. All are welcome. No reservations necessary.
Wesleyan Arc Dedication, in honor of the long tradition of Wesleyan Jewish Community student leaders.
The Bayit, 157 Church Street (Show in Map)
Alpha Delta Phi Banquet Dinner
For members of Alpha Delta Phi and their families.
Alpha Delta Phi, 185 High Street (Show in Map)
Reception for Post-50th Reunion Alumni
Huddleston Lounge, Downey House (Show in Map)
60th Reunion Reception for the Class of 1962
Huddleston Lounge, Downey House (Show in Map)
55th Reunion Reception for the Class of 1967
Huddleston Lounge, Downey House (Show in Map)
45th Reunion Reception for the Class of 1977
West Lobby/Patio:The Ranch: Jeanine Basinger Center for Film Studies (Show in Map)
President's Reception and Dinner in Honor of the 50th Reunion Class of 1972
Invitations to members of the Class will be mailed. RSVP’s requested.
*This dinner is in lieu of the “Red, Black and Green” dinner
Beckham Hall, Fayerweather (Show in Map)
20th Reunion Reception for the Class of 2002
Room 311, Allbritton Hall(formerly top floor of Davenport Campus Center) (Show in Map)
35th Reunion Reception for the Class of 1987
Olson Commons, Gordon Career Center, Boger Hall (Formerly the Squash Court Building) (Show in Map)
30th Reunion Reception for the Class of 1992
McKelvey Room, Stewart M. Reid House, Office of Admission (Show in Map)
15th Reunion Reception for the Class of 2007
The Resource Center, 167 High Street (Show in Map)
25th Reunion Reception for the Class of 1997
Campbell Reference Center, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
Shabbat Dinner
At this special dinner for returning alumni, graduating seniors, and their families, we will welcome Shabbat with song, food, and joyful fellowship.
TICKETS: This dinner requires advance purchase/registration.
$30 per person
Daniel Family Commons, Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
WESEMINAR tick, tick... BOOM! Screening and Talkback with Lin-Manuel Miranda ’02
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial debut was named one of the Top 10 Films of 2021 by the American Film Institute, received two 2022 Academy Award nominations, and won three 2022 Hollywood Critics Association awards (Best Musical or Comedy, Best Actor - Andrew Garfield, First Time Feature - Mr. Miranda). Come see this impressive film adaptation and join the conversation with Lin-Manuel afterward.
Moderator: Alex Horwitz ‘02, director, writer, editor, and producer with experience on films large and small. He directed and produced Hamilton’s America, the Peabody Finalist documentary that explores America’s founding while following Lin-Manuel Miranda through the creation of Hamilton.
Goldsmith Family Cinema, Jeanine Basinger Center for Film Studies(Show in Map)
Stargazing
ASTRONOMY
Please note that masks are required at this event and will be available.
Van Vleck Observatory (Show in Map)
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Pi Cafe Hours
Food and beverages available for purchase on site.
Exley Science Center (Show in Map)
Annual Family Swim
Enjoy a morning swim in the Freeman Athletic Center pool. Towels will be provided.
Freeman Athletic Center (Show in Map)
50th Reunion Class of 1972 Continental Breakfast
Smith Reading Room, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
Usdan University Center Hours
Usdan University Center is the primary gathering spot for everyone, creating a hub in the heart of campus during Reunion & Commencement Weekend. All are welcome to stop by and enjoy a comfortable, convenient place to peruse the RC schedule, connect with classmates and/or family members, meet new friends… or simply hang out.
45 Wyllys Avenue (Show in Map)
Usdan Cafe Hours
Food and beverages available for purchase on site.
Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
Registration
Everyone—alumni, parents, students, and families—please check in for nametags, meal tickets, a welcome packet, campus maps, and more. Reunion alumni: if available please be sure to purchase your reunion class dinner tickets at Registration at any time during the weekend. Tickets are not available at the dinner site.
Lobby, Exley Science Center, 265 Church Street (Show in Map)
Cardinal Tech Hours
Stop by Cardinal Tech Wesleyan Campus Store in Usdan University Center for officially licensed Wesleyan shirts, sweaters, hats and mugs, umbrellas and more! We also have charging cables, portable batteries, and all the technology you’ll need for the weekend.
Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
Post-50th Alumni Classes Lounge
Klingher Classroom (Room 113), Boger Hall (Formerly the Squash Court Building) (Show in Map)
Class of 2022 - 16mm and Digital Senior Thesis Films
See the schedule here.
Goldsmith Family Cinema, Jeanine Basinger Center for Film Studies(Show in Map)
Groovy Wesleyan
Groovy Wesleyan: An exhibit celebrating the classes of the early 1970s
Were you here to see the Grateful Dead in concert? Did you participate in the national student strike? How about being one of the first women on campus? The late 1960s and early 1970s were a time of constant change here at Wesleyan. Come get the skinny and see photos, documents, and items from the university archives on display highlighting some of the events and changes that took place here on campus.
Olin Library, 1st floor east hallway, open during regular library hours (Show in Map)
ACADEMIC OPEN HOUSES
COLLEGE OF FILM AND THE MOVING IMAGE: West LOBBY/Patio: The Ranch of Jeanine Basinger Center for Film Studies (Show in Map)
Athletics Alumnae Gathering
Woodbridge Classroom, Freeman Athletic Center (Show in Map)
WESeminar State of the University with President Michael S. Roth ‘78
Wesleyan’s mission—to provide an education in the liberal arts that is characterized by boldness, rigor, and practical idealism—is not changing, but we pursue that mission in light of changes in the world around us. It is necessary to continually reexamine our vision for the future and maintain clear goals and objectives. Come hear President Michael S. Roth ’78 share a “State of the University” along with thoughts on Wesleyan’s newest strategic plan, Towards Wesleyan’s Bicentennial, and how it will serve to enhance our programs, build on our reputation, and increase access and sustainability.
Crowell Concert Hall (Show in Map)
Michael Mahon ’89 Memorial Tree Dedication
Please join us for a tree dedication in celebration of the life of Mike Mahon ’89.
Northwest side of West College, at the top of Foss Hill
Remembering the '70s! An open house in Special Collections & Archives
Do you remember the '70s? Legend has it that if you do, you probably weren’t there. Luckily, archivists and librarians can help you travel back in time and create new memories. From the rise of printing in the 1470s to the student protests of the 1970s, many events worth remembering took place in '70s decades. Drop by Special Collections & Archives to see some '70s highlights from our collections.
Davison Rare Book Room, Olin Library, 1st floor east (Show in Map)
Xi Chapter of Psi Upsilon: Chapter Meeting
Psi Upsilon, 242 High Street (Show in Map)
Rick Nicita Gallery Exhibition
Jeanine: Five Decades in the Classroom
Jeanine Basinger Center for Film Studies
ACADEMIC OPEN HOUSES
ARCHAEOLOGY: Lounge, Downey House (Show in Map)
CLASSICAL STUDIES: Lounge, Downey House (Show in Map)
FEMINIST, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY STUDIES: Allbritton 311 (Show in Map)
MEDIEVAL STUDIES: Lounge, Downey House (Show in Map)
PHILOSOPHY: Allbritton 311 (Show in Map)
PSYCHOLOGY: Hogwarts Tent, near Davison Health Center (Show in Map)
SCIENCE IN SOCIETY: Allbritton 311 (Show in Map)
Webster Family Natatorium Dedication
Cross Street Lobby, Freeman Athletic Center (Show in Map)
WESEMINAR Shaping the World Through Social Justice
Come hear how these Class of ’97 alumni have applied their Wesleyan education to positively impact the communities in which they serve and, ultimately, the world in which we live.
Speakers: Lucria Ortiz '97 and Francisco Tezén '97
Lucria Ortiz ’97 is a nonprofit executive and community changemaker and currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Yonkers Family YMCA in New York. Prior she served as a Senior Vice President of Strategic Advancement at the Ridgewood, NJ YMCA and in fundraising roles at the West Side YMCA and the Summit Area YMCA. Lucria began her career in 2002 practicing law as a public defender, working for the non-profit Bronx Defenders, and subsequently worked for criminal and civil court judges in New York City. Lucria developed her foundation in disruption in school. She earned her Juris Doctor from Northeastern University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Wesleyan University.
Francisco Tezén ’97 became President and CEO of A Better Chance in February 2020. He joined A Better Chance from the Food Bank for New York City where he served as the Chief Development Officer. Francisco has created and managed growth, visibility, and partnership strategies for educational and social service organizations with community-based, national, and global reach. Prior to joining the Food Bank, he held positions at Year Up, The New School, and Columbia Business School. Francisco earned his BA in History and Latin-American Studies at Wesleyan University and his MS in Nonprofit Management at The New School.
Room 116, Judd Hall (Show in Map)
ACADEMIC OPEN HOUSES
ASIAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES: Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies (Show in Map)
EAST ASIAN STUDIES: Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies (Show in Map)
Reception for Graduating American Studies Majors
A Reception to celebrate the achievements of our senior American Studies majors.
American Studies Department, 255 High Street (Show in Map)
Assemble for the Annual Parade of Classes
Seniors and their families are invited to join alumni for this traditional Wesleyan festivity featuring a live Dixieland band. The parade is scheduled to begin promptly at 11:30 a.m. rain or shine, and is followed immediately by the Assembly and Annual Meeting. Look for the class year signs and line-up beside the sign with the year you graduated. The parade begins on Huss Courtyard (behind the Usdan University Center) and parades to Memorial Chapel. All parade participants are encouraged to parade into Memorial Chapel for the Wesleyan Assembly and Alumni Association Meeting.
Huss Courtyard, Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
Picnic and Festival on Foss Hill
This lively festival with entertainment is a great place to connect with friends and family members between WESeminars and other weekend programs. Lunches are portable and can be picked up in the Usdan University Marketplace on your way to the Tent on Andrus Field, Foss Hill, afternoon WESeminars, or other events and destinations.
TICKETS: SOLD OUT. This lunch requires advance purchase/registration.
Pick up lunch from the Marketplace, 2nd floor of the Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
Senior Thesis Art Exhibition
Zilkha Gallery showcases the work of the Class of 2022's thesis students in the Department of Art and Art History's Art Studio Program. Each student is invited to select a single work from their Senior Thesis Exhibition for this curated year-end showcase of drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, mixed media, and architecture.
Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery (Show in Map)
Strong Bodies for the Revolution: Pursuing Health and Power in the People’s Republic of China
Curator Tours will be offered by Professor Ying Jia Tan, co-curator, at 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM.
How did the government of the People’s Republic of China mobilize its people to implement public health campaigns and improve the health of hundreds of millions of people? The College of East Asian Studies presents an exhibition featuring a collection of propaganda posters donated by the family of Ruth and Victor Sidel. During their travels to China, the Sidels acquired more than 55 posters, most of which illustrated the underlying principles that governed Chinese public health policy during tumultuous years of revolution. This exhibition, curated by faculty and students, showcases common themes in the posters that contribute to a larger narrative on modern health practices in China. Co-sponsored by the Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life; the Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program; the Fries Center for Global Studies; the Department of Government; the History Department; the Science in Society Program and Black Box Labs; and the Wesleyan University Library.
College of East Asian Studies Gallery (Show in Map)
Campus Tour Presented by the Office of Admission
Stewart M. Reid House, Office of Admission (Show in Map)
Wesleyan Assembly and Alumni Association Meeting
The 2022 Distinguished Alumni, McConaughy, and Outstanding Service Awards are presented at this time.
Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Ron A. Bloom ’77, P’24
Sarah Chapin Columbia ’82
Carter Bays ’97
Maggie McLean Suniewick ’97
Craig Thomas ’97
Angela Mae Yee ’97
Outstanding Service Award Recipients
Seth A. Davis ’72
Peter J. Hicks ’72
Susan Webster ’77, P’18
James L. McConaughy Jr. Memorial Award Recipient
William Hal Sherman ’02
Memorial Chapel
Honoring the Legacy Graduation Celebration
To the class of 2022: We celebrate and honor your legacy! We are proud of how much you have accomplished for yourselves, for your families, and us all. You are invited to the 2nd annual Honoring the Legacy event (RSVP link) to celebrate graduating FGLI seniors. The Socioeconomic Status and Disability interns in The Resource Center created this event to celebrate the graduating FGLI community at Wesleyan. During the event the FGLI seniors will receive a free lunch, customized graduation swag, and well wishes from each other and the Wesleyan community. To everyone who have friends and connections to the FGLI students in the class of 2022, please help us celebrate them by submitting your best Wesleyan memories with the graduates and/or video recording a few words of congratulations (submission link), be it pictures or videos. The videos and pictures will be compiled together to form a post collage and video montage that will be displayed throughout the event. The submission deadline is May 16th at 5PM.
Labyrinth Tent, Center for the Arts Green (Show in Map)
WESEMINAR COVID-19 & AIDS: Parallels, Differences, and Lessons Learned
According to the World Health Organization, as of March 2022, there have been 475 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, including over 6 million deaths. In addition, as of 2021, HIV/AIDS has killed approximately 36.3 million people, and approximately 37.7 million people are infected with HIV globally. Come hear James Hoxie ’72 and Joseph Fins ’82 share insights about how these two pandemics became worldwide public health issues and the similarities and differences regarding their origin, vaccines, and associated paradigm shifts. Jennifer Tucker, Wesleyan associate professor of history and science in society, will join them to provide her unique perspective on visual media in the formation of scientific understandings and public perceptions of infectious disease.
James Hoxie ’72 received his MD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine where he is currently an Emeritus Professor of Medicine. His career spanned 40 years as a physician/scientist with clinical specialties in leukemia and bone marrow/stem cell transplantation. Dr. Hoxie has been involved in AIDS research since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and he is recognized nationally for his research in human immunodeficiency and related viruses, with expertise in basic virology, how HIV causes disease, vaccines, and HIV cure research.
Joseph J. Fins ’82, MD, MACP, FRCP is The E. William Davis, Jr. M.D. Professor of Medical Ethics, Professor of Medicine, and Chief of the Division of Medical Ethics at Weill Cornell Medical College, and founding Chair of the Ethics Committee of New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center where he is an Attending Physician and Director of Medical Ethics. He is also the Solomon Center Distinguished Scholar in Medicine, Bioethics and the Law, and a Visiting Professor of Law at Yale Law School. As an internal medicine resident in the late 1980’s he provided care during the early days of the AIDs epidemic and in 2020 led his hospital’s ethics consultation service during the COVID-19 Spring Surge in New York City. Joe is a proud graduate of the College of Letters, a former chair of the alumni association, and a trustee emeritus of the University.
Jennifer Tucker, MPhil, PhD is an associate professor of history and science in society at Wesleyan who studies the interrelations of art and science, including public health topics such as the role of photography and visual media in the formation of scientific understandings and public perceptions of infectious disease. Jennifer is interested in how and why new forms of visual evidence evolve, and what we learn about the past by investigating the functions that images and other objects serve when they are put into mass circulation across private and public domains in places as varied as homes, schools, laboratories, museums, and courtrooms. Jennifer earned her BA from Stanford University, her MPhil, from the University of Cambridge, and her PhD from Johns Hopkins University.
Room 116, Judd Hall (Show in Map)
WESEMINAR The 15th Annual Ring Family Wesleyan University Israeli Film Festival
This year Wesleyan University celebrates the 15th Annual Ring Family Wesleyan University Israeli Film Festival. Sponsored by the Ring Family, the Center for Jewish Studies and co-sponsored by the College of Film and the Moving Image and the Wesleyan Film Series, the festival has become an extremely successful event which draws its audience from the Wesleyan community, as well as the larger general Connecticut community. Its structure has also become a model for unrelated festivals at Wesleyan and other universities. The festival’s format features a film screening, along with commentary from a speaker who illuminates a particular aspect of the film. This year’s festival included a New England Premiere! The film festival is also closely integrated into the study of Hebrew at Wesleyan University. In this WESeminar, Dalit Katz will offer a glimpse into this year’s festival, share film clips, and answer questions from the audience.
Presenter: Dalit Katz is The Ring Family Wesleyan University Israeli Film Festival curator and Director of Center for Jewish Studies
Room 058, Exley Science Center, (Show in Map)
Wesleyan Veteran Pre-Graduation Celebration
This reception will be an opportunity for veteran students in the Class of 2022 as well as their family and friends to gather in celebration of the graduates’ accomplishments. Food and drinks will be served.
Fries Center for Global Studies, Fisk Hall (Show in Map)
Senior Show and Tell
Come hear from theater and performance students about their senior projects this year- Limited seating available, advanced registration required: https://bit.ly/SeniorShow22. Please email any questions to dalger@wesleyan.edu
Theater Studios Building, TST 001
Lunch in Honor of the Post-50th Reunion Alumni
Please register for this event within online registration.
Daniel Family Commons, Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
ACADEMIC OPEN HOUSES
COLLEGE OF LETTERS: President’s House Lawn (Show in Map)
ECONOMICS: Tent with Red Flag, North College Lawn (Show in Map)
GOVERNMENT:Tent with Red Flag, North College Lawn (Show in Map)
HISTORY: Tent with Red Flag, North College Lawn (Show in Map)
RELIGION: Tent, Religious Studies, 171 Church Street (Show in Map)
Professor Richie Adelstein Reception
Join former students, colleagues, and friends to celebrate Professor Adelstein’s retirement and honor his long and dedicated service to Wesleyan.
171 Mount Vernon Street (Tent, Professor Cecilia Miller's home)
ACADEMIC OPEN HOUSE
QUANTATIVE ANALYSIS CENTER (QAC), Outside of Allbritton 108 (Show in Map)
ACADEMIC OPEN HOUSE
COLLEGE OF SOCIAL STUDIES SENIORS RECEPTION: Tent, 330 High Street (Show in Map)
WESEMINAR A Tumultuous Time: Six Days in April/May 1970
During the last six days in April and early May 1970, several events took place that galvanized the Wesleyan community and changed lives in small and large ways:
Protests on campus of the Bobby Seale Trial in New Haven, CT
Fire bombings on campus
Grateful Dead concert
Kent State massacre
Student strike on campus
Join seven members of the 50th Reunion Class of 1972 who were on campus and involved in these events during those six days in late April and early May 1970, as they show the photographs taken, the memorable moments from those six days, the roles that they played in these five events and, what they did or didn’t do. Hear how those days and those events affected each of them and how the events just might have changed their lives.
Panelists: Michael Carlson ’72, Andy Feinstein ’72 , Bruce Hearey ’72, P’97, John Manchester ’72, Charles (Bud) Spurgeon ’72, Peter Stern ’72, and Paul Vidich ’72 P’00, ‘03.
Mike Carlson moved to Montreal in 1975 and to London in 1977. He still lives in England and still works as a broadcaster & writer, with a child about to enter university in the fall. The strike convinced him to declare himself a conscientious objector, and confirmed his belief that "knowledge is good".
Andy Feinstein was Assistant Editor of the Argus during the Six Days in April/May 1970 and covered many of the events.
Bruce Hearey has been an employment law litigator and advisor for over 40 years. He resides and works in Cleveland, Ohio. While at Wesleyan, he played sports and had a solid B average.
Following a musical career performing everything from bluegrass to hard funk, John Manchester wrote music. His compositions are heard worldwide on TV, radio and the internet. He's published a series of suspense novels featuring characters with roots in the 60's counterculture.
Bud Spurgeon was Photography Editor of the Argus during the 1969-1970 academic year, and the photographs he took during that time are the subject of his presentation for "Six Days in April/May 1970." Those images may also be found at http://cespurgeon.com/photos/
Peter Stern has been Development Director of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies for the past 14 years. Previously he was with Vanguard Public Foundation and the Northern California Community Loan Fund (now Community Vision Capital and Consulting). He is perhaps proudest of his marriage and children.
Paul Vidich is the author of The Matchmaker, A Spy in Berlin and four other novels including The Coldest Warrior, shortlisted for the 2020 Staunch Book Prize in the UK. He was a senior executive in the entertainment industry for over twenty years before turning to writing full time. His fiction and nonfiction have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, LitHub, CrimeReads, The Nation, and elsewhere.
Ring Family Performing Arts Hall (Show in Map)
WESEMINAR: An Architectural Discussion of Wesleyan’s Art Gallery and PAC: A New Network of Interdisciplinary Spaces at the Heart of Campus (followed by a perimeter tour of the new space)
In 2021 Wesleyan began construction on a reimagined southeast corner of Andrus Field. At the core of this work is an extension and gut renovation of the Political Affairs Center (PAC), and a new Davison Art Center gallery building. This latter project is part of a broader effort to expand the arts at Wesleyan beyond the CFA, and to make them part of an inclusive, accessible, and interdisciplinary network of buildings at the core of campus. This seminar is an opportunity to hear about these projects and tour the construction site with gallery architect Nathan Rich ‘02 and Wesleyan’s Assistant Vice President of Construction and Infrastructure Alan Rubacha.
Room 014, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
WESEMINAR The Famous and The Forgotten: The Dietrich American Foundation Collection
Join H. Richard Dietrich III ’92 and Suzy Taraba ’77, MALS ’10 for an up-close look at some of the treasures of the Dietrich American Foundation housed at Wesleyan. Learn about this extraordinary collection of early American books and documents, collected by H. Richard Dietrich, Jr., ’60. Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, and other Founding Fathers await you – as do less the familiar, such as Grace Galloway, a British loyalist during the Revolutionary War. Learn how today’s Wesleyan students use the Dietrich collection to understand both the famous and those who have been largely forgotten.
H. Richard Dietrich III ’92 is a Director of The Dietrich American Foundation. He is the Co-editor of In Pursuit of History: a Lifetime Collecting Colonial American Art and Artifacts (Yale University Press, 2020), which highlights the collecting of his father, H. Richard Dietrich, Jr. ’60. The Dietrich American Foundation was established in 1963 by H. Richard Dietrich, Jr. (1938–2007) to collect, research and document historically important examples of American decorative and fine arts, primarily of the eighteenth century. The Foundation’s collections comprise furniture, silver, ceramics including Chinese export porcelain made for the American market, Pennsylvania German decorative arts, historical documents, manuscripts, maps, prints and paintings.
Suzy Taraba ‘77, MALS ’10 is the Dietrich Family Director of Special Collections & Archives. She has led SC&A since 1998 and has presented on rare books, manuscripts, and archival materials to more than 1,000 Wesleyan classes.
Olin Library, Davison Rare Book Room (Show in Map)
Limited to 20; first arrivals admitted first.
A Notably Sharp Decade Serenade
Wesleyan's best-dressed acapella group, Notably Sharp, celebrates the 10th anniversary of its founding. Since then, the Sharps have gained a reputation for more than their stylish performance attire. Recording multiple albums and performing both on and off-campus, the group has become well-respected for their intricate arrangements, use of body percussion, and wide variety of music. All are welcome to attend a full-length concert from the current group featuring appearances by alumni.
Memorial Chapel (Show in Map)
ACADEMIC OPEN HOUSE
RUSSIAN, EAST EUROPEAN, AND EURASIAN STUDIES: Room 208, Fisk Hall (Show in Map)
ACADEMIC OPEN HOUSES
ANTHROPOLOGY: Anthro Room 6 (Show in Map)
BIOLOGY: Terrace, Exley Science Center (Show in Map)
CHEMISTRY: Terrace, Exley Science Center (Show in Map)
COMPUTER SCIENCE:Terrace, Exley Science Center (Show in Map)
EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES: Terrace, Exley Science Center (Show in Map)
EDUCATION STUDIES: 164 Mount Vernon Street (Show in Map)
MATHEMATICS: Terrace, Exley Science Center (Show in Map)
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY: Terrace, Exley Science Center (Show in Map)
NEUROSCIENCE AND BEHAVIOR: Terrace, Exley Science Center (Show in Map)
PHYSICS: Terrace, Exley Science Center (Show in Map)
ROMANCE LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES: Highwaymen Common Room, 300 High Street (Show in Map)
THEATER: Theater Patio and East Room, Theater Studios, 275 Washington Terrace (Show in Map)
Alumni of Color (AOC)/ Students of Color (SOC) Reception and African American Studies Open House
Please join us at a reception honoring Alumni and Students of Color. All are welcome.
This event is sponsored by the Center for African American Studies and the Alumni of Color Council (AOCC).
Hogwarts Tent (near the Davison Health Center) (Show in Map)
50th Reunion Class of 1972 Lounge
Smith Reading Room, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
WESEMINAR A Conversation on Documentary Films with A.O. Scott P'18, '22 and Tracy Heather Strain
Join Distinguished Professor of Film Criticism and New York Times critic A.O. Scott P’18, ’22, and award-winning documentarian Tracy Heather Strain, Corwin-Fuller Professor of Film Studies and Co-director of the Wesleyan Documentary Project, for a discussion of documentaries – past, present, and future.
Powell Family Cinema, Jeanine Basinger Center for Film Studies
ACADEMIC OPEN HOUSE
ART AND ART HISTORY: Ezra and Cecilie Zilkha Gallery, main gallery (Show in Map)
Athletic Department Senior Awards Presentation
Come celebrate the accomplishments of our senior student-athletes as they gather together one final time as undergrads in Silloway Gymnasium.
Silloway Gymnasium, Freeman Athletic Center (Show in Map)
WESEMINAR The State of our Democracy
Moderator: TBD
Speakers: Robert L. Allbritton ’92 is the founder and publisher of POLITICO, a global nonpartisan politics and policy news organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with operations in New York and throughout Europe. In late 2021, Mr. Allbritton completed a $1 billion sale of POLITICO to Axel Springer. He is also the Founder and Publisher of Protocol.com, a publication reporting on people, power, and the politics of technology. In addition, he is executive chairman and cofounder of Perpetual Capital Partners, a private middle-market investment firm based in Washington, D.C. A native of Houston, Texas, Mr. Allbritton graduated from Wesleyan with a degree in government. Wesleyan's Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life was established in 2007 with a generous gift from Mr. Allbritton, his wife, Dr. Elena Allbritton '93, and a family foundation established by Mr. Allbritton's parents. The Allbritton Center brings together students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners for debate, research and teaching, and dissemination of work pertaining to public life. Mr. Allbritton serves on the board of directors of the Lyndon B. Johnson Foundation, Austin, Texas, and he is a trustee emeritus of Wesleyan.
Michael Bennet ’87, HON '12 has represented Colorado in the United States Senate since 2009. Recognized as a pragmatic and independent thinker, he is driven by an obligation to create more opportunity for the next generation. Michael has built a reputation of taking on Washington dysfunction and working with Republicans and Democrats to address our nation’s greatest challenges— including education, climate change, immigration, health care, and national security. Before serving in the Senate, Michael worked to restructure failing businesses and helped create the world’s largest movie theater chain. As superintendent of the Denver Public Schools, he led one of the most extensive reform efforts in the country, resulting in substantial, sustained academic improvement for Denver’s children. He lives in Denver with his wife and three daughters.
Crowell Concert Hall (Show in Map)
ACADEMIC OPEN HOUSES
COLLEGE OF SOCIAL STUDIES ALUMNI RECEPTION: Tent, 330 High Street
Post-50th Alumni Classes Lounge
Room 110, Boger Hall (Formerly the Squash Court Building) (Show in Map)
WESEMINAR Senior Thesis Showcase & Reception
Join us for a reception in Zilkha Gallery for a showcase exhibition of the work of the Class of 2022’s thesis students in the Department of Art and Art History’s Art Studio Program. The reception will also feature Assistant Professor of Art History Claire Grace and Associate Director of Visual Arts Benjamin Chaffee in conversation with student curator Gabby Farina ’23 at 4 p.m. Works shown are in drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, mixed media, and architecture. Co-sponsored by the Office of Advancement.
Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery (Show in Map)
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Alumni Reception
Please join members of the LGBTQ Alumni Network, parents and friends as we welcome graduating seniors to the alumni community.
The Resource Center, 167 High Street (Show in Map)
WESEMINAR Our Voices Matter: A candid conversation on the workplace challenges facing women and people of color across tech, education, and law - and what we can do to overcome them
In this special WESeminar session, you will hear from diverse alumni working across a broad range of industries and learn some of the common workplace challenges faced by women and underrepresented groups. The speakers will share personal stories and data to highlight the real difficulties faced by these groups and offer practical advice on what can be done to address these challenges by organizations, leaders and each of us as individuals. If you are committed to a truly diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, then you won't want to miss this engaging and insightful session!
Speakers: Nishita (Roy) Roy-Pope '07, Melissa (Mondesir) Miller '07, Whitney (Matthews) Ferguson '07
Nishita Roy-Pope '07 (she/her) is a tech and business leader, founder, diversity & inclusion champion, TEDx speaker, and proud mom. Nishita possesses 15+ years of leadership experience working in high-impact, global roles in the tech and non-profit sectors. Nishita firmly believes that diversity positively impacts innovation, customer experience, and financial outcomes. Nishita is part of the very small percentage of women of color who have held a leadership role in a major corporation and has led strategic, global initiatives to drive external thought leadership, employee engagement, talent development, sales revenue, diversity recruiting, and award-winning customer experience and marketing campaigns. Nishita is Co-Founder of Tribe Academy - a business and technology diverse talent accelerator - and Founder of WorldRoo - an ed-tech start-up focused on empowering children to build key early learning skills and develop an appreciation for diversity and global cultures. Nishita is a 2021 Rhode Island 40 Under 40 award winner, 2022 Woman to Watch in Tech Rhode Island winner, 2018 ATHENA Leadership Award® recipient, and Executive Board Member of Girls Inc of Worcester. Nishita is a valued and experienced speaker and facilitator, including delivering a highly engaging TEDx talk titled, "Channel Your Kid Courage". Nishita holds a bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University (‘07) and an MBA from Texas A&M University. Nishita lives in Rhode Island with her partner and two young children.
Melissa (Mondesir) Miller '07 (she/her) is currently the inaugural Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) at Oak Knoll School in Summit, NJ. With over fifteen years of experience in the education and nonprofit space, she has held various roles in fundraising and alumni relations, admissions, and student affairs at Cornell University and Columbia University. Melissa also sits on the Advisory Council for The Door, an organization dedicated to empowering systematically marginalized New York City youth, and is a member of Level, a network of women committed to working together with the common goal of tackling racial inequity and investing in Black women entrepreneurs. Melissa holds an M.S. in Nonprofit Management from Columbia University.
Whitney Matthews Ferguson, Esq. ’07 is an attorney and Inspector General for the New York City Department of Investigation where she is responsible for investigating fraud, corruption, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in New York City’s Department of Correction, Department of Probation, and the Board of Correction. She also served as Inspector General, Deputy Inspector General, and Assistant Inspector General for many other New York City departments. Prior to working at the Department of Investigation, Whitney was an Assistant District Attorney at the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office where she was selected to be one of two ADAs assigned to prosecute cases in the Glen Cove City Court. She was also chosen to become an ADA in Nassau County’s Adolescent Diversion Program. She ended her Nassau District Attorney’s Office tenure in the Economic Crimes Bureau. There, she specialized in the investigation and prosecution of White-Collar crimes including Trademark and Copyright Counterfeiting, Identity Theft, Insurance Fraud, and Embezzlement Welfare Fraud. Whitney received her JD from the University of Connecticut School of Law and her BA in Government and Sociology from Wesleyan University. A New York native, Whitney lives happily in Queens with her husband, Everett, and one-year-old son, Shane. In her free time, Whitney loves to travel, play tennis, and spend time with her family.
Room 112, Boger Hall (Show in Map)
Annual Reception Honoring Retiring Faculty
All are welcome to honor members of the faculty who retire this year.
Susan B. and William K. Wasch Center for Retired Faculty, 51 Lawn Avenue (Show in Map)
Phi Beta Kappa Initiation
Opening remarks: President Michael S. Roth '78
Guest speaker: Andrea G. Barthwell '76, MD, DFASAM
Memorial Chapel (Show in Map)
Local Faculty Emeriti Roundtable Discussion
Sponsored by the Class of 1972
Smith Reading Room, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
Reunion Class Receptions and Dinners
Post-50th Alumni (Classes of 1945–1971) and the Classes of 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, and 2017 gather for their Class Dinners and special programs.
TICKETS: Each dinner requires advance purchase/registration. If you are unable to purchase tickets in advance, a very limited number of Reunion Class Dinner tickets may be available for purchase at Registration in the Exley Science Center. Ticket sales are not available at the dinner location.
All reunion classes will be charged the following for dinner:
$65 per person – beer and wine included.
Class dinner locations are subject to change based on registration numbers. Please continue to check back for the most up-to-date locations.
Post-50th Reunion Alumni: Andersen Meeting Room (110) and Taylor Meeting Room (108), Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
1962: Andersen Meeting Room (110) and Taylor Meeting Room (108), Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
1967: Andersen Meeting Room (110) and Taylor Meeting Room (108), Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
1972: SOLD OUT Campbell Reference Center, Olin Memorial Library (Show in Map)
1977: Daniel Family Commons, Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
1982: Tent with red flag, McKelvey Green (Show in Map)
1987: Patricelli ’92 Theater (Show in Map)
1992: Mink Dining Wing, Usdan University Center (2nd floor) (Show in Map)
1997: Beckham Hall, Fayerweather (Show in Map)
2002: President’s House Lawn (Show in Map)
2007: Tent with black flag, McKelvey Green (Show in Map)
2012: The West Wing, Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
2017: Russell House Lawn (Show in Map)
Traditional All-College Sing
Steps of North College; Rain site: Memorial Chapel (Show in Map)
All-Campus Tent Party
Celebrate with classmates, graduating seniors, and families- all are welcome!
Hear the best pop and rock music from both the '80s and '90s in one night under the tent on Andrus Field with an all-star band featuring members from "The Future Heavies" covering new wave, R&B, and dance music from the 1980s, and "The Usual Lebowskis" covering alternative/indie, grunge, folk rock, and jamband music from the 1990s. The group is led by drummer Andrew Chatfield MALS '19 and includes lead vocalists Alice-Anne and Wendy Berry, keyboard player Pete DiGennaro, saxophonist and guitarist Dustin Kreidler, and both Derek Monahan and Aaron Read on lead and bass guitar. DJ Mario Torres will close out the night.
Tent, Andrus Field (Show in Map)
Sunday, May 22, 2022
Usdan University Center Hours
Usdan University Center is the primary gathering spot for everyone, creating a hub in the heart of campus during Reunion & Commencement Weekend. All are welcome to stop by and enjoy a comfortable, convenient place to peruse the RC schedule, connect with classmates and/or family members, meet new friends… or simply hang out.
45 Wyllys Avenue (Show in Map)
Usdan Cafe Hours
Food and beverages available for purchase on site.
Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
Registration and Information
Lobby, Exley Science Center, 265 Church Street (Show in Map)
Pi Cafe Hours
Snacks and beverages available for purchase.
Exley Science Center (Show in Map)
Cardinal Tech Hours
Stop by Cardinal Tech Wesleyan Campus Store in Usdan University Center for officially licensed Wesleyan shirts, sweaters, hats and mugs, umbrellas and more! We also have charging cables, portable batteries, and all the technology you’ll need for the weekend.
Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
All-Campus Brunch Buffet
Wrap up a great weekend with a hearty brunch in the new Usdan University Center.
Tickets: SOLD OUT. This event requires ticket purchase at time of registration.
Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
Graduate Student Breakfast Celebration and Rehearsal
The Graduate Marshal will prepare the graduating MA and PhD students for the Commencement Ceremony.
Lobby, Exley Science Center (Show in Map)
Farewell Brunch for the Class of 1972
Brunch is served until 11 AM. Stay and enjoy the view of the Commencement Ceremony until 1 PM.
Daniel Family Commons, Usdan University Center (Show in Map)
GLS Graduates' Commencement Preparation
GLSP staff will prepare graduating students for the Commencement Ceremony.
GLS Office, 74 Wyllys Ave. (Show in Map)
Faculty and Undergraduates Assemble for Commencement
Top of Foss Hill (Show in Map)
Parent and Grandparent Educators Assemble for Commencement
Parents and Grandparents of graduating seniors who work in the field of education are invited to march as a division in the Commencement Ceremony. Educators are then welcome to sit as a division, along with a guest, or may choose to sit in general seating following the procession. Educators must supply and wear their own regalia. Please respond in the online registration form if you would like to participate. Any questions please contact Meg Zocco at mzocco@wesleyan.edu.
Top of Foss Hill (Show in Map)
190th Commencement Ceremony
The ceremony will take place in the center of campus, rain or shine, and will last approximately 2–2½ hours. The ceremony may also be viewed online.
The procession will begin at 10:45 a.m. and the ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. View the procession map.
Details about this year's Commencement speaker and honorary degree recipients can be found here.
Tickets: All are welcome to attend Wesleyan's 190th Commencement Ceremony. Tickets are not required to attend the ceremony. The 5,000 chairs on Andrus Field (some are outside, some under the large tent with full view of the podium) are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is additional room for seating on Foss Hill (bring a blanket or folding chairs).
Accessibility Seating and Parking: Visitors needing accessible parking may utilize any of the designated spaces on campus with a properly displayed state-issued plate or placard from any state. Spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The ceremony takes place on Denison Terrace, which is parallel to the back of Olin Memorial Library. Mobility impaired guests may park in the “C” lot off of Church Street or the Office of Admission parking lot. University staff and students driving golf carts will be available at each lot to assist in transporting guests to-and-from the accessibility section on Andrus Field. Drivers may also drop of guests on Wyllys Avenue and then park elsewhere. Each disabled person may be accompanied by two family members in the accessible section (located on the area adjacent to the Zelnick Pavilion and Public Affairs Center). You can sign up for seating in the accessibility section and find more details pertaining to accessibility accommodations here.
Andrus Field (Show in Map)
Inclement Weather Plan
The Commencement Ceremony is held outdoors, rain or shine. Under severe weather conditions, the ceremony may be shifted from the open field, where seating is unlimited, into the large tent on Andrus Field. Although the tent accommodates numerous spectators, seating is limited. In this scenario, we respectfully request that each graduate limit their guests to 3 seats under the tent. Please come prepared with raincoats, umbrellas, and appropriate footwear.
Information will be posted on the Wesleyan homepage and the Reunion & Commencement website, and graduating seniors will be notified via email. Details will also be available at Registration (Exley Science Center). The ceremony will be simulcast in the Memorial Chapel, Patricelli ’92 Theater, Ring Family Performing Arts Hall, and Tishler Lecture Hall (Room 150) at Exley Science Center, rain or shine. The ceremony may also be viewed online.
Tent, Andrus Field (Show in Map)
Following the ceremony
President’s Commencement Celebration: A gathering celebrating the Class of 2022 will take place immediately following the Commencement ceremony. Due to the large crowds at the gathering, families and students who wish to meet are encouraged to identify a place in advance (e.g., one of the buildings on College Row). Light refreshments will be available.
McKelvey Green (lawn in front of College Row) (Show in Map)
GLS Champagne Reception and Diploma Distribution: GLS graduates and guests are invited to this reception. We will distribute diplomas and raise our glasses in a toast to the graduates!
Labyrinth Tent, Center for the Arts Green